hay wagon rebuild

[BryanM]

I have a quick question for you hay wagon rebuilders! I am rebuilding a dump wagon into just a plain hay wagon and I am stripped down too running gears. I am ready to put my runners on but was told only to anchor them down on caddy corners and the oppisite corners use a chain so that the gear can flex and not loosen the boards, Is that right?

 

[milkman]

Sure makes sense to me, sounds like you've been hearing from some older farmers that have BTDT.

 

[DanD78]

You are right about bolting opsit corners and use a loose chain around the other unbolted front. Wagons need to flex while going through water ways and uneven ground but you don't want the wagon bed to flip over backward when you stack bales on the back. I assume you are pulling the rack behind the baler through the field. Double nut the bolts and leave them a little loose.

Dan

 

[Duffster]

I have a quick question for you hay wagon rebuilders! I am rebuilding a dump wagon into just a plain hay wagon and I am stripped down too running gears. I am ready to put my runners on but was told only to anchor them down on caddy corners and the oppisite corners use a chain so that the gear can flex and not loosen the boards, Is that right?

We don't bolt any of the corners.

Bolt a small peice of angle on to keep the box from sliding forward and back and use a loose chain on all four corners.

 

[BryanM]

I thought if I slotted the brackets that the stringers bolt to that might give me enough movement ? what do you think? I would bolt two opisit corners tight and slot the other corners and double nut a bolt letting the bolt kind of float in the slot on the bracket.

if any of you have a pic of how you didi it well you know what they say about pics and words

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You don't need to slot it. You just leave the chain loose enough that the stringer can raise some but not enough to clear the metal bracket on the running gear. My wagons are all out back right now and I don't think I have any pics of them on here but just bolt the two corners like you were told and then wrap a length of chain around the other two corners and bolt it together. This way if you need to lengthen or shorten the chain you can easily do it.

 

[aczlan]

We will soon be rebuilding one of our hay wagons and I am wondering, what size chain should be used for this? something like 5/16ths or 3/8ths Grade 43?

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We will soon be rebuilding one of our hay wagons and I am wondering, what size chain should be used for this? something like 5/16ths or 3/8ths Grade 43?

Thanks

Aaron Z

Just a simple chain, it doesn't have to be too heavy as all it is designed to do is keep the gear held loose to the deck. The worst situation is the chain has to be strong enough to hold the one corner of the gear up if you go through a ditch angled and most gears don't weigh that much.

 

[aczlan]

Just a simple chain, it doesn't have to be too heavy as all it is designed to do is keep the gear held loose to the deck. The worst situation is the chain has to be strong enough to hold the one corner of the gear up if you go through a ditch angled and most gears don't weigh that much.

Ok, another thing to add to my list of things to get for the rebuild.

Aaron Z

 

[Scotty370]

Boy you guys are on top of things! I remember in my youth as a 10yo, rockin' and rollin' on a flat bed wagon as the New Holland bailer would set up a rythm with its 'packer' mechanism! Probably the 'funnest' years of my life! Hey.......that was only 52+ years ago!
Thanks for the memories.....................IF I were building one today, I'd probably bolt that sucker tight, without regard for all the 'split deck boards', that I'd no doubt be in for! ~S