[Donn Hewes]

Hitch carts they are called, and they are available. Most don’t include the PTO in the same cart but I am sure that can and has been done as well. Some were in the archives is a nice picture of one that was demo’ed at NEAPFD about 3 years ago. If my memory serves me, it was a four wheeled cart with battery power for the lift. Others use a hydraulic accumulator to power the lift. hydraulic accumulators take power from the wheels and store it as hydraulic pressure until you need it.

[Donn Hewes]

I don’t think it will run a baler, at least not very well. Wouldn’t be hard to find out, though. I think it would need to be heavier, and need more horses to pull it.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Andy and Mitch, Yes, I will take some pictures with out the guards. I knew I should before I put them on, but you know how hard it is to stop.

My gear ratios ended up a fair bit different than the ones I got from Mitch, but his cart is built on a #9 (High Gear?). By my calculations Mitches cart would hit 540 rpm on the PTO shaft at about 4 1/2 mph. I decided I wanted it to go faster, 540 rpms on the PTO at about 3 1/2 mph. Realize of course that I have only used it once, but I liked the way it fired up and worked at a variety of horse walking paces. Up hill, down hill, etc. I did stall it out on a dead furrow. But then I stall all my rakes and baler on those **** dead furrows.

I have a 12 tooth sprocket on the flywheel side and 24 teeth on the PTO side. For the price of a gear and a hub it would be pretty easy to change. Andy, you can give this baby a nod in your workshop with Mark if you like. It will be there. D

[Donn Hewes]

I have some friends that want a mower just like that! Would you be able to post some stills so we can see how you put it together. Nice work. I liked the raking it for mulch too.

[Donn Hewes]

All my horses and mules voted in favor of these contraptions! (face nets) I imagine a swather wouldn’t be much harder to pull than a rake or tedder? I am not sure how big of a spreader it will handle, I guess I would doubt it would be very big. I am really unsure as to whethers this cart requires three head or not. I know they make two horse PTO carts that pull tedders and rakes no problem, but this 14′ tedder seemed like easy work that took some effort for a couple hills and rough spots and heavy spots in the hay. The horses and mule were fresh when I took them off after an hour and a half, but that is what I want as I will likely turn around and rake or mow more hay. Pictures soon.

[Donn Hewes]

Jason, I didn’t buy one, I made it from a #7 mower body! Waiting to get some pictures back from a friend.

[Donn Hewes]

Fat horse report: I think my fattest horses have lost a little weight, but not much. I should make up a weight tape for them. I have made Connie and Lady’s collars smaller. I tried a grazing muzzle for a week or two, and decided it was not for me. It left marks on the mares face. Currently I am useing my old system, but being more careful to not overfeed them at lunch (one bale for five horses). Making sure to not cheat and turn them out early, or bring them in late. Also we have put them in a few places that could be cleaned up pretty close.

Leslie, I prefer a single strand of poly wire to electronet for horses. I have put them in electonet once or twice, but it would be pretty easy for them to put a hoof in the fence.

[Donn Hewes]

I think the one advantage of a combine over a reaper / binder is that I can leave the straw in the field. I will plow that in with the clover in the spring.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Jay, I have many good #7 parts as I have take two apart to make one. I have an excellent set of gears from a broken frame. I say excellent because it was probably one of the best mowers I ever had before I hit a tree stump. I also have many of the bolt on levers and parts as I had a mower I bought for 15$ with a broken wheel. I have one good wheel! I will try to call you later in the week. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

NOFA NY has for a few years had a pilot project that aims to increase the number of small, local produces of grain crops, as well as, determine which of the varieties (both heritage and new) are best suited for the small plots. I got my seed from them at a good price. I will save some of my seed, but I may also try some of the other varieties.

Oliver 18 has a seven foot cut. It was hard to get the whole thing in the grain as the right hand horse ended up in the grain crop as well! The owner and I spent a couple days patching holes and cleaning it up, and it worked pretty good.

[Donn Hewes]

I use two stub guards but I could see useing three or four. When I first saw the amish mowing without a grass board it was in a high value crop like second cutting alfalfa. Definitely help them dry it. I have done a lot of clipping with out a grass board – it really in improves your steering, but for some folks I am teaching is is really frustrating because of more plugging. This year I have been doing more hay mowing as well as clipping and all the mower’s have boards on again. There is a stub guard made for haybines that doesn’t work so great. Get a good stub guard from Mcnair or Brubake or Peachy. A good stub guard is a pea guard with an up turned knife section riveted to it.

As for the haybine guards, just make sure the hole spacing is right. I believe there are some John deere and poss. others that use a different hole spacing. I am off to find Rudy’s Repair shop in Fort Plain, NY today. Looking for push bars, guards, pitman parts, and seals!

[Donn Hewes]

Today was Leo’s first day with a tongue and a wheeled cart. He is pretty mellow, so we just took a couple extra precuations and hooked him up. Used a halter and a lead rope then just had a handler stand by. After a few minutes we hung up the rope and went for a little ride. There are a few pictures here, but the camara went dead half wat through.

[Donn Hewes]

Andy, I wouldn’t worry about the offset evener until you see that you need it. That horse is going to have a good engine on it. Even thought the collar may be too big you could drag fence posts around with it. At least that is what it looks like to me.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Geoff, yes those were last weeks pictures! Not sure what we will do with Leo. I think I could probably buy him if I wanted to, but they are not really trying to sell him. I think it is just a deal between friends, I will work with him for a while and see what comes of it. I have a few bigger logs for Leo today and I will hook him up with George for a team mate. He was skidding a few logs single yesterday. I think he had that, ” were did this guy come from?” moment yesterday.

I never bale clippings any more. I am a clipping fanatic. No matter how heavy it is good stuff grows up through it. In dry weather it is a mulch that conserves moisture. In rainy weather it protects the soil from erosion and slows the run off. Like mowing a green cover crop in a market garden, it is getting the plant residue down to the soil level were microbes can go to work incorporating it.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Hoss, Yes, Connie has been open faced since I got her; about a year and a half. I like the open faced horse, but she is one of the first horses I have had that never for a moment questioned it. Leo has been started open faced, but in the early stages he seems a little too attentive to what I am doing back there. A little of that is to be expected, but time will tell if he stays with out blinders.

George, he is not really a big horse, probably 16-1 or 2 and 1600#. After only a couple days I am pleased with what he is doing. I will have to control myself to not push him to work too quick.

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