Spreader Manure Spreader Table Drive - How it works?

[BEB101B]

We have a New Holland 202 Manure Spreader which was inherited. We can get the "throwers," flails and shreaders to work, but when we work the table drive lever, nothing seems to engage to drive it to work. The lever does not seem to make anything go onto the ratchet wheel, which is on the axle on that side of the spreader. There are two 2 inch springs on that wheel, and one large spring (maybe 8 inches long associated with the bar that comes back from the lever at the front of the spreader. Would like to know how the thing is supposed to work to drive the table chain.
Also, there is manure in the table chain - is it important to get that out before starting the chain drive?

 

[tessiers]

Not familiar with that particular model but they are designed to be started while full. I have a JD and a New Idea and both use a pitman arm arangement off the axle that actually pushes a gear a small amout each time it cycles. They come out of gear by limiting the length of the cycle on the pitman arm to miss the gear altogether. Possibly something rusted to prevent movement. Yours is a similar arangement. They are relatively simple and easy to work on, back then things were made to fix.

Here is a parts breakdown. 202 NH GROUND DRIVEN MANURE SPREADER

Good luck!!!