My First QA Implement - Hay Spear

[CCOUGHRAN1]

I had an old 3 point style hay spear that I purchased several years back for $25.00. The frame was rusted and had been repaired several times. The spears were still nice and straight 2" solid bar. So I figured I would build me a QA spear for my front loader. I went to my scrap pile and found a piece of 4x4x1/4 square tubing, some 4x4x1/4 angle, and some 1-1/2 x 2-1/2 rectangle tubing.

I did not take any pictures during construction, but I do have some pics of the finished product after it came back from the galvanizing plant.

I tried out the spear on my L3940 yesterday, it worked great picking up 5x6 rolls of coastal, and I could handle 3x3x8 alfalfa modules two at a time without problem.

Here is a pic of my Howse 606C that I had galvanized last week.

 

[donais]

that is awesome. how much is galvanizing? i might have that done to some stuff instead of powder coating if it isn't cost prohibitive.

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

40-50 cents per pound is a pretty safe bet on galvanizing. The plant I use has a $350.00 minimum, so you would want to dip at least 800# or so to make it worthwhile.

I am in the business of selling galvanized fittings and flanges to chemical plants and refineries, so I have several thousand pounds at a time about 3 times a week going to the galv. plant. When I have a project, I just send it with another load to keep from getting caught with the $350.00 min.

My Howse 606C was only about 5 months old, and it was powder coated from the factory. I chose to go ahead and have it dipped to save any chance of rusting being that I live about 2 miles from Galveston Bay.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Blink, blink - looks good

 

[Window Geek]

That is really cool!
How much weight does it add to the mower with all that zinc?
How the heck can I dip my whole tractor?

 

[doall]

not only functional but looks good too.

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

The galvanizing adds ~6% to the weight of the steel. At least that's what my galvanizing plant claims, I have never weighed before and after to confirm.

There is some comfort in knowing the mower is not protected. I have always tried to keep the grass and leaves off of the top when done mowing, but never have taken the time to rinse the grass out from the underside of the mower. Now I don't have to worry about it.