[Jay]

I use a puller like the one Donn describes- it is just under the diameter of the bushing and has a shoulder that fits inside the bushing, and a hole in the middle for threaded rod. The originals were split- it’s very hard to dig or chisel them out without damaging the housing. I will take them out and install your new one for $50 here at my shop. Takes about an hour and a half start to finish if no complications. Jay

[Jay]

Ditto all of the above about use what you have on hand and just use common sense/care. They are made to be used in real situations, and don’t need extra care, just regular attention. The seals are pretty easy to replace and readily available at the auto parts stores or from Macknair. If the bushing is worn, it can be replaced and is available, but it’s a little more of a job to get out and then get the new one in straight, but again well worth doing if it’s worn. I have just replaced 2 pitman shafts where they were worn along with the bushing to the point where there was too much slop- again shaft from Macknair. Jay

[Jay]

As was said earlier, D ring harness and most all of that goes away. The pole can weigh what ever it does and the horse’s backs carry the weight, the pole is secured tightly side to side with the tight hitch, so not much bounce there. Jay

[Jay]

Pretty slick. I like the discharge hose. Jay

[Jay]

George, I use the narrower eveners almost exclusively unless the job specifically warrents a wider one. My horses are about 1400 lbs. so moderate in size. I find the narrower ones work fine. With a wider evener, I find it catches more in the edge of the unmowed grass, bending it forward which sometime interferes with clean cutting. Jay

[Jay]

Welcome and ask away. That’s what this is for. Jay

[Jay]

I agree with the above – it’s a tough one to get a handle on. It loves open ground, however it doesn’t like competition. i.e. fast growing overshadowing plants like heavy winter rye crop in autumn or buckwheat sown heavily in the warmer months. Or for smaller areas, cover with cardboard or what ever will NOT let it get it’s green shoots up into the sunlight. We have almost eliminated it from our market garden using smother crops. Pigs also do a job on it though it may take some specific management of them to get them to really clean it up. Jay

[Jay]

A treadmill with 20 qt ice cream freezer ready to set up is about $6K including transport. I don’t have a price on the splitter at the moment – I’ll get it and get back. Jay

[Jay]

We have just finished spreading all our manure and wood ash to boot in the last 4 days, using a NI10A (that came from Billy A comment above) and a Pequea 2 wheel spreader on a forecart. I completely rebuilt the NI a couple of years ago when I got it – new wood – locust – etc. etc. It works great. The borrowed Pequea seems a little heavier even empty, but draws very easily and not have as much draft as I would have expected when in gear and spreading. It also spreads a little wider and more evenly. I am very tempted to look into a 4 wheel version. We spread all at once since we borrow the tractor/loader and go at it with 2 teams and spreaders. We managed about 40-50 loads/day with about 1/4mile travel to the field from the manure and ash piles. The horses sure like the steady work after a winter of no snow and therefor no sleigh rides. Jay

[Jay]

The Date is SATURDAY, MARCH 24. Apologies for getting the date wrong. Jay

[Jay]

One thing I don’t see mentioned very often here that I find makes all the difference in the world is the condition of the mower (or other equipment). Last year we compared 1)A mower that had just been completely over hauled, 2) A mower that looked and seemed good- was reasonably sharp, register right, good ledger plates, etc. and 3) a mower that looked ok but not great (ledger plates worn, knife not sitting down tight on all the ledgers, etc.) but with a sharpened knife. We used them in order 1,2,3 with the same team and on the same field cutting 1 or 2 rounds with each. Results: #1 was a fairly easy pull- no problem cutting even with the grass wet. #2 cut ok, but took about twice the effort to pull on the horses’ part. #3 took about twice the effort of #2 or 4 times the effort of the good mower (#1) and it kept jamming. It has taken me a long time to understand how much difference it makes to the horses and to how much and how easily I can get my work done. Mowers are not all that complicated and a few reasonably simple adjustments can make all the difference in the world for both you and the horses. Jay

[Jay]

I had the chance this past summer to compare. For 30 years, we have put up our 20 acres of hay with the horses. This past June just before haying, I got hurt so we hired a local sold out dairy farmer to mow and bale our hay – we did the raking and tedding with the horses. We normally put it up loose, so it was even more interesting comparison.
Several things stand out to me. With a 9′ haybine, it goes down quicker, but I don’t like the weight of the tractor on the fields. The same with the baling. We were able to put it right onto a wagon behind the baler and straight into the barn. That saved time (and made the whole thing doable as I was still not myself yet) but again I really don’t like the weight of the tractor and heavy baler going all over the field. If you look at the tire tracks in a field that’s been tractor hayed, it usually looks as though the whole field has had tires run over it, compacting the soil. I’m sure that it cuts down on the field’s productivity. It was the right thing for us to do under the circumstances, but I look forward to going back to all horses and putting it in loose.
The bales don’t seem to have saved us much room either in the big mows in the barn. The volume seems to have been just about the same as other years. We do normally pack the loose hay into the mows as we go (“take care of the edges and the middle will take care of it’s self” as the old timer said). There is nothing like clicking along through the hay, watching it fall and being able to hear everything going on around you as you mow. Jay

[Jay]

What is the mower you got?

Jay

[Jay]

I also have a couple of New Ideal mowers w/ 5′ bars. The 2 would pretty near make 1 good one. . I’d be happy for them to be used. I’m in Brattleboro, Vt. Jay Bailey 802-254-9067

[Jay]

I stopped at their booth at HPD this past summer and got a few parts from them. They seem to have almost ALL parts for the MD cults new- including wheels, most all the fittings, etc. etc. I was very impressed. And very nice, helpful folks to deal with. Jay

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