Want a mower Dolly wheel?

[Donn Hewes]

I just got word from Leon Brubaker of Fort Trevorton, Pa. He will make or get dolly wheels for a mowing machine and deliver them to me at the Cortland auction, one week before NEAPFD. Anyone want one? I am getting two more for myself.

This is a single hard rubber dolly wheel with a steel frame, made for mowing machines and is 175$. Easy to install with a drill and three 1/2″ bolts. They are built with the evener spring standard, also a spring on the dolly wheel, also a grease fitting for the dolly wheel post. I got one from him last spring and have used it all summer. I think they are great. I especially think they are good for any one with smaller horses (Halflingers for example) and are not useing a D ring harness. Your horses will mow farther and easier. Two little things that the dolly wheel does which are worth the cost to me are: first I never have to pick up the tongue and put a block back under it after grazing sheep knock it off. Second it is so easy to pick up and attach it to the neck yoke. I know, call me old, soft, and lazy, but it is nice to pick up and hold will hooking up.

If some one wants one, let me know and I can bring it to NEAPFD. I would like to get paid before I take them from Leon at the Cortland Auction. There are some pictures floating around here somewhere. Donn 607-849-4442

[Plowboy]

Is that the same Brubaker that dabbles in JD equipment? If you have his phone# Please PM it to me. He used to have an answering service but all we can find for him is an address. We need some parts for our JD cornbinder and he had some when we had the last problems with it. Thanks Dennis

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Dennis, I don’t see why I can’t leave his number here. Same Folks, I visited his shop last year but lost the number; found it at:farmingwithhorses.com – A J+I web site. 212-696-6410. I bought a Percheron mare last week. A real tall drink of water but so far she seems great. Will try a little plowing this week with a hitch of five. Three in front of two. Hope you are having a good summer. Donn

[Mark Cowdrey]

Donn,

Does adding the dolly wheel make the whole rig longer? How is it on roughish ground & hills?

Thanks,
Mark

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Mark, Good questions. No, it really doesn’t make it longer. They come with a new draft rod from the evener to the knife head, but that is so it fit’s just beside the tongue and not under it. Once you cut the tongue, you take off a few inches and bolt the rest back on the front. I would say there is not really any vibration left going up the pole. Some of that may be transferred to the operator. Anyway I don’t think it will make a rough machine ride smooth. The ride on mine has been fine. I have taken to using a seat cushion on all my steel seats, but I am getting soft, you know. When I mow, then ted, and then rake, and then bale some hay, I was ending up with a sore butt. I also noticed that you are really on a machine with a shorter wheel base. When you go through a dead furrow in the field you will notice the pitch and roll more, but not such that it bothered me.
I can’t think of much to say about hills. I have pulled one long stretch of moderate up hill (about ten acres) and the horses an mules seemed to be working as easily as my other mower. For anyone worried about low tongue height, a dolly wheel keeps your drive shaft, pitman and knife right were they belong. I think most of us don’t operate with the 32″ or what ever the tip of the tongue is supposed to be.

[J-L]

Thanks for posting that Donn. I’ve been considering a dolly/crazy wheel for one mower. I too have some mules that aren’t tall enough to come even close to 32″ at the end of the tongue. I’m not even sure my bigger mules will make it at that height.
I may give this guy a call and try and get one this fall after I sell my calves. Can’t hurt to try.

[karl t pfister]

donn do you think you might find that photo of the wheel , I have a motor forecart that could use a little support ? Thanks for your effort and help Karl

[Donn Hewes]

The photos of the dolly wheel in action are in the “mule” section, in the thread called “horses and mules mowing”. It is about the third one down. There is not a real close up. I could take one if some one really wanted one. Donn

[J-L]

Please do take a close up Donn. Thanks

[Donn Hewes]

Here is a close up picture. My wife spoke with Leon last night and he was happy to bring five dolly wheels for me to the Cortland auction. It was unclear how many more I could get in that time frame – I would have to ask him. He gave us a ten dollar discount so these are $165! Donn

[J-L]

Looks like a really good setup Donn. Thanks for posting it. Cortland is a little out of my way though. I may have to order one of these.

[Donn Hewes]

JL, How are you at welding? I would like to ask Leon if you could buy a kit with all the parts except the 4″ channel. I am not a great welder but I think I could put it together if I had the parts. How is it going this summer? Horses and mules keeping busy?

[J-L]

I’m a fair hand at welding and can get the metal. The kit would really be a great option as far as shipping goes. Please do find out.
Been very busy here with haying. Kind of a hit and miss deal. I’ve been using one team pretty regular, the other one is fat. That will change as soon as I get the hay baled. I had to get a round baler and speed things up. The good thing with that is that all of it will go to the stackyard with my mules pulling it. Lot’s of hay.
I had a major breakdown of my bale stacker, so we put a couple thousand bales in by hand (so far). Had good help from my kids and my cousin (who lurks here but is too chicken to post). I plan on another couple thousand little bales and the rest will be the round type.
I’ve got some poles and firewood to get out this fall on a private parcel. I pulled some out for a church group last year using my animals. Since then I’ve had a few people contact me to do some thinning and remove some beetle kill. Can’t wait to get back in the timber.
Are you folks done haying in your neck of the woods? We’ve had a couple good frost’s here this last week or 10 days and I see some leaves turning. Makes me urgent with the haying.

[Lingodog13]

Now J-L, be gentle. I’m learning, not lurking! Until I have something valuable to contribute here, I should probably just be still. 🙂

[J-L]

So Lingodog what do you think of the dollywheel setup? If they could just send a kit (or two?) we might be able to put a couple on our mowers. Maybe when we are more flush with money? Think about it.

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