Single Action Sickle Bar for Walk-Behind Tractor: Maintenance

Joel at Earth Tools walks through a complete maintenance of a Single-Action Cutter (sickle) bar for a BCS or Grillo walk-behind tractor.
NOTE: This video shows the single-action blade types used from roughly 1988 though 2013, and still used by Grillo. For other years/bar styles, most of this info applies, but a few procedures differ...look for another Earth Tools video in the future, covering other bar types.
www.earthtools.com
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:26 Removing Blade
02:45 Loose Rivets
05:55 Removing Rivets
11:23 Adding Rivets
11:57 Finding Your Blade Style
17:37 Replacing Countersink Rivets
21:46 Sharpening Blades
25:00 Bent Blades
26:48 Remounting Sickle

[@AdS-kv2xe]

I'm a new inexperienced owner of an old 715 and cutter... man I wish I could like this more than once, splendid video Joel! Not only did you cover each element of maintenance, but also all the different evolutions of the design and how maintenance would be different. Thank you!

[@edibleacres]

These videos are amazingly helpful... Just got a new-to-me BCS 735 with a sickle bar and want to be sure I can get it where it needs to be to be safe and functional. I feel like I understand things a lot better from the work you've done here. Much appreciated.

[@mbaker589]

Thank you for putting this video online. That info is still important to me three years later.

[@rcytb]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial on peening rivets! I will use this knowledge tomorrow.
I'm restoring my Dad's 1960's-vintage Apache walk-behind sickle bar mower. The bar itself broke, and so I had to remove all the blade sections and rivets, and then fab a new one. After grinding off a few rivet heads and punching the rivets out, and after trying to drill out a few, I wondered if there was a better way. There is!
An old boy on TH-cam showed me how: Put the bar on edge over an anvil edge, or on the end of a piece of railroad rail, blade sections pointed down. Grap a large hammer and strike the blade. It might take a hit or three, but it will shear the rivets and they will then almost pop out by themselves. No kidding.

[@marzouqhumoud2616]

Incredibly useful video on the single bar.
You made it look so easy, hope i can maintain it as easy as you did.
Thanks for the information and knowledge you given us in the vid.

[@mhebb1]

Very helpful Joel and thanks for the nearly obsolete parts for my 204.

[@scottmartin8437]

I own a 48" double action cutter. Oil bath. Used it for the first time today. I really like it.

[@fouroakfarm]

This was extremely helpful! Thanks Joel!

[@Ikariel]

Waaahh thanks man !
I wish you were part of my neighborhood 🤣

[@djadjazloj]

Nice video Joel! 👍

[@kentthompson3822]

Amazing, thank you!

[@waltlars3687]

nothing changes back in 1964 I helped a Uncle fix a sickle bar mower mounted on a John Deere it was a big adventure for a 7 year old city boy We used a Black Smith Anvil

[@mpolaj]

So how's the double-action sickle bar service video coming along? :) I own a single-action one ("Laser"), but I'm curious how the double-action ones are different service-wise.

[@maryboyle5515]

back in the day on our farm we used to call those [ what he calls teeth [ sections and we used to clinch the rivets

[@Mark-xl8gg]

Thanks Joel
Would it be worth using copper grease or similar instead of oil under the bar also mine is the grease type how often do I need to grease I ask as the cowl has to come off each time and is a pain I normally grease every two hrs

[@damodoesall6240]

Anybody still stock Mainline 2+2 sickle bar parts?