Of course it did

Today I traveled 13 miles with the tractor and small haybine to do around 10 acres or so of horse hay on a 1/3-2/3 split. I was about done with the 2nd chunk (3 separate pastures, and not enough horses to keep up) when one of the sickle drive belts broke, and the other one came off.

Dad was already on his way with the truck and 2 wagons to drop them off, so we hooked it on and drug it home. I can't get the belts until Monday so it looks like I won't be able to get it back together and finish cutting until later next week. Will have to bale what I've got cut and then finish it up later.

In the mean time I still need to get a new idler pulley for our hydroswing haybine so I can start cutting our 2nd crop in a little over a week. Was hoping to use the same tractor, but now it may be gone for a while. Wasn't a bad drive, but I don't want to do it more than I have to either...

I had already spent a couple hours on it today just swapping sickles with a good one, straightening guards, checking it over, etc... changing the sickle drive belts is a PITA. Should have a double banded belt in there, but then you have to drop the jackshaft. Thinking about ordering one for it though, and in the short term put another pair in again so I can finish up.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Hey Don,I am guessing you are talking about the belt that drives the woble box on a New Holland haybine, and yes a real pain I agree. Like you , I have some far off hay. It is 4:45 am now and after some tost and coffee, I will set out on a 25 mile trip to cut just over 40 arces of hay. Wount cut it all at once,maybe three cuts. This grass hay is good for the horesmartket if you can get it without rain. Will take 2 hours to drive there, and I have to go throough a busy tourist town near the end , so I want to get through there before the butt heads get out. My son will have to milk this morning. Bruce

Been in the custom hay baling business since the late 80's. It never fails that if something breaks or a tire goes flat one is normally a long tractor drive from home.

No, it's a new idea 290. If I go with a double banded belt I gotta drop the jackshaft out. I can wiggle some single belts in there, but the belts aren't holding up very long. I'm gonna put another set of singles in for now, but I need to rebuild the extra jackshaft and replace it, so then i'll put in some double banded ones again.


Donovan from wisconsin