New Idea Corn Picker....

Tobync · Aug 12, 2006

Howdy all, I'm looking to get a one or two row corn picker(snapper). I'm leaning toward a NI 323 or 324. I was just wondering about other folks thoughts on either of these two, or any other models. I've got 4-5 acres planted. Thanks Toby

floridahay · Aug 12, 2006

I don't know if I can help you about the different models but I have always heard that the New Ides was about the best corn picker. I have used an old Ford and was pleased with the job that it did. One big plus with the New Idea was that it was pulled by the drawbar and was easy to hook and unhook. The Ford was a mounted picker and was much harder to hook and unhook. I don't know about the parts availability but New Idea is now owned by Agco.

7864 · Aug 13, 2006

Be aware of the row spacing of the picker if you find a two row.Most of the pickers had spacings of 36-40"and that will not work very well with 30" planted corn(which is what most modern planters are set at)The row spacing is why I have seen most of the pickers priced very cheap.There are some narrow row ones out there but they are not very common.New Idea pickers were considered the best by most of the old timers,and were the most common brand.

oliver28472 · Aug 18, 2006

You can probably find one at Meekins Auction down in Lumberton. Call and ask for Mickey or Roger.

Tobync · Aug 25, 2006

Thanks for the replys , I didn't know about the spaceing on the 2 rows, hadn't even given it much thought. I have been in touch with "Meekins" they have (3) 2 rows, a little more then I have to put into one, but as one man told me , you can "pay upfront, or pay when you fix it". Thanks for all the info .

Brandondj · Aug 1, 2009

Regarding the wide-row versus narrow-row issue, has anyone tried it? I have also heard that 30 inch rows need narrow row pickers, but I just talked to a farmer who said that the wide-row picker worked fine for him. He did say that he was using the sheller attachment, so I wonder if this somehow has an effect on his judgement about how well a wide-row picker picks on 30 inch rows.
Any thoughts? Thanks.

Brandondj · Aug 1, 2009

Also, do the various models of new idea corn pickers work with the same sheller bed attachment?

rambler · Aug 12, 2009

Brandondj said:
Regarding the wide-row versus narrow-row issue, has anyone tried it? I have also heard that 30 inch rows need narrow row pickers, but I just talked to a farmer who said that the wide-row picker worked fine for him. He did say that he was using the sheller attachment, so I wonder if this somehow has an effect on his judgement about how well a wide-row picker picks on 30 inch rows.
Any thoughts? Thanks.

I bought an old NI wide row picker for $30. The fella planted in 30 inch rows, and the wide-row picker did not work out for him. He had taken the inner gathering chains off, said that helped some, but still didn't work well.

It does work a bit to make silage using the wrong size header.

but you have to understand, the stalk is dead when you pick ear corn. Hit it off 4 or more inches _all_ the time, and it will bend forward and break off, or the ear will shake out of the husk off to the side & in the ground.

Some will say it works, but it doesn't work well for mature corn.

--->Paul

pedalstomper78 · Oct 16, 2011

ALong the lines of the corn pickers.....what kind of horsepower do you need for one?

sweettractors · Oct 16, 2011

I have 2 2 row NI pickers for $1000 each. They both need a little oil and greased and chains adjusted. 38-40 inch row spacing. Take $1800 for both. Ken Sweet

ohio farmer04 · Nov 20, 2011

looking 323 one row picker ? price parts?

rambler · Nov 21, 2011

pedalstomper78 said:
ALong the lines of the corn pickers.....what kind of horsepower do you need for one?

30-35 hp for a one row, 40+ for a 2 row super picker - depends what size wgon you are pulling, a tad more wouldn't hurt. I can pick a small load easy with my 27 hp compact tractor & the 3row superpicker, but only 50 bu load, and use a slow gear - trade speed for hp. To get something done in a day, the 85hp tractor gets me through heavy corn around 200 bu per acre, and wetish ground with a 220 bu wagon.....

--->Paul

AKfish · Nov 22, 2011

My cousin's are still using their 2-row New Idea picker. Gotta be at least 30 years runnin', now.

Think they've got it hooked up to a Case/IH 8620... gotta be 155hp or so!

They still feed whole ear corn to their stock cows - drive along in the pasture and string out a line of ear corn. Cows buckin' and runnin' and kickin' in the air to get to that corn!

AKfish

ohio farmer04 · Nov 24, 2011

what good price?
what parts

AKfish · Nov 25, 2011

ohio farmer04 said:
what good price?
what parts

Have you looked at Ritchie Brothers or Tractorhouse for auction results? You can "root" around in the old auction results for prices on various equipment.

As well, Tractorhouse has some listing's for parts - salvage and part's machines (carcasses..).

Gotta dig around - high and low - for that real old stuff!

AKfish

ohio farmer04 · Nov 28, 2011

$2800 good 1 row 323 look good ?

can dealers order parts?

HayDR · Dec 5, 2011

Brandondj said:
Regarding the wide-row versus narrow-row issue, has anyone tried it? I have also heard that 30 inch rows need narrow row pickers, but I just talked to a farmer who said that the wide-row picker worked fine for him. He did say that he was using the sheller attachment, so I wonder if this somehow has an effect on his judgement about how well a wide-row picker picks on 30 inch rows.
Any thoughts? Thanks.

A single row NEW IDEA will work on 30 or 36" spacing. If you buy a double row you have to match the spacing of the planter.

ohio farmer04 · Nov 3, 2012

where good picker? ohio

pete59 · Nov 3, 2012

Dad had a new idea mounted picker on our row crop 65 MF that was about 42 hp. ,then my brother bought a super picker and put it on a 730 case had a husking bed and a sheller also. Both ran very well, never broke and the local coop said we always
had the cleanest corn around, never got docked for FM.I will say this,mounted picking was a very dirty job and the 65 had a fire now and then because of the horizontal muffler.

creece · Nov 4, 2012

The new idea pickers are one of the best if not the best. I have two one row pickers that I use. The oldest is a 302 and the other is a new model but still has age on it. I just bought it at an auction sale. It has some age but has not picked over 50 acres. It had been setting in a neighbors barn for years. I bought it at 12:00 and pulled it to the farm about 5 miles behind a pickup truck. I cleaned the rats nest out of it, adjusted and oiled the chains, greased the whole machine and hooked it to the little Ford 3600 and let it run a few minutes. I then took it to the field and picked about 2 acres of sorry corn (because of the drought) and it worked fine. I am just saying that the old machines are out there and new parts are still available for them. I replace the main drive gears on the 302 last year and I order the replacements parts new.