Camping with a manure spreader

[RedSHED]

or

Iron, Steel, Wood, and Aluminum

We took the kids to a tractor show this weekend. Mom and Dad have a '38 John Deere B - same one they had when I was a kid, although he sold it to my cousin back in '75. This summer they'd procured an old wood-sided manure spreader. We took the trailer over (actually DW drove it over) on a Wednesday a couple weeks ago; I followed after work on Fri) and helped get it ready. We stripped out some of the flailing bits, and set it up to install the critical parts: School bus seats.

Mom kept calling it a "t*rd hearse," I gently reminded her that since it now had seats it was a "Limo" and maybe MTV would pick it up for a "Poop My Ride" segment.

This weekend there was a machinery show near them, and we drove over Fri PM, although my parent's went Thursday.

During the obligatory parade, Dad let me drive the B, with DW & the kids (& G'ma too) in the manure spreader/hearse/limo tossing Tootsie Rolls & bubble gum to whatever spectators we saw. (Dad drove his "A").

The B is gorgeous. My brother in law snuck a restoration on it last Fall - kind of a reverse dowry sort of thing. Anyway, it's all shiny and everything. Much better than when I was 10.

I'll try to add a pic or two once we get them downloaded & hosted.

Kids had a great time even though there wasn't a playground. Being able to camp on site was great.

Fun Fun weekend.

[overlander63]

Glad to hear you had fun. The thread title certainly got my attention.

[Goin camping]

Sounds like a lot of fun. I'll look for it on RFD T.V. They often show these Parades and gatherings on "Machinery of the Past."

[Kevbo10]

this thread got my attention...

sweet subject.

picture of how we do it here on the ranch in simi valley...

kevbo

[tin sista]

Too funny!! My folks rehabilitated an ancient manure spreader ages ago as a result, one of my first unforgettable towing experiences was an old Case and a manure spreader, I learned very quickly not to put the tractor in 4th and try to get it over fast don't do it please...I do prefer towing an Airstream cause I can go faster than a tractor in 4th gear and do not get hit by flying clods of ....

[vswingfield]

Ok, I’ll admit that this sounds like a worse ride than a square baler. Square balers are truly the Devil’s device.

Vaughan

[Anon]

Originally Posted by overlander63

Glad to hear you had fun. The thread title certainly got my attention.

Terry - that's the same reason I looked!

[RedSHED]

The Limo Revealed!



The tractor's a '38 (I think), the spreader & the Schwinn are both from the 1960-1964 timeframe

[wahoonc]

We had one about like that (without the seats)...it was full and near dark so I parked it up on the hill so we could spread it the next morning...but forgot to chock the wheels Never saw Shtuff fly that far and wide before in my life My grandfather was laughing too hard to be mad. But I did have to clean up the tractor and me seeing how I was still in range when the spreader went past Ahh the simple life

Aaron

[Fyrzowt]

Great ride, great read.
I love seeing those old machinery pieces restored.
Dave

[flyfisher]

We always said that was one product that no manufacturer would stand behind.

John

p.s. From my house, I can see the home where Ed Nolt lived in New Holland, PA. Ed was the originator of the world's first automatic hay baler during the 1930's, that ultimately became the mainstay product of the farm equipment company called "New Holland".

You gotta love the history of those old pieces of farm machinery.

[klattu]

Whew...
Good to know you did'nt knock the cap off your black water tank going down the road

[Excella CM]

All most of us need is a little time and some room to manure. When I saw the thread, I thought my wife had posted it! The big agri-fair in Tulare every April is about 300 acres of the neatest stuff you'd ever want to see.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by RedSHED

The Limo Revealed!



The tractor's a '38 (I think), the spreader & the Schwinn are both from the 1960-1964 timeframe

Those green machines are clean!
Do you know whose steam tractor is in your second photo? I have a soft spot in my heart for external-combustion equipment.

[john hd]

we have one of the largest shows every year about this time.

just west of baraboo. worth the visit.

Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club

john

[muddy_hollow]

In the spirit of this thread. When I was a teen I had a job at a local farm via a friend, Shaun. The manure scraper in the barn broken and would not be fixed for several weeks. For you non-farm types, the scraper runs along a drainway which is behind the cow and moves the manure to the waiting spreader.

The decision was made to have shaun and I shovel the drainway twice a day and put the poo in the spreader. Now shovelling poo requires a specific technique so you don't splash your friend on the other side. Lift, drift and place it the back of the spreader. This whole technique is learned and I only got the hang of it after I saw Shaun running up the barn. He came back and punched me hard in the chest. I asked him what the heck was going on and he said, "You Lifted, Drifted, but SPLASHED! I got poop in my mouth!!!!!"

[safari57]

That is one sweet JD your father has. Good on your brother for doing the resto. As my farm raised buddy used to say as he'd fire up his HD, he could sneak out of the house bright and early and go riding with us because his parents thought he said he was firing up the JD and by the time they caught on it was the bike instead of the tractor, and the two sounded so much alike, he was nothing but a trail of dust down the road to the highway by the time they caught on.

As Terry noted the thread title caught my eye and I really enjoyed the pictures. Being originally from a farming community this brought back a lot of great memories.

Barry

[85MH325]

Boy isn't it amazing how many folks here have up-close and personal stories about manure and manure spreaders!

Mine was that when I was about 12, my uncle let me drive the International H for the VERY first time in the barn yard of the "other" place. He had borrowed the neighbor's JD spreader and had it sitting in the barn yard among the stock. I don't even remember exactly what I was doing, but he told me to stop the tractor. I didn't exactly have the hang of the clutch/brake thing down, and I mashed down on the clutch with all my might. The tractor slowed greatly, but to my horror rolled down a slight incline and into the gear box cover of the brand new Deere spreader. It scratched the shield and gave it quite a bend. It also popped one of the tires on the "H" narrow axle. I was crushed, first that I hadn't figured out how to drive properly, and then, of course that I'd damaged the tractor and the spreader.

My uncle (bless his soul) took it all in stride.

Obviously one of those moments you never forget!

Roger

[safari57]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

Boy isn't it amazing how many folks here have up-close and personal stories about manure and manure spreaders!

Mine was that when I was about 12, my uncle let me drive the International H for the VERY first time in the barn yard of the "other" place. He had borrowed the neighbor's JD spreader and had it sitting in the barn yard among the stock. I don't even remember exactly what I was doing, but he told me to stop the tractor. I didn't exactly have the hang of the clutch/brake thing down, and I mashed down on the clutch with all my might. The tractor slowed greatly, but to my horror rolled down a slight incline and into the gear box cover of the brand new Deere spreader. It scratched the shield and gave it quite a bend. It also popped one of the tires on the "H" narrow axle. I was crushed, first that I hadn't figured out how to drive properly, and then, of course that I'd damaged the tractor and the spreader.

My uncle (bless his soul) took it all in stride.

Obviously one of those moments you never forget!

Roger

It's good to see you weren't in - oops, I'd better not say that

Barry

[Pick]

John Deere stands behind all of their products, except their manure spreaders.