[Jay]

Geoff,
I too have had good luck with the tapered head bolts Mark refers to. They have a place for an allen wrench in the head.
I would put some kerosine on those pins several times to see if they wont loosen up a bit. If I need to take stuck or tight pins out of a mower, first I cut the pins with a sawzall, to separate the shoe and the yoke, then drive the pins out or if very stuck, center drill and then drive. As Donn says, the more usual problem is when they are too loose. See if you can get it to loosen up a bit. Good luck, Jay

[Jay]

What are you asking if I might ask, Mitch? Jay

[Jay]

The harness fit looks generally good to me. The tug comes of the collar nice and square and the “D” ring is well placed. I would shorten the back straps just a bit to bring the britchin ring forward and the britchin up just a little. I would also turn the neck yoke hooks to face in rather than out so that they can’t get clipped onto things at in opportune times. Looks great. Jay

[Jay]

We’ve put up our hay loose for the last 30 years- I agree with several of Bob, JL & Scyther’s observations. One exception- in my experience loose hay – if packed in the mow the same way you have to on the wagon, takes not too much more room than bales that aren’t super tight. We feed from the mow to animals right in the barn. If I was going to move any quantity anywhere, I’d be baling. Jay

[Jay]

From what you’ve said, I don’t see anything to loose by trying. It might work out or not. In years of breeding, we’ve found that they seem to do best when 1) active- working as much as they are up to, 2) not fat, 3) in the daily routine of things as much as possible. I never had trouble woking them hard (except in the last 3 months) in fact they seem to do better and be healthier being active. Good luck. Jay

[Jay]

Steve,
I have one of those Pioneer graders for my forecart and have plowed snow with it the past 2 winters it’s great. When the snow banks get too big I run the snow blower along and I’m all set to start again with the grader. I also grade my sleighride trails in the warmer seasons with it as well as pulling manure together in my sacrifice paddocks – endless uses…. Jay

[Jay]

That much flex in the plate the pitman bearing is on concerns me – if it’s getting warm, seems as though it’s fatiguing and will break just when you don’t need it to. I would try to reduce the lead back closer to what is recomended. Also if the knife is able to run smoothly/easily I think that will help relieve some of the stress. Jay

[Jay]

Good for you. Jay

[Jay]

I fully agree with Donn on the neck yoke – evener length- it has no bearing on what style harness one is using. Evener length – 32 to 34 is more common for plowing, 36- 40 for more general use and upwards of that for applications where the width is helpful as in HOT weather and the extra space allows more air for cooling. Spreaders are a useful easy way to change the distance between horses when changing equipment- just a hame ring sized ring often on a leather strap hanging from the top of each inside hame, allowing the crosscheck to run a little further away from the one horse before crossing to the teammate, hence increasing the distance between them. Jay

[Jay]

Rick, I’ve had to ad a team out front a few times just to brake trail after a big (24″) storm. I just hooked the leaders onto the end of the pole with a short chain and drove with 4 lines. I found that the horses usually gave me about 20 minutes of grace – they were really paying attention. After that they began to think they knew what we were doing and I had better have it figured out too. I was happy with the way it worked. Jay

[Jay]

I saw the 2 blade I&J mower working in Virginia at Southern Draft Animal Days- seems to cut through down hay, weeds, fine. The knives are un protected and I wouldn’t want to cut a rough hay field with any stones or wood sticking up in it…. Jay

[Jay]

I have heard it said that every time you are with your animals, they are learning something, and it can either be something useful or not useful/helpful. It is up to us to make sure that every time we interact with them, we are teaching our animals (by doing) useful/helpful (in the long run) lessons. I lead my horses out and into the barn every day and that is the time I spend training them – every step of the way– no shortcuts that I woulldn’t want them to try later. In my experience that is time very well spent. Jay

[Jay]

While hitching today I was reminded of the rule of thumb I use when hitching with D ring harness.
When the last (fourth) tug is hitched, I want the top of the pole to be just about 1 hand span below where it passes by the D ring. When I have tightened the pole strap on the nigh (left) side of the nigh horse, I want the pole to be a little less than my hand-span blow the bottom of the D-ring.
As the pole strap is tightened one should be able to watch the pole rise. If it doesn’t, the hitch is probably too loose. Jay

[Jay]

Jeff, I have used a McD #7 for 20 years, cutting about 20 acres of hay each year- It’s better now than when I started. I also have used recently a #6 and a #9 both nice machines if tight and tuned. I’ve never used a JD, though I understand they are good machines as well. The great thing about them is that they are so well designed and parts are still available to a large extent. You want to be looking for one that is not beat up from being dragged behind a jeep or doodlebug. Visit some of us who have one and look at a few to get a feel for what to look for. I’m in southern VT and have a couple you are welcome to see. Jay

[Jay]

I echo the don’t use oil on your bar in sandy areas. Often I have some dampness in the grass anyway so I don’t usually oil the bar. Keep putting small amounts of oil to the pitman/knife connection and other wear points though- every round or so – often, not lots at a time. I sometimes use used motor oil for this as I always seem to have lots of it around…. The pitman flywheel bushings always seem to wear out so I have gone to the bearing plate – Macknair for one has them. They are quiet and cut out the vibration.
If the shield on the gear (#6) is properly in place, the lines (or anything else) shouldn’t be able to fit in there. Jay

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