Swath Boards

[J-L]

Another thing I’ve been wondering is where to get my hands on swath boards for #9’s? I have a #4 JD as well and would like to get metal grass boards for all these mowers. Anyone know a source for them?

[mitchmaine]

hi j-l, those metal swarthboards used to be available at all tractor supply and dealerships. haven’t had to look for one in a long time cause they last pretty well. i remember they did not come with a spring bolt. you probably know that the amish as a rule don’t use them. they put 3-4 pea guards on the pitman end of the bar and they chop through the lodged hay pretty good. i tried it and it seemed to work well but went back to the grassboard. must have been all the alfalfa hay they make not drying well balled up at the end of the swath.

mitch

[Rivendell Farm]

I bought one of those steel grass boards some years ago from the local Amish welding shop that rebuilds mowers. They’re probably available from places that sell parts for horsedrawn mowers. I found you don’t need them on second cutting if you have the three stub guards on the inner end of the bar, but in first cutting I needed a grass board to make a visible path to follow the next time around. This is especially true if the hay is lodged, since the cut alfalfa or clover looks almost the same as the uncut. Bob

[J-L]

Thanks guys. I’ve looked on line at a few places with no luck. Our local parts house isn’t worth a crap unless it’s for something new (and actually not worth a damn for that either). I’m going to give a call to Norm Macknair and see if they can get them.

[Does’ Leap]

Is there an advantage to a metal grass board? Why not make it out of wood? I made my last one out of 5/4 yellow birch and it is stout.

George

[Marshall]

I bought one several years ago from Macknairs. I would imagine he still has them.

[J-L]

I’m sure a wood one is fine. Not much around here but Lodgepole pine though.

[near horse]

Hi Wes,

I think I got one from MackNair’s or Balster’s – can get them complete with the metal “edging”, spring etc or just the board alone. Also – remember the grass stick that really does most of the “tipping” of the grass to leave you a path for the next pass. You can make one of those pretty easily.

[J-L]

Thanks Geoff.

My problem is that there isn’t enough left of any of the swathboards to make a pattern. The steel ones I use with my New Holland tractor mowers worked just fine and lasted forever. Wish I had one of them back. If I keep an eye out there might be one on a derelict mower.

[Y 4 Ranch]

Wes,
I’ll trade ya! Got one, just need to get together to swap. A NH and a wood pattern.
Mike

[Lingodog13]

J-L, the one on my old #7 was complete enough for a pattern. Will it work for you? Let me know and I’ll throw it in the next time I’m heading your way.

[LostFarmer]

I am in the same boat. I need a board for my 9 and JD#4. I think I could make one from some hard wood if I could find a pattern. Have some 3/4″ teak that I picked up from a job that would work great and last forever. Any patterns available on line?

[near horse]

@LostFarmer 26762 wrote:

I am in the same boat. I need a board for my 9 and JD#4. I think I could make one from some hard wood if I could find a pattern. Have some 3/4″ teak that I picked up from a job that would work great and last forever. Any patterns available on line?

Hey Lost,

I don’t have a pattern but I just got a JD #4 manual. Would be glad to send it your way if you want to copy it – just send it back when you’re done. Let me know if you want it.

BTW – are you part of the Intermountain Draft Horse Association?

[J-L]

Well, I did find a couple old metal swathboards right after I posted this. One is on an old JD trail mower (#9 I think) and looks like it’ll work. The other one is on an old bar assembly that I found in an old shed on the ranch. I think I can get them to work.
On top of that the Lost Farmer found a website that has a nice one made of sheet steel and round spring steel for $36. Looks like a very good outfit from what I saw and is similar to one I used on an old New Holland 450 tractor mower. The one on the New Holland was an after market job and not their standard one. This is a dead ringer for that old one and it worked great for me.
The name of the company is Woodward Crossing Country Basics for anyone wanting to look at their stuff. They’re located in PA.

[LostFarmer]

http://shop.woodwardcrossingscountrybasics.com/SwathboardComplete-All-Steel-Clean-Sweep-for-Hay-Mowers-81C94.htm

This is the site J-L was talking about.

Thanks for the offer Geoff, I have the owners manual and a parts manual for the #4. I figure if it comes down to it I can make one from the picture. I also ordered one of those new after market ones. This mower already will have new style guards as well as other modern parts so authentic is not a big issue. I want this pig to work when it is done.

LF

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