[bird]

I understand the bit about the evener, just didn’t get how you were adjusting. But drilling, etc. explains it.

I plan to use a ground-driven PTO cart. Though I have recently learned that another cart may be available in coming months, so I’ll hold off on the I&J for a bit.

[bird]

Oh, this is so helpful. But I have a few questions, and I will certainly let you know how it goes.

So forgive me if this sounds dumb, but I’ve spent 20 years teaching so I figure I get a few dumb questions at this point. 😉 What does it mean to shift the evener? I’m not seeing it, probably because my limited experience is working a team only.

And tell me how you approach holding a horse back. I am spoiled by a very well matched team (shout out to Brad Messersmith) and I hate hauling on the lines to keep my “hot” horse in check. (I do it, though.) So, what are some ways to keep the big guys a little slower that wouldn’t simultaneously have me hauling on the fjords? Is this my ignorance of a four-horse hitch?

I do have some folks around here who can help me with some of this, and I’ll be investigating that, too.

Working on purchasing gear right now, for anyone who wants to share stories.

[bird]

Nothing like shopping for hay stuff in the snow!

[bird]

Thanks for all the ideas. I’ve seen side delivery rakes go for 1000 and more around here and I see rotary rakes at $3000. Sure 2000 isn’t nothing but my time is also worth a lot. I don’t look at this as a purely business decision. Cause given what I do here, I think I’d find a tractor cheaper than the team. So it’s partly the farm business and partly the thing I wanna do With my life. Not everybody is in my situation. I’m glad to hear that you all are happy with those rakes as I hope to find a cheaper one. Certainly I could if it were a 3 bar or 4 bar rake.

[bird]

That’s great, where did you find a used I&J cart. I’m thinking about buying one.

[bird]

There are pull behind lawn mowers similar to the DR type which are mounted on a frame that you could pull behind your forecart. I think they’re less expensive, but I’m not sure.

[bird]

Nope. But I’ve been looking around to set one up too. I’ve seen a couple things available but I wonder how sturdy they’d be.

[bird]

I have a McCormick Deering #9. Love it. Love it. Love it. I don’t have a lot of experience driving, either, but I’m getting along okay. It will NOT cut off your fingers if you keep your common sense module turned on. If the gear is engaged, don’t get off the mower. If you get off, disengage–just like the safety switch under the seat of a lawn mower, except this one is located in your brain. I don’t mean to sound like a smart ass, but I’ve had plenty of people tell me the thing is dangerous.

I did have an accident. Ran that sickle bar shoe right into a fence post. (Couldn’t see beyond the horse.) I flipped right up and over, got banged up good. And now let me tell you about some of the things that have happened with a tractor. . . . Safety is a habit of mind that we must always practice on the farm, be it with horses, tractors, cats, dogs, whatever.

My mower does not easily plug up. I bought it properly tuned up and I am learning to keep it that way. Mine also has the “truck.” That’s a support wheel that takes weight off the pole. I think that’s a good improvement. I have found that there are some people who know how to get these mowers running right and make a few updates and that is well worth the money. Can’t say enough good about this machine. Mine cost me $1000. I’ll try to attach a photo.

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[bird]

The guy who sold me the cart and sells a lot of them told me that the bands should be tight, rubbing on the drums. Mine are. After a few outings, they seemed to wear into place nicely. I left them as they came from the factory and feel they’re good.

The problems I had were in the machining. One drum had a misaligned lug hole. The other had its central disk not welded flat along the edge of the drum. Looking at the design, I can see there is a huge potential for error in the manufacture of those drums.

[bird]

Thanks for the tip. I was watching the video, thinking, “Gosh, that’s not very much to cut,” when the screen tells me about the drought conditions. I’ll look into this.

[bird]

Purchased my forecart this spring. I chose the mechanical brakes and both drums arrived with machining errors. The guy who sold it to me had some extras and they were fine, so back in business thanks to a good dealer. I, too, was disappointed in the paint. Bout the time I got ‘er all up and running, mowing season began, so I’m mostly out on the MD #9.

[bird]

I skidded some logs for the first time not long ago, too. I tried with one horse and a single tree. Soon found that I needed to have someone lead his teammate who got upset at being left out despite being able to watch. Things went okay ‘cept the single tree bumped the horse’s ankles. Gotta make the chains a little longer. I think I need to try a doubletree set-up and use both animals when I’m alone.

[bird]

A year ago I bought a team of Percherons. I first saw them this very weekend. I placed my trust in Brad Messersmith of New Hampton, IA and I would do it all over again. He is a good man and he can steer you right. I didn’t necessarily want a team that was 18 hands and 4-years-old. But Brad said, “These are good horses. Their feet are glued to the ground.” They are perfect horses. I couldn’t have asked for a better first team.

I had horses as a kid, so I find that everything I knew then is still intact. Driving is new, but I learn from the team. I listen to others as much as I can. Still have a lot to learn about operating equipment, but I just take it easy and don’t get too ambitious and I do okay.

[bird]

I am also thinking about a forecart. There are so many options and they are so expensive! I see Pioneer has a torsion axle and hillside steering. Those seemed like helpful options when working in rough terrain and in the woods. But since I don’t have any forecart, it’s hard to know . . . Is the steering basically a left and right brake?

[bird]

Hey! That team is Misty and Molly, isn’t it??? I know them. They used to live with my neighbor Paul. Glad they’re well. Paul misses them.

I have read through this thread with interest. I think we all know the ground you’re walking on, George. And it sounds like you made some good decisions. I’m going to be putting more land into hay this year, and I know it’ll be a long time before I can take care of it with horses. Dollars and cents wise, I think I can hire someone to bale for many years before it’ll break even with buying some decent equipment. But I can see how it’s better on the neighborly-path to have one person in charge and calling the shots on how the job gets done. Too many cooks in the kitchen and all of that.

I’m just down south of you. Maybe we’ll cross paths sometime.

[Author]

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