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Donn Hewes
KeymasterNice looking set up. Home made dolly wheel? The tongue almost looks one piece, is it cut? Thanks for the pictures. Donn
Keymaster600 in one day! I wish. I have about 200 – 300 still on the ground some raked some just mowed yesterday. Line of thunderstorms will be here with in the hour. Never did get sunny here yesterday. Oh, well.
KeymasterGambling? Charlatans! Karl, Now your talking about my knotter on my baler. Please don’t jinks me. We baled about 325 yesterday after subtracting for all the twine we pulled out of the bale chamber. I hope to make 200 at the end of the field day today. Hay drying fast. I could mow in the morning and bale the next day right now. Donn
KeymasterForecast is changing slightly. Now a chance of a shower tonight, tomorrow, and Tomorrow night. Hay making is nothing if not sporting. Will report in Monday morning.
KeymasterHi Neal and Jay, I have used one of the New ideas off and on for a few years before finally giving it up. Mine was in bad shape and I was always fixing it. Scaring horses when the bars break, etc. I think Jay is right about letting them figure out a new machine, but I would add one thing. On side hills mine allways pushed the tongue on the up hill horse. I switched to a 48″ evener and neck yoke, and liked everything about that. easier to turn in tight places I believe.
KeymasterMost of the haybine guards say NH 218 on them or something to that effect. I don’t think you need a haybine model number. Just ask for standard double guards.
KeymasterHave you tried a regular haybine guard? My experience with JD is limited, but on the machines I have seen or worked on the same guards fit as on a McD. It is the knife in most JD that has a slightly different hole spacing. The guard spacing is usually three inches.
KeymasterHi Mitch and George, I first discovered stub guards in much the same way. On a trip to Indiana for HPD I found Amish mowing second cutting alfalfa with out grass boards. Two or three stub guards instead. ( Also called a turtle guard, or pea guard, by the Amish). When I go to HPD, I like to spend one day or afternoon driving in a circle about ten miles from the sight. Most local Amish are out working in their fields without even thinking about HPD. You get a chance to see the equipment and methods that are really common to the area, instead of the latest and greatest. I loaded some loose hay that day, stacked bales on a wagon, and mowed a couple rounds without a grass board.
Just for the fun of it I have done a lot of mowing with out a grass board (usually while clipping pastures). It can be quite a challenge and it improves your technique, but invariably you put it back on for those heavy first cuttings of hay. For one, it is almost impossible to teach some one to mow with out one. Second, I believe the Amish are taking them off and putting them back on ( I think that was true in Indiana as well). Certainly in my neighborhood I have sold about a half a dozen grass boards (sold out) to the Amish in the last four weeks.
You can see why you would take it off for a light, quick drying crop like alfalfa, also stemy and easy to cut. The metal grass boards work fine.
George you may find it easier to mow that first pass against the hedge / fence first. With a six or seven foot bar you usually only need one trip. The mower will mow the rolled over hay and just watch your inner shoe, to prevent plugging. usually leaves a little strip of um mowed.
KeymasterHi Michael, Nice looking place and animals. I will follow this post with interest as my wife and I will soon be advertising for something similar. We have had interns for several years and I think we will continue to; but soon another house on our farm will come available, and we have been imagining an independent farmer living there that might work for us on occasion in exchange for rent. It will be interesting to see how this idea develops. Donn
KeymasterHi Geoff, Try Master Equipment / Joe’s Repair; They have a metal grass board. Be sure to ask for a bolt and spring. They are listed in the equip buyers guide.
KeymasterI have the vinyl covered foam pads on all my collars. They have worked for me.
KeymasterHi Bob, Interesting the difference of conditions and tools. I used a haybine for several years but don’t any more. Mowing with a sickle bar mower. I mowed about six acres of light hay on Thursday afternoon. Follow that with a few showers and tedding, then a warm muggy day of high humidity, and the hay is slowly starting to dry. Chance of showers this afternoon and I will try to rake and bale before that. Tough sledding some days.
KeymasterHi all, This a small suggestion as I think you are doing all the right things, and teaching them to go slow can be difficult. Over the years I have slowly come to the conclusion that the less said the better. Easier to hide your stray emotins that way. Horses don’t understand our language anyway. I am seeking to improve my hands ability to convey the message. I would start by demanding the pace that I need. Then seek every opportunity to lighten up, (pulsing to slow), encouraging the behavior I want with the lines. Permit them to relaxe. Good luck with that. I know David Fisher at Natural roots is useing a water wheel transplanter. I think he has just one team that can do that job. Fun to watch him cultivate tiny emerging plants at a slow walk.
KeymasterI used the torch to cut an old baring off a spindle the other day. Worked great I left the tiniest piece and cut in two places, then cut it out with a cold chisel. Spindle came out fine. tight quarters on a neighbors crimper.
KeymasterEthan, I agree with you that I think these things are taught, but I just don’t think it is taught all at once. If an a horse is “busy”, nervous or just “not relaxed”; making him stand will seldom help it improve. Rather give him meaningful work to do. Rest when rest is needed. Encourage relaxation while standing.
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