Workin' on the Old Tractors

[cjet69]

Finished adjusting and greasing the haybine and tried it out this evening in a the small field where our orchard is. Its under 1 acre so it works nicely as a test plot. This is as early as I can remember starting the hay. Still plenty of moisture in the ground as I was leaving muddy tracks in a few spots. Not a lot of hay on this field but hopefully that will help it dry quickly. The haybine held together so far and cut pretty good. Now to get the tedder hooked up and see if I can get the baler going also.

 

[chieffan]

I never did like to put hay down on wet ground. An older neighbor friend told me ones "You have to put it down to put it up".

 

[MNGB]

Finished adjusting and greasing the haybine and tried it out this evening in a the small field where our orchard is. Its under 1 acre so it works nicely as a test plot. This is as early as I can remember starting the hay. Still plenty of moisture in the ground as I was leaving muddy tracks in a few spots. Not a lot of hay on this field but hopefully that will help it dry quickly. The haybine held together so far and cut pretty good. Now to get the tedder hooked up and see if I can get the baler going also.

That's good the the haybine worked as it should always nice when things work out, have you had lots of rain this spring

 

[cjet69]

That's good the the haybine worked as it should always nice when things work out, have you had lots of rain this spring

I was glad it made it this far. If it holds up through a couple bigger fields I can start to relaxing a bit.

We are actually below normal for rainfall but did just get a couple days of downpour last weekend. The wet spot in this field stays damp even in the middle of summer. Its always in shade in that spot and I always wonder if there was an old stump hole that was filled in that acts like a bowl to hold water with a heavy blue clay liner. I remember a stump pile right in that area when I was a kid.

 

[MFDAC]

I was glad it made it this far. If it holds up through a couple bigger fields I can start to relaxing a bit.

We are actually below normal for rainfall but did just get a couple days of downpour last weekend. The wet spot in this field stays damp even in the middle of summer. Its always in shade in that spot and I always wonder if there was an old stump hole that was filled in that acts like a bowl to hold water with a heavy blue clay liner. I remember a stump pile right in that area when I was a kid.

I was confident the haybine would work, CJet. You cover all the bases repairing this equipment!

DAC

 

[cjet69]

Hooked the 284 to the tedder for the first time. It worked great and doesn't burn much fuel.

 

[cjet69]

Going over the baler and found the U-shaped pipe that the needles bolt to has a big split in it. Must have filled up with water and froze. I pulled one off of another baler and have it installed but still need to fine tune the needle adjustment. Hopefully I will have the baler up and running tomorrow because I have some hay that will be ready.

 

[MFDAC]

Dang that thing shattered like glass! Good thing you have parts!

DAC

 

[cjet69]

Dang that thing shattered like glass! Good thing you have parts!

DAC

That part was brand new when we got the baler back in 2006. The preventer stuck and he broke or bent the needles and bent the tube and had to replace them. I don't know if I will try to fix it or not. You can't buy them any more so I suppose I should try. Its not like I have anything to lose.

 

[chieffan]

That split piece is real critical to the timing of the needles too. I had a malfunction, not sure just what the initial cause was but it took out both needles and the yoke was sprung. Needles would not line up properly to tie. good luck on fixing yours.

 

[MFDAC]

Do you have a tube bender, CJet? Bend up a new tube and weld the old brackets on to the new one? Looks like it may be 1-1/2 to 2" tubing.

DAC