Running Gear

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Hay Wagon Rebuild Part 2

Yesterday we got the materials lined up so we could rebuild the wagon.  Today, after a long, hard day we got the wagon back together.

The kids were all there helping grandpa while I was at work.  I came home in the afternoon and we got it wrapped up just in time to bale up the alfalfa.  The wagon isn’t really finished, we just did enough to use it to haul hay.  It was originally grain-tight with side walls but those will have to wait.  We were running short on time so we just threw together a headache rack out of scrap material.  We have plans for something more permanent.

Then off to the field.  We had a couple of hiccups with the baler but the bales are tight and heavy.

Dad drives the baler, I catch, carry and stack the bales.  It was a little breezy and about 75 degrees.  I wish all baling weather was as nice.

Here’s the rebuilt wagon loaded with hay.

We have quite a bit of metal to put on to hold the sides in place…once we build new sides.  But it’s not an impossible project.

The icing on the cake was the ant colony that had moved into the hay elevator motor.  The motor burned up so we couldn’t unload the wagons.  Oh well.

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Hay Wagon Rebuild Part 1

Dad and I drove to Calhoun this winter in response to a CL listing for a hay wagon.  The price was right so we brought it home.  Originally this wagon was grain tight.  Years of outdoor storage had taken its toll on the wood and there really wasn’t much left of it.

All of the sub-frame was both broken and rotten.  There were numerous attempts to cobble things back together again but even those were failing.  The running gear was sound and the tires were good.  That’s about all I had to work with.  That was enough for the money.

I used it as it was for a few months hauling brush to my wood chipper but now that hay season is upon us, I need my hay wagon.  Dad measured the wagon well and we plan to rebuild the deck just as it was originally.  That will take some doing as most of the hardware has seen better days.

Dad began the long process of disassembly a few days ago.  It would be nice to paint the frame with the bed off but the schedule just doesn’t allow.

I need this wagon today.  Can we finish it in time?  I need to stop burning daylight and go drill some holes before work!  I’ll offer more details including costs in part 2.