got a 14t in a trade today.

kentuckydiesel · May 1, 2005

Some might remember some pics I posted a while back of a NH 66 I got free along with a JD hay rake in partial payment for hauling off some old equipment for a friend. I traded tjhe working NH 66 baler (I got it working after about 10-20 years in a sitting in a tree line covered in vines) for a non-working (wouldn't tie knots and needs some pickup tines) JD 14T today. After about 3 hours of tinkering, I threaded the needles and turned the baler over by hand. After tripping the measuring wheel once, it heald the twine perfectly in the twine disks. After the second go (pulling some twine and hooking it over the bale weight springs to simulate a bale in the chamber) it tied the most perfect knots I've ever seen a baler tie. I guess the 14T will be a good setup.

Tim, the guy I traded with had driven 1.5 hrs down 2-lane highways dragging the 14T, then dragged the NH back home. When he got there he hooked the NH to one of his tractors and fed some hay through. He called me and left me a message saying the NH 66 baler runs like a swiss watch and he was very happy with it.

I'll try and post some before and after pictures of the 14T soon. I guess the day turned out pretty good.

-Phillip

farmerjim · May 3, 2005

those 14t balers are good machines we used to have one for many years b4 getting the 24t we currently have. only problem we had was in thick hay mainly on 1st cutting, it would over load itself and tend to shear the flywheel bolts. but i think that was mainly due to user going a bit too fast, for 1st cut. it should treat you well, for years to come.

kentuckydiesel · May 5, 2005

I hear when the blade on the plunger and the stationary blade get dull they'll sheer bolts like crazy. Ever hear that? Thanks. -Phillip

slowzuki · May 5, 2005

Remember these old things were designed to run off minimal hp. Dull plunger knives suck the juice trying to smear the hay and tear it!

Guys now towing small squares balers behind a 90 hp tractor will never know the finese that used to be needed!

kentuckydiesel · May 5, 2005

Here is a "before" picture of the 14T.

Looks like a parts baler doesn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'll have an "after" picture in a couple days.

I went to replace the tines and ended up tearing the whole pickup head down to replace the bearings and pillow blocks. I want to make sure it's all tight so I don't have to go back in.

-Phillip

timb · May 6, 2005

So how much does a 14T (or 24T) actually weigh? I've never been able to find an on-line source of basic dimension/weight specs for old equipment.

kentuckydiesel · May 6, 2005

I'm not sure. The smallest tractor we have is about 70-75hp so weight was never an issue.

I know my owners manual has some specs. Mabey it's in there. I'll check tomorrow.

-Phillip

tude · May 8, 2005

14T specifications:
Maximum height 5 ft., 6 in
Width 8 ft., 10 in.
Length (with PTO) 16 ft., 5 1/2 in
Length (with engine) 17 ft., 3 1/2 in.
Weight 2490 lbs. with engine, 2710 with PTO
Speed of plungerhead 65 strokes per minute
tires R.H. 15x5.90 L.H. 15x6.70
(Source John Deere sales brochure)

kentuckydiesel · May 10, 2005

Ooop...beat me to it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Here is the "after" picture of the 14T FIELD READY!!!!

I rebuilt the pickup head with new bearings and teeth along with all grade 8 hardware so next time I have to change a tooth, I won't break any more bolts. I also made a few adjustments to the knotters, sharpened the twine knives, polished the billhooks, replaced a bunch of springs, and generally fixed anything I could find wrong. I ran some straw-like stuff through it and baled a couple bales which came out great. I started cutting a pasture for hay today but a piece on my mower broke. I'll see if I can fix it tomorrow. -Phillip

Ledgemere Farm · May 10, 2005

My brother has two of these. They seem to work for ever. He used to pull it with a 1953 or so JD 50, but now a 5105 does the job with a wagon on back. My nephew-in-law gets to ride on the wagon and stack bales as they come off the chute. I don't know if they made an ejector for the 14T? I am pretty sure the 214T had one available.
Nice job fixing it up by the way.