Re: What are the Drawbar Brackets for?

[Farmer Dell]

I have a Woods brother's belly mower already mounted to the plates. If I mount longer bolts, can I also mount a draw bar to it, or would it interfere with the mower brackets or movement ?

I'm new at this!

[Dale Finch]

The drawbar is intended to be mounted WITH the mule drive. It is bolted onto the brackets with the pin in one hole and a bolt in the other on each side, and once added, it makes installing/removing the whole drawbar/mule drive assembly easier, by simply loosening the tapered bolts and tilting the assembly.

[Jim Becker]

What is the bracket with the clevis? If you are using it as a drawbar, DON'T. Remove it immediately to eliminate the temptation to attach to it. It will try to kill you. I AM NOT JOKING.

[Barnyard]

Good eye Jim. I missed that until you pointed it out. One of the easiest ways to flip a tractor back on top of yourself.

[Glen]

Hi,
Below are pages from the 1955 Cub operator's manual, with info from IH about the drawbar, and showing the drawbar.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2015.jpg

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2016.jpg

Below are pics of the drawbar from TM Tractor.

http://www.tmtractor.com/tm-tractor/gdr/drbar_001.htm

If you put on a drawbar, it is supposed to use the tapered head IH bolts to hold it onto the final drives.
It uses 4 bolts.
Below is a listing at TM Tractor for the bolts.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/gb/324fp.htm

[Farmer Dell]

Thanks for the comments, I once used the mule as a draw bar, but the mower seemed to became out of adjustment (not as square).
So I added the bar with the clevis (now having a recovery 3/8" clevis slip hook) for winching. I suppose from Jim's comment, that the center of gravity is too high for much of a load, so I'll keep it light, like when putting it on a trailer when she's not running.
So, is it ok to attach to the mule in an emergency - as long as I don't jerk the mower?
How do you put on a draw bar keeping the mule in place?

[Glen]

Hi,
The mower drive bracket that you have probably attaches to the vertical part of the IH drawbar brackets, that is how many models of rotary mower drive brackets do on Cubs.
The bracket goes inside of the vertical part of the IH brackets, then there are flat plates that go on the outside of the IH brackets, and bolts with nuts and lock washers hold the mower brackets onto the IH brackets.

If your mower bracket is bolted onto the final drive implement holes, with 5/8" bolts, someone has probably drilled out the holes in the mower bracket from their original size.

Your pic doesn't show how the drive is held on.
You didn't say what model of mower you have.

Below is a Woods 42 Mower owner's manual showing the parts, it is an example.
Page 6 shows a pic of the drive attached to the IH drawbar.

Page 9 shows an exploded view of the mower. Number 17 is the drive bracket, numbers 16 are the Clamp Plates, that go on the outside of the vertical IH drawbar plates.

Page 8 shows the parts list. Numbers 16 and 17 are shown there.

Page 10 shows the hardware. Number 47 is the bolts for them, it uses 4, they are 1/2" x 2" course threads, with lock washers and nuts.

http://www.farmallcub.info/galleries/oe ... _Mower.asp

This is an example of one mower, it might not be the same as yours would use.

[radioguy41]

It looks like the mule drive is hodge-podged on top of existing or modified drawbar brackets already.

Click on images for a larger view.

[Farmer Dell]

Glen, the mower is exactly what the pages show, a 42 C-4, minus the safety shielding.

The skid was missing on the left side, so I put a wheel in its place about an inch higher than the skid; for potholes and such. Besides, I can't find a dealer online who will sell me just one!

radioguy41, that's what it looks like to me also, and having a heart condition; I don't think I want to take it all apart to put a tow-bar on it, even if I had one... The way it is rigged, its no wonder I'm confused, but I'm glad you clarified it for me!

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated!

[Jim Becker]

If you really won't be using a drawbar, you don't need to put one on. But you obviously needed one in the past, so you have that clevis on your homemade bracket. A heart condition is a heart condition but hitching above the original drawbar is a truly unpleasant way to die.