3rd and final cut (pic)

Here is a shot from over the hood. You have to quess the make of tractor.

It's about time I see someone else with one of those mowers!! We've got a New idea 290, but that's the same machine because New Idea made the 290's, painted them blue and Ford called it a 535

My dad remember's when his dad bought one new back in the 60's, then when he took over my mom's farm from her parents he found a 535 for himself. I wrecked that one when the frame ripped in half, but then he got the NI a year later and in good shape. We still use it for cuttintg swamps and as a back-up, but this spring we bought a 14' hydra-swing to cut the hay with.

What size sprocket do you have on the end of the crimper roller to drive the reel? Seems like most only ever have a 15 tooth on, but they are also supposed to have a 21 and 24 tooth sprocket. I put the 21 tooth on ours and you can go 1/2-1 full gear faster with our Massey 285.

Donovan from Wisconsin

I wouldn't worry too much about those grooves in the tensioner, just keep a good chain on the sprockets. I'm sure you've noticed how finicky they can get with a stretched chain... I actually used to work at the shop that makes those replacement sprockets for AGCO, and I just got a new 15 tooth made up (still on good terms w/ them) so I can slow it down if need be, but it works pretty good in all conditions with the 21 tooth. I never new about it either, til one day I noticed the 21 tooth sprocket bolted to the frame next to the gear box. I got to wondering what the heck that was for and one day it hit me so I tried it... Never went back either!

If your double-banded belts are getting worn-unless yours is all chain drive- I just replaced them this year with 2 single banded belts each for a fraction of the cost. I can get you the Good Year numbers if you want, and even the company we get belts from. It only ran us about $30 for all 4 new belts!!

If I remember reading right you've had yours for 15 years already, so I'm sure you know it pretty good. But, on the other hand, if you've got any questions give me a hollar cause I've practically torn down the whole thing at one time or another, always at the most inconveinient times...

Sorry to ramble on, but I've never heard anyone else talk about either the New Idea or Ford version- Ours is a mutt mix with all 5 different colors on it here & there...

Donovan from Wisconsin

I would just buy a 10' roll of chain and keep the rest on hand. We've got a roll of 40, 50, and 60 in the shop right now just in case. I try to inspect the chain on all the equipment before I use it every year. For the length of the chain and the tensioner, I ussually take the spring off so I can swing the tensioner up while I put the chain on. Once the chain is together I put the spring back on and only run the tensioner on top.

One word of caution if you do change sprockets, you'll need to take some out if you go to a smaller sprocket, or add if you go bigger. Last summer I was cutting a swamp, the belts were slipping because the stuff was THICK. I tried going back to the smaller sprocket but I never took out any links. Long story short, the chain was long enough to wrap around the sprocket and catch itself. It spun the sprocket on the end of the roller, jamming the woodruff key between the sprocket and shaft. The sprocket was junk-hence why I needed a new one- The key slot was damaged and so was the rest of the shaft.

I do have the resources to weld it up and fix it, but the labor involved wasn't worth it so I just ground it so the 21 tooth sprocket would fit again and just made it work.

Hope I can help save some headaches down the road...

Donovan from Wisconsin

• Dennis Bachall Rubber Products

Mike wins the prize!!! It's a massey ferguson 65. I moved the lights to the top of the hood to clear loader arms and the hood emblem was broken off when a rock fell out of the loader. Here is another pic. The moco is a ford 535. It was tired when I bought it 15 years ago, but it still keeps going. Don't need much else when you are only playing with 7 acres or so. We take three cuts as we have irrigation. Will go into winter with a fairly good growth but it is hard to get it dry by the end of september. The deer will enjoy it. Located in the south Okanagan valley BC, just north of Oroville Washington by about an hour.

Allan