[ngcmcn]

J-L,

The easiest way to get the wristpin out is to pull the fly wheel and fly wheel shaft, which means opening the tranny cover and unscrewing the pinion gear(standard direction threading) grind off the mushroomed end of the wrist pin that comes through the fly wheel and drive it or press it out. Its not to bad a job. Or, I’ve never tried this, take a hack saw or saw zall cut half way throught the wrist pin, close to the flywheel and bust it off with a hammer then drive out the stud. While your in there put a new shaft bushing in as well and oil seals.(MackNair’s). My current method for getting the shaft bushing out is to take a broom handle or something like that and pop the tranny end bearing out, you’ll see when you open everything up, then a small cold chisel to bend the bushing over in the frame a bit, then a brass or what have you drift of close size to the bore and drive it out an alll the way through into the tranny. Watch out for metal shards. Not eloquent but works. Make sure tranny is clean.

Goood luk

n

[ngcmcn]

Do you mean the bushing on the end of the pitman that connects with the wrist pin.?. If the bushing is frozen to the wrist pin ….replace the wrist pin.

Neal

[ngcmcn]

Baloney Skins: Worn out tires.

Don’t know if the Grimm belts are special? They don’t turn over.

Neal maine

[ngcmcn]

My Grimm has all season baloney skins on it and works great, my belts dld turn over, then one broke, then replaced both, then got new ones from Grimm in Rutland. Big difference.

The tide in the hayfields going out, only 2″ of standing water today.

Neal

[ngcmcn]

There you go Don………a good sense of humor. Hmmmm? Rubber boots and rain gear. Some of our June cut hay is showing outward signs of mold in the loft maybe we’ll take some of our cheese out there and try for a “grass mold brushed rind” sort’ve effect? Sally Fallon would love it. Weston price would sit up in his grave. The hippies would buy it…………Lemons to lemonade…..mud to mud pies……..hay mold to green back Rind!

Thanks for the humor

Neal

[ngcmcn]

Don, we still have standing water in some of our fields and deep clover by now so we’ll need some good sunny weather to get it dry. Some of our marginal fields i mowed early(dropped) look good for a late cut so we’re still hopeful. Its just ggoing to be late.

Neal maine

[ngcmcn]

Maine has had 8-1/2″ of rain in June, the highest amount since records have been kepted.

It’ll take a week of dry weather for the fields to dry out enough to even think about dry hay. No baleage……..little chop from what i’ve seen.

We are really tired of the mud which it seems has been here since march. Oh well lets hope for a nice july and August.

Neal
Maine

[ngcmcn]

Geoff,

Grimm tedders are plentiful in the N.E. cause they were built in Rutland Vt.an they started making them along time ago.So they’re around. As far as changing over a side delivery rakes, I betcha you could do it. The Grimms have pawls in each wheel hub so if one wheeel is turning the other moves at a different speed. I have used them with only one belt which comes off the wheel and drives the bars and tines. The frame is basic fabrication, the cylinder(roll bars) run on on pillow blocks. Go for it. Cylinder turns the same direction as wheels.

A few years ago we were seriously looking at cutting one down(a rake) to make a single horse rake.

Good Luck
Neal

[ngcmcn]

Hey Jason, hows the sound in that little stage. I’ve always been told when it comes to sound that “wood is good.” Most of out little fiddle stages round here are hemlock and metal roofing.

Who’s Floyd?

Neal Maine Mandolin

[ngcmcn]

Carl,
I’m assuming you’re using a bore cut. When you are on a 32′ or bigger butt are you cutting through your hinge through a small window(through your face cut) pivoting your saw then finishing up the bore from the sides.?

Thanks

Neal

[ngcmcn]

George, I’ll look for a pic.

Neal

[ngcmcn]

Don, George, and Carl;

Two weeks ago we demoed a IHC Green crop Loader at the MOFGA fair grounds here in Unity, Me. on grass scythed down not more then 3-4 hrs before. I’d say about an acre or so. heavy Timothy and clover. The Green crop loader is a nine bar hayloader so to speak, as oppposed to a six bar hay loader. Around here with all the old canneries they’d harvest peas and beans on the vine with the loaders and hall them wagon load a few miles to the corn shops as they were called. The scythed grass picked up ok, and it was fun to bury Russell Libby the executive director who was trying to get it all stacked well, which he did as i found out later trying to unload some of it. Paul Birdsall of HorsePower Farm in Penobscot Me. had restored the loader and it worked well. The horses took it all in stride. We fed out quite a bit, and composted some of the grass. One fellow was standing looking at the loader in wonderment trying to figure out, “Why?” any body would want to use such a device? Of course i reminded him that balers had only been around since about 1950 and that the loader was some wheres between the pitch fork and the baler on the technological curve. Loose hay is good stuff. Its kind’ve ironic that modern dairy farmers put sick cows on good dry long stem grass.

Carl made a good point about the sole plate adjustment on the inner and outer shoes of the cutter bar. It makes a diference.

George, you shouldn’t have to sharpen your knife for a while unless you’re mowing roadsides or anthills or chopping off deer antleer shed like i did last week. Actually decapitated a fawn a few years ago. That wasn’t fun. Hit one and looked for another and as soon as i started off again another one jumps and runs. Nicked his ear.

Don, hope you get some good weather. It would be good to meet you guys in October if your around to Tunbridge.

Neal
Maine

[ngcmcn]

Nice work George. Feels good doesn’t it.

We put up about the same amount of hay last week off two acres in three days, but our fields don’t look as good as yours. As far as plugging on the cutter bar goes……well, welcome to sickle bar mowers. Stubs help, sharp and well aligned guards help, bar tilt can effect it……..i find keepping that inner shoe in the cleared track from the grass board is the most effective. Not always an easy task in these little knotty meadows in Vt and Me.In fact riding on top of the swath just a bit works well too.

I mowed first day, tedded once on second day, tedded agin on third then raked and baled. We had a lot of trouble with our old baler(NH66) which i have worked on a bit and ignored my own tenet of putting new twine in each season. Once we did that it ran perfect. the horses stood beautifully while i frigged with it.

So the next move George, is to pull a baler with the horses.

Good job first time out.

Neal
maine

[ngcmcn]

George,

Is it hollow stock? If so, what is the wall thickness? Thanks for the info…

Was pulling a loose hay loader today for a demo at MOFGA. All the grass was scythed by unsuspecting workshop attendees. We got to bring it home to feed calves still in the barn till weaning.

Happy mowing. Sounds like your set to go. I still ahve some repairs to do this week to be ready to cut hay. That’s OK, it’s still raining.

Neal

[ngcmcn]

Good Sus George. What are the dimensions of the stock on your neck yoke. ? Main bar and singles?.

Thanks

Neal

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