[Will Stephens]

No one’s been where Charly?

[Will Stephens]

Thanks for responding anyway. I decided to start rebuilding by Massey Harris 21 instead.

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[Will Stephens]

I almost bought Mark’s despite how much i like mine. Mine is older and rust is becoming an issue for it. I bought a new welder instead. The pole is short for a d-ring. Of course there is no guarantee if you did buy Mark’s you would automatically develop the steely eye stare Jay in demonstrating in the photo though!
Will

[Will Stephens]

I remember seeing a drawing in an old Small Farmers Journal but I can seem to put my hand on it.

[Will Stephens]

I am not an authority on forcats. I really only use mine as a chariot! and to occasionally pull things I attach to it with a chain (drag harrow, logs, tire, eetc.) My forecart is similar to a barden cart though lighter in construction. It was made by the farmer I bought my team from. Low entry platforms are safe and easier on the body if you are climbing on and off it a lot.

The hydraulic lift can be accomplished with a simple manually activated hydraulic ram. If you want to be fancy you can rig a 12 volt pump with an rv battery and even go one step further and put a small solar trickle charge panel on it. I have seen both but have built neither but there are examples out there.

Back to the forecart: I modified the pole assemble. I have a steel square tubing pole (I plan to switch to aluminum to save weight). I cut that off, added a 30″ piece of receiver stock (like for a trailer hitch) so I can now adjust the length of my pole, use the same pole on my wagon, and use a set of shafts instead of the pole for a single horse. It’s very versatile and I can’t take credit for much but I love the versatility and the forcart overall. It is also set up to use either a single steel implement seat or a bench seat on spring for taking y wife on a trip through the neighborhood.

[Will Stephens]

Update:
Carl, I made a quick pronged stick and had it at the ready. I harnessed her, picked up the reins with intent, and promptly drop the stick as she responded immediately to my energy level. As an inexperienced teamster I was questioning how hard to push. She is very strong willed. If she doesn’t want to do something she will not do it. This caused me to be so concerned about creating a situation where should would start choosing not to go more frequently.
Why did she decided to go that day with no trouble? I think it really comes down to my attitude. I wasn’t out there just to diddle around. We had a job coming up that we needed to get ready for and I was of the mind that we needed to get the job done so we just had to go do it.
She has been great since. We just spent the entire day giving hayrides at the fair and they did a great job.
When we first got there she did not want to go and again a simple re-focusing of my energy and she went to work for the next 6 horse (with breaks). We raised about $400.00 for the fair and came home tired and renewed.
I learned a few other things too. How to recognize when she needs a break is a big one. I had trouble all day getting her brother to pull his share of the weight so she was working really hard all day. She will go until she can’t anymore and I realize how important of a job it is for me to see that before it happens and keep her fresh in body and mind. I also realized that as a team they have a hard time starting on a larger load. This showed itself starting a full wagon up a hill. As their teamster, it is up to me to develop this ability in them from a mental/confidence point of view. Of course really I was just seeing for the first time what Neil tried to tell me after he had then for a time last summer.
The summary is this: the more we do, the more we learn, the more we can do, the more I appreciate the lessons people are sharing with me.
Pukka is a strong willed mare and is proving to keep me very honest and rewarding me when I am with her own great work ethic.

Thanks guys.

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[Will Stephens]

The value to in this forum and the relationships built here is in the open sharing of experiences, good, bad or indifferent. I can’t find a leak in the roof without going to the house to look. But my experience tells me the best places to start looking. This has been a big help. It is hard on this island without other draft and driving horses and not may good horse owners around, never mind mentors. We bought our small farm from out mentor who now lives very far away. So thank you again. I will post our progress.

[Will Stephens]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time for such thoughtful responses.

My team’s primary job is carriage/wagon rides. I have made a low tech road scrape similar to one I sa3 in Rural heritage in the last two years. My sand road needs constant maintenance and its great exercise, physical and mental. An easy way to get regular work done several days per week. I wish I had thought of that earlier! There are other tasks that would be great to add when we get to that. I am currently scheduled to give hayrides at our county fair in a month…. and I really don’t want to use my tractor.

I too have mixed feelings about the round pen. I have used it with her as a way to encage her before work primarily. It helps the gelding quite a bit but having been thinking about Donn’s comments, that may have not helped her particularly as I have been engaging her feet but not so much her brain.

I agree in principal hat she know how pull a pole on the ground but Karl may be on to something when he talks about adding steps. She ground drives great. She pulls it on lead. She backs to the single tree nicely. Maybe I simply need to add a few extra steps like hooking the single tree to one trace at a time. Then add chain only. Then maybe something even smaller (knowing its not weight that is the issue but to bring her up more slowly to be sure she knows what I am asking and knows what I am expecting.

And of course the rub is in how to apply more pressure in expecting her to do what I know she has done. I asked. I asked more strongly. I tapped her hind end with a driving crop. What else can I do short of scaring her into moving (obviously not the answer).

You guys are really great. Thank you.

[Will Stephens]

Awesome Jay. When I see this kind of fun outreach project I really wish I was closer!

[Will Stephens]

Thanks Tom. Is it also on rubber?

[Will Stephens]

Say a guys was interested in the mover but lives kinda far away. Are you planning on going to the annual gathering in October and could bring it?
Will

[Will Stephens]

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the lead.

[Will Stephens]

The bunbag brand hangs off the harness with straps to the tail. When they lift their tail to deposit their black gold the bag opens. http://bunbag.com/257269.html

[Will Stephens]

This ice and water isn’t a bad idea. I still find tar paper used this way from the late 1800’s on porch frames and the joists are still perfect. And I am excited for a new locust source!

[Will Stephens]

Has anyone here tried the making a ground drive cart with a car/truck axle? Flip the differential backward and use drive shaft for a pto shaft. I would guess an advantage of the tractor platform is that you have the transmission to be able to change pto speed/torque. Truck axle seams lighter and more straightforward construction. I have no experience with either but it is on my someday list to try making an axle version.
As for tractors, ford N9’s seem to be plentiful, cheep, and simple.

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