What exactly is this JD Machine called?

slowzuki · Sep 9, 2004

It is called a hay fluffer, kinda a left over from horse drawn equipment days.
Ken

RichZ · Sep 9, 2004

Hey!!! Or should I say...Hay!!! I have one of those!!! It was marketed by Deere in the early '60's, and it's called a hay fluffer. It works well, but the only trouble is that the hay gets caught up in the tines, and you have to clean it out often as you're fluffing. People got frustrated with them, so they only marketed them for a few years. I use mine if I cut SMALL areas, and I want the hay to dry out faster for baling. It really does fluff it, and it really does decrease drying time...but you have to get off the tractor and clean out the tinnes about every 15 minutes..if you're lucky...so it isn't really viable for large acreage haying.

I picked mine up real cheap at a farm sale. Like you I never saw one before, and had to see if it worked. I did a lot of research on it to get the little info I have on it.

KiotiJohn · Sep 9, 2004

( Now, I have seen many a dethatcher, which are used, curriously enough, to dethatch, which I presume means untangle the grass after the winter.)
A dethatcher actually is designed to pull of the grass, straw and other organic material that builds up around the ground surface surrounding the grass and choking it, and also keeping nutrients and water from easily getting to the roots. This machine in the post is not a dethatcher as they would have a different configuration on the spring tines that would engage the thatch and pull it up to the surface where it can then be raked off. Really helps the lawn when there is a lot of build up. John

sweettractors · Sep 10, 2004

RichZ, Thanks for that first hand info. This confirms what I thought. I cant wait to try it out on some fall cutting hay. Looks like we will need the hay Fluffed, if we get it up between the Hurrricane rains. From what you are telling me and the serial # on the machine, I am guessing that there were only a few of them produced at most?--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Nice Used Farmall C with 2 row Cultivators, $1750*

RichZ · Sep 10, 2004

Ken, yes not many of them were made, they weren't much of a successful seller for Deere. I've actually been offered ten times what I paid for mine, but I think it's a neat implement, so I'm keeping it!!!

Don't get too excited, I picked mine up for $25 at a farm sale, and a Deere collector happened to see me towing it home, and offered me $250 on the spot for it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

sweettractors · Sep 10, 2004

a Deere collector happened to see me towing it home 

I can relate to your story, I had a older neighbor that recently sold out and in his auction was a 320 JD 2 Cyl tractor. I knew that I was going to bid up to $6000 for it and the local Deere dealer paid $8500 for it. Most everyone thought he had lost his marbles. The following Monday, He had it sold to a fellow in Fl. for $12,500. --Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 11 Bu. Seeder/Spreaders $320, Assembled*