Restoring a 1974 Versatile Swather-Save Farm $
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2024
- We're spending the winter restoring our 1974 Versatile Swather to fix leaks, bad bearings, sketchy steering and modernize its systems. It's a classic farm machine that helps to keep our farm profitable and we want to keep it operational. #familyfarm, #farming, #versatile, #oats,
Unique machine .👍
Good man..saw plenty of this type of work
Much appreciated
A bit of TLC and that old girl will be good for another 50 yrs.....I first ran a swather out in Montana in 1981. Could really lay the hay down with that thing....Me and my boy were at Neighbor Dave's place and got a load of bales today, had a good visit with him....didn't want to stop by your place unanounced...Next trip down I'll give you a call...Thanks Dave
Sorry I missed you at Dave’s. I was just in the editing room waiting for the Super Bowl. Please call if you come again. Good to keep the farming community connected. Never know when we can help each other.
I picked up an early '60s NH 905 this winter. It doesn't need much but I'm looking forward to getting time to tinker with it so I'm looking forward to seeing future video/s.
Thanks. Good luck with the NH. I’ve toyed with buying a newer one from my dealership but the $25-40 price tag for a 20-year old machine is hard to justify.
I’d like to get a closer look at that poster in the background in your shop
What a great old machine! I love these because they are afordable. As long as you can maintain them. The best part is they have NO COMPUTERS!
Thanks. Definitely no computer. You sit out in the weather and monitor all the mechanism through feel and by listening. So far every repair or upgrade has been straightforward and easy to figure out. They made these things to last.
Good morning Dawn and Dave ☕☕☕
Good morning Ed!
Good morning Dave and Dawn
Morning Gary. Happy Superbowl Sunday!
Versitile made some awesome equipment back in the day!
Simple enough that even I can figure it out😊.
I agree with your philosophy of older equipment. If you get a good piece and maintain it regularly and don't beat it up unnecessarily out in the field, you can get them to last a long time. I'm like you - most of my equipment is older, but it's in good shape and all paid for - that's the most important part. Good video. Looking forward to the next part.
My gear doesn’t have the same show-quality restoration as yours but I try to keep it operational. Makes for a much more enjoyable farming experience.
Good fixes Dave. That's an excellent machine for your operation. That shaft doesn't look too good. I'm sure we'll learn more about it in the next video.
Took me by surprise but, 20/20 hindsight, I should have suspected. All of these problems were working together to decrease the responsiveness of the steering and drive system. It’s why we need regular maintenance.
@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn There's always something figuring a way to break. Usually at the worst time of course.
Looking forward to seeing the old girl fixed up. Way back when I bought my farm from my grandparents in 1976 one of the things that came with it was a IH 210 swather. I traded it off for a haybine. Sometimes I wish I still had it for grain.
They are handy machines. If I remember correctly the 210 was belt driven. My neighbor has one in the shed bought new from the local IH dealership by his dad. Sadly that dealership went under 30 years ago.
Nice updates
Thanks. More to come😊
Kinda interesting, I've run a few different brands, from different times.. some way older than 1974.. they all had foot pedals for the header hydraulics. I think you will get along alright with your makeshift peddles.
Inherent problem with open station equipment, cables do rust up, eventually... Nice cupholder! Should work pretty good for you.. here, even night swathing, it's way too dusty for any open drink container.. unless you have a cab...
Looking forward to part 2.. the real work!!
Some real surprises 😊
Farm fuel! Love it!
I should be drinking water but sometimes need Dew to get through the day.
I'm interested. $ is always a factor.
I don't see much small grain anymore.
I've mentioned this before, but we used a 12 foot IHC.
Dad generally opened then delegated.
He told me we watched for the oats to look ripe, and turned then waited another week.
Fortunately the steering issue appears to be a easy repair.
Thank you Dave.
My neighbor still has a 12 foot IH that runs great. Simple stuff to work on.
Sunday morning coffee sorry I’m a little tardy to the party Dave , but once you pulled your deck up, it was instantly obvious that “there’s your problem “your Kniffler pin wasn’t snuggly attached to the Hoozenfangle valve and everybody knows if your Hoozenfangle valve isn’t operating properly you’re gonna have issues.
Hah! I should have suspected 😊.
The real simple answer is....
Good used machines start at $15K... New machines are $170K. For many people, they'll never pay for themselves.
Lots of little things, but will be worth it!!
You get it as a grain guy. I’ve been finding good used machines more like $40k…otherwise I’m just changing brands without additional function. Might as well fix what I have😊
@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn I just did a quick look.. but yes, most are around 40-60k...
Here, they're used for small seed crops, clover, grass, sugar beets.. probably another 50 specialty crops..
Sometimes barley, as most spring planted just doesn't dry down before the rains..
A newer machine would be worth it, if you were doing a few hundred acres a year.
@@GosselinFarmsEdGosselinI’d love to be a big acre grain guy. There’s real money in food-grade oats up here and land is available for asking…but then I remember that I’m retired and don’t really need 80-hour week stress anymore 😊.
@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn lol.. we used to run 1,500 acres, 300+ grass hay, roughly 400 each of red clover, oats and wheat. Dad worked "part time" lol. Still made 7 hours a day.. I was in highschool, still put in the hours and actually had a social life.. had 1 or 2 other highschool age.. and 2 old retired guys. Some days, all of us worked, some days just 1 or 2.
The only ones that stressed, were the retired guys when they broke something... Because they knew they couldn't fix it and it would be late afternoon before dad or I could work on it.
All seriousness, even in the '80s when farms were dropping like flies, we were doing well and there was no stress..
Today, at 1/3 the ground... The prices like they are. Just 2 of us doing everything. Still really no stress.. just go with the flow..
I do miss those days!!
Fix the bearings and belts first then adjust the linkages
Good suggestion. Once I get it fueled up this summer I’ll get a chance to evaluate the steering linkage and may need to adjust. I drain the fuel after the season each year and I don’t plan to refill until just before I need it…maybe July.