Does anyone know how far above and below horizontal a Dearborn 14-1 mower will work? I'd like to use for ditch mowing, but don't want to break anything.

You can go about 1 1/2" below level. Father than that and the "tang" on the pitman (keeps the blade from slipping down, on upright transport position, will break off the stop on the forward slide. Up height,is dependent on pitman hitting the frame above.
Charles Krammin

Does anyone have a picture of that tang? My pitman has been reworked too many times. At this point it is steel and I need to ad that tang. After several days mowing I now am having problems with the blade slipping down on transport. 14-73

Thank you,

Jack

I believe your trouble is is the "front slide". The 1 inch bent up portion is usually broken off. A new piece can be welded on. I had to do it on all mine that I bought. take the 2 bolts off and take it to a welder to weld on the tang.
I dont believe it is the pitman tang that catches on this slide, but if so it also can be welded on
A simlier, quick fix, field repair is to stick a branch between the knives and guard, and then remove it when you let the cutter bar down from transport.
I would have posted a picture of this piece but I somehow still can't post a scan as it defaults to photobucket.
Maybe somebody else, or the admistrator can do this for me, for you.
Charles Krammin

Thank you Charles!

I know the the front slide configuration and mine happens to be intact. However my pitman has been rebuilt with steel. I don't believe there is a tang on it. Spotted another mower behind a N the other day. Intend to stop and look at it if he will allow. IN the meantime I lost the hydraulics on the 2N so parked the sickle bar for now. Using the rotary on the 860 to try to knock down as much Sericea Lespedeza, which is flowering, before it drops it's seed. If you don't know that plant, thank your lucky stars!

Jack

I have an extra pitman. All intact-good shape-little rusty. You can have it for what you think its worth and shipping. I am located at Hastings Michigan.
I only have some invasive decorative grass in my road ditch, which must have blown off a garbage truck. Normally round-up it, but got caught short and now must hand harvest seed heads.
I am also very active in identifing "Japanese Knotweed" and eradicating it before it reaches our river. I cover it with black plastic and rugs and if it comes up I spray a mixture of Round up and brush Killer. Think I am successful in my first try for a friend. a couple years of watching should tell if I am totally successful. The other site the person watches for new growth and hoes it up in his shrub planting. That site is on a creek.
My Pine nut planting is invested with black berry bushes and Autumn Olive and Multi floria rose, which I should have rotary chopped, but had a problem with my ankle when I dropped hot weld in my shoe. Now walking 4 miles and playing catch up. Need to replace 1 guard on mower and a Ferguson plow, that I bought in Wisc. Beam was welded wrong and now I must heat and bend it so it is 14" and straight.
Also have a 1929 INternational Check row planter, that needs work on gates. This planter is unique, in that the fertlizer tubes are hingned galivanized and work in unison in checking the fertlizer between hill drops, instead of a split shoe. Have a food plot to test it on.

Charles - Thank you. I guess I'll have to rig up something to keep the sickle from dropping too far below level.

A wood stick stuck between a guard and blade