What exactly is this JD Machine called?

[sweettractors]

This is a John Deere Model 2 serial # 8351. It looks like a type of hay tool to me. This is the first one that I have ever seen and I bought it. Does anyone know what it is called and some history on how they were used? I am stumped.--Ken Sweet

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Ken, I have no clue, are the tines driven (by gears or chains) from the wheels, which way do they rotate when the thing is pulled along behing a tractor?

 

[JazzDad]

I had to giggle, Ken. You don't know what it is, but you bought it. That is really a bad case of Tractoritis. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Nasty135]

Ok I'll bite, Maybe a major league dethatcher /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Flinggerhymer /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Peanut rake? Seems it could pull or shake something from its bush or lift something out of loose soil, I DUNNO but it is interesting to think about /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[JackIL]

Ken,

It is called a Hay Tedder. This one is quite old. Used to "fluff" cut hay in order to speed up the drying process.

JackIL

 

[sweettractors]

Bob, Here is a better picture that shows chain drive off 1 wheel. I was told by a old timer that it wa sused to "Fluff" the hay after it was cut. If this is the case? It could not be very agressive /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New and Used Sickle Bar Mowers in Stock*

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> I had to giggle, Ken. You don't know what it is, but you bought it. </font>

You are right, I have got it bad. If I have not seen the machine in my business dealings and it looks old and authentic, I try to buy it. I have a love of older equipment and am facinated by the way implements and tractors have evolved /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Real Nice Used Farmall C with 2 Row Cultivators $1750*

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks, Did Deere actually market it as a Hay Tedder or Hay Fluffer?--Ken Sweet

 

[kensfarm]

I have an old cultivator that mounts to the front of a tractor.. the "C" tines are set on each side of the tractor.

 

[boustany]

Looks to me like a honking big 'dethatcher'. Now, I have seen many a dethatcher, which are used, curriously enough, to dethatch, which I presume means untangle the grass after the winter.

Why, exactly, anybody would find it necessary to untangle the grass after the winter is unclear to me.

I do my best to prevent my lawn from growing, not encourage it.

 

[slowzuki]

It is called a hay fluffer, kinda a left over from horse drawn equipment days.
Ken

 

[RichZ]

Hey!!! Or should I say...Hay!!! I have one of those!!! It was marketed by Deere in the early '60's, and it's called a hay fluffer. It works well, but the only trouble is that the hay gets caught up in the tines, and you have to clean it out often as you're fluffing. People got frustrated with them, so they only marketed them for a few years. I use mine if I cut SMALL areas, and I want the hay to dry out faster for baling. It really does fluff it, and it really does decrease drying time...but you have to get off the tractor and clean out the tinnes about every 15 minutes..if you're lucky...so it isn't really viable for large acreage haying.

I picked mine up real cheap at a farm sale. Like you I never saw one before, and had to see if it worked. I did a lot of research on it to get the little info I have on it.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now, I have seen many a dethatcher, which are used, curriously enough, to dethatch, which I presume means untangle the grass after the winter.)</font>
A dethatcher actually is designed to pull of the grass, straw and other organic material that builds up around the ground surface surrounding the grass and choking it, and also keeping nutrients and water from easily getting to the roots. This machine in the post is not a dethatcher as they would have a different configuration on the spring tines that would engage the thatch and pull it up to the surface where it can then be raked off. Really helps the lawn when there is a lot of build up. John

 

[sweettractors]

RichZ, Thanks for that first hand info. This confirms what I thought. I cant wait to try it out on some fall cutting hay. Looks like we will need the hay Fluffed, if we get it up between the Hurrricane rains. From what you are telling me and the serial # on the machine, I am guessing that there were only a few of them produced at most?--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Nice Used Farmall C with 2 row Cultivators, $1750*

 

[RichZ]

Ken, yes not many of them were made, they weren't much of a successful seller for Deere. I've actually been offered ten times what I paid for mine, but I think it's a neat implement, so I'm keeping it!!!

Don't get too excited, I picked mine up for $25 at a farm sale, and a Deere collector happened to see me towing it home, and offered me $250 on the spot for it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> a Deere collector happened to see me towing it home </font>

I can relate to your story, I had a older neighbor that recently sold out and in his auction was a 320 JD 2 Cyl tractor. I knew that I was going to bid up to $6000 for it and the local Deere dealer paid $8500 for it. Most everyone thought he had lost his marbles. The following Monday, He had it sold to a fellow in Fl. for $12,500. --Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 11 Bu. Seeder/Spreaders $320, Assembled*