[Rod]

Can’t help with the oil can question but have my own minor question relating to the rebuild of my no.7 McD mower. What color paint would be original for the mower body and wheels?

[Rod]

Hi Neil, That a great illustration and I can see how that will help a lot. I was thinking about using a dolly wheel which fits my 3 wheel forecart but can see how that would not work with the side draft issue.

You don’t know where I might find one of those contraptions around New England do you, or anybody else know of one available?

[Rod]

I think I have the idea about the tongue trucks (wheel). How do I set the truck to get the correct angle for the sickle bar with respect to the ground surface? If I use a 14′ pole to determine the height of the pole at the point where the wheel goes should the end of the 14′ pole be 31″ off the ground, same as shown in the Les Barton video? or is there another measurement I could or should use. I don’t have a manual for this machine but am interested in buying one if anyone knows where I might locate the same. Thanks.

[Rod]

Jason

What is a tongue truck? Is this an extra wheel under the tongue? And would a “D” ring harness change what you said as the weight could be better distributed to their backs?

Carl

Advice well taken and I do listen to the voices of experience with appreciation.

[Rod]

So true but also so misunderstood. Thanks for saying it.

[Rod]

Their is an article in a past Rural Heritage about adding an engine to a sickle bar mower to relieve the load on a team of Halflingers. They used a 5hp motor to run just the sickle.

[Rod]

Thanks for all the good and consistent advice. I think everything (all the serious things I mean)written were on the mark and very helpful. I however I did buy the halflingers. They are soo nice and seem perfect for a novice like me. 18 and 19 years old, brothers, been together their whole lives, been in parades, done draft work, vehicle pulling etc. very quiet, nice feet, responsive etc. They drive single as well as a team and are a real nice pair of horses. I plan to drive them single for all the jobs I can alternating between them unless I need the extra power of the team. That is subject to any other ideas from you experienced drivers.

I will be positing some pictures soon. Thanks again.

[Rod]

I am not one to advise in this area as my experiences with an oxen team was not very successful and I am sure their are others here who can give you sound advise. But I found this blog site a while back about Albert the single ox which makes for some good reading. Here is the link http://my-first-ox.livejournal.com/.

[Rod]

Soil tests are a definite, Also the State Ag. Departments and extensions services usually have very good technical people to help out including vegetable specialists. Also the NSCS ? used to be called the Soil Conservation Service anyway. The have soil maps with crop capability ratings and on site technical help which can be valuable especially when doing overview selection of different properties.

[Rod]

For those on GMP (Green Mountain Power) and doing or considering net metering I understand that GMP is proposing a rate change. The new rate would pay $0.06 per KWH over the net metering rate which I think is presently $0.13/KWH. This means net metering customers would buy power at 13 cents and sell it at 19 cents if this goes through. Nice incentive if you are a GMP customer.

[Rod]

I have plenty. Call me 802-376-5474

[Rod]

Try this link for some sketches and ideas for wagon brakes.
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com/wagonbrake.html

[Rod]

Thanks Erik, the picture are helpful enough.

[Rod]

Hi Erik

I am intrested in any information like this. Do you have any web addresses.

[Rod]

Good discussion and lots to think about with this small farming thing. I notice in my research that Donkeys are used extensively in the third world on small subsistence farms. These animals are very smart, quick learners, easy keepers, don’t generally need shoes, retain what they learn, safe to be around, don’t eat much, can pull a lot of weight for their size, are very healthy, cheap to buy and live a very long time.
Maybe donkeys are a more practical alternative for the small farm model than the full sized work teams. The challenge which I see for our personal farming situation is to develop appropate sized equipment to use with our donkey team and also to get my mind around new ways of have them help me with my work.
Their are jobs which are just too hard for them but many others that they can do very well and on a small homestead or farm may be just the way to economically utilize animal power. I would love to see more posts on how folks are utilizing these very useful animal servants in their farming practices and about equipment downsizing for them also.
PS: when they are not employed working they make great pets and livestock guards.

[Author]

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