2016 Hay season started for me.

cat fever · Sep 18, 2016

flusher said:
Real nice looking drill. Very similar to the Minneapolis Moline P3-6 drill I restored nearly 10 years ago. Except mine has the 48" diameter steel wheels. Bought two of these drills from a neighbor for $275. Used parts from both to make one good drill. Took several months to do the complete restoration. One drill had the dual trip clutches and the other was completely manual. So I added a hydraulic ram to the second one so I wouldn't have to have to pull the ropes to operate the trip clutches.

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Good luck

Great looking restoration. I hope mine will look half that good when I'm done.
Did you sell all your equipment when you sold the farm?

flusher · Sep 18, 2016

powerscol said:
Nice looking set up. Question - where did you find the hitch ball receiver to fit the end of the old hitch? Or did you weld a bracket on? Could you please take a photo or two on how you did that?

Here's what I have. I sold that drill about two years ago.

powerscol · Sep 19, 2016

Thanks - gives me some thoughts to work from.

powerscol · Sep 19, 2016

Well got 28 good dry bales off of the two small side lots - about 1.5 acres. Probably running 1.25 tones per acre for the third cutting. Moisture content on the bales was running 8 to 10% I tend to bale the grasses on the dry side - no barn fires for me.
I now have enough good hay to feed the horses through the winter and then some. Next task is to cut the neighbors 12 to 15 acres before frost. Weekend is looking good depending on the forecast. Were getting showers for the next 4 days. I am getting good with the grapple as it only took 15 minutes to stack in the field. Tomorrow it goes in the barn once I move stuff out of the way

I am debating on the fall fertilization, as spring application seemed to do better. It needs nitrogen as a lot of the grass was pale.

Spent yesterday replacing blades on my 9' sickle bar - not fun. I was able to get most off with the vice and BFH, but others I had to grind the rivet heads off. Big issue was drive head as I had to drill most of them out there. This was a 40 year old knife bar, so I did expect some issues. Went back with bolt on sections - much easier. Now to install and adjust, More fun. I am hoping to cut wit it and save the tedding that is required after using the drum mower, which did leave a very good cut once I could see after getting things baled.

cat fever · Sep 20, 2016

powerscol said:
Well got 28 good dry bales off of the two small side lots - about 1.5 acres. Probably running 1.25 tones per acre for the third cutting. Moisture content on the bales was running 8 to 10% I tend to bale the grasses on the dry side - no barn fires for me.
I now have enough good hay to feed the horses through the winter and then some. Next task is to cut the neighbors 12 to 15 acres before frost. Weekend is looking good depending on the forecast. Were getting showers for the next 4 days. I am getting good with the grapple as it only took 15 minutes to stack in the field. Tomorrow it goes in the barn once I move stuff out of the way I am debating on the fall fertilization, as spring application seemed to do better. It needs nitrogen as a lot of the grass was pale.

Spent yesterday replacing blades on my 9' sickle bar - not fun. I was able to get most off with the vice and BFH, but others I had to grind the rivet heads off. Big issue was drive head as I had to drill most of them out there. This was a 40 year old knife bar, so I did expect some issues. Went back with bolt on sections - much easier. Now to install and adjust, More fun. I am hoping to cut wit it and save the tedding that is required after using the drum mower, which did leave a very good cut once I could see after getting things baled.

Very nice, sure wish we could split the rain you have been getting.
I agree on the riveted blades, I have all mine changed to the bolt on style. I can put new blades on in the field if needed. I do have a complete spare cutter bar that is still all rivets. Might be a late fall project to get that one all changed over.
Glad you got all the hay you need for winter.:thumbsup:

Creamer · Sep 21, 2016

I have never tried bolt on but I find the rivets very easy. Nothing beats a section of railroad rail to take a section off or put it back on though. Turn the rail on its side and lay the sickle bar on what was the bottom surface of the rail. One tap per rivet and they pop right off. Stand the rail upright and put a rivet through the hole and tap it to set the rivet. Put another rivet in the other hole and set that one. Then two more whacks of the hammer and that rivet is solid. I have to punch the rivets out on the drive head after knocking the section out cutting them off and it takes a little finesse to form the rivets here but still I can do a complete 9' sickle in 30 minutes.

Don't do this much anymore but I did get very good at it when I was younger. it was the 16 and 18 sickles that I needed help with to hold them upright to work with.

birddog0304 · Sep 22, 2016

Creamer that's what we used also when I was growing up. Disc mowers now

powerscol · Sep 26, 2016

Folks - I need a bit of luck. Saturday I used the PZ 170 to cut the neighbors 10 acres. The grass was just dry, but ground damp from rain showers the previous days. I tedded yesterday mid day, and did the first rake today starting a 4 PM. So far things look good - more than 1/2 way there. We have heavy rain coming Wednesday evening, depending on which forecast I look at. I'll do the final raking tomorrow mid day, and one field may be ready tomorrow evening. The other should be ready Wednesday afternoon. Luck is needed that my 503 rake holds up. I have a leaking bearing, but it has not gotten hot so far. I already have made plans to stack and cover in the field. Ill take a bunch of pallets up and the tarps tomorrow. The good news the hay is sold $4 to 6$ a bale. Problem there are some sections with lots of Alfalfa the the stems are not drying. Luck right now is what I need as I am at the limit of my skill. Its up to the sun now.

powerscol · Sep 27, 2016

powerscol said:
Folks - I need a bit of luck. Saturday I used the PZ 170 to cut the neighbors 10 acres. The grass was just dry, but ground damp from rain showers the previous days. I tedded yesterday mid day, and did the first rake today starting a 4 PM. So far things look good - more than 1/2 way there. We have heavy rain coming Wednesday evening, depending on which forecast I look at. I'll do the final raking tomorrow mid day, and one field may be ready tomorrow evening. The other should be ready Wednesday afternoon. Luck is needed that my 503 rake holds up. I have a leaking bearing, but it has not gotten hot so far. I already have made plans to stack and cover in the field. Ill take a bunch of pallets up and the tarps tomorrow. The good news the hay is sold $4 to 6$ a bale. Problem there are some sections with lots of Alfalfa the the stems are not drying. Luck right now is what I need as I am at the limit of my skill. Its up to the sun now.

Well God Bless; 103 good bales second cutting off of about 7 acres stacked and tarped in the field. I will load out in the morning, just in time for the afternoon storms. I started bailing at about 4:30, finished by 6, then went to gathering and stacking. My overhead light bar saved my butt. No moon, yet it mad it look like daylight. boy am I beat.

cat fever · Sep 27, 2016

powerscol said:
Well God Bless; 103 good bales second cutting off of about 7 acres stacked and tarped in the field. I will load out in the morning, just in time for the afternoon storms. I started bailing at about 4:30, finished by 6, then went to gathering and stacking. My overhead light bar saved my butt. No moon, yet it mad it look like daylight. boy am I beat.

Glad it all worked out for you. Nothing better than having good hay under cover.