Farmall Single Row Cotton Picker Advice

I work for the Cotton Improvement Lab at Texas A&M University. We breed new cotton cultivars and germplasm. Our current plot picker is a Farmall Model 114A (serial number 881) mounted on a Farmall H. We have a back up picker that is a 314 mounted on a Farmall 350 and also a picker for parts that appears to be an HM 14 also mounted on an H. The parts picker doesn't really work for us since very few of the parts can be used on the 114A or the 314. The 314 doesn't get a lot of use and never seems to break down. The 114A is our primary picker and has earned the nickname Breakdown Betsy.

As such, we are planning on taking it to a dealership in Taft, TX this winter to have the picker head rebuilt. Our mechanic in College Station has stated that there has to be something wrong with it since it breaks down so much. A lot of parts are also worn out. I had a spindle shaft seize on me and the parts fit was so loose, nothing else broke. Last year this happened and it shattered three of the top spindle shaft bearings.

The mechanic has stated that the HM 14 is a much newer unit with more parts available and it's also tighter. One of the problems with the 114A is that everything was a looser fit to begin with and since this other head is tighter, it shouldn't wear as badly.

So my question is this, since we're paying the money to have a head rebuilt, would it be better to rebuild the HM 14 and put it on or just have the 114A rebuilt?

Ben,

First year for HM 14 was 1952, for 114A was 1959. So much for age when you are looking at 7 or so years out of 51 to 60. Use, wear and operator are more likely the contributing factor to breakdowns. You will have to verify, but bar assemblies should interchange? I would take both to a cotton picker repair shop and ask them to choose the best row unit for rebuilding. You should also check the synchronization of the ground speed to row unit. If this is out, it will result in undue wear to the bars and cam tracks. I can help with some parts and have a 114A complete row unit. Email if I can help.

The bars in the HM 14 are different and they have smaller spindles. I don't know if the previous owner (we purchased it at an auction) has somehow converted it but I know the spindle shafts in the HM 14 will work in the 114A and 314 bars.

I know other people in my position before me have done repairs and one of the things the people at Taft said this summer when it broke down was that there were a lot of parts that weren't near the originals specs in there but it has really started to break down bad in the past 2 or 3 years.

We run the picker harder than it was designed for. What I mean is, we constantly start/stop the spindles harvesting plots and I doubt the machine is designed to handle 4 bale/acre cotton in some cases. I'll get some pictures to show the differences between the heads though.

Ben,
Those machines either had 9/16 or 5/8 spindles. The 5/8 spindle was primarily sold in CA. I have never had a 5/8 spindle in hand to know whether the gear is larger or smaller or the same as for the 9/16 spindle. It is possible that a 5/8 spindle bar is made heavier. I am not sure you can still get a 5/8 spindle and 9/16 would be special order unless a dealer had old stock carryover. Cam track and the sun gear that drives the spindle drive shafts and all the bearings need to be evaluated to know what to do.

There are a lot of parts to wear out in a cotton picker head. You need to take it to a good cotton picker overhaul facility and let them decide what needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The HM-14 (early 50's)is your oldest picker and the 314 (mid 60's) is your newest picker. The 114A is late 50's or early 60. When properly overhauled any of the three should provide excellent service in your application.

Harold H