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Post by eppie on Jun 21, 2002 21:53:54 GMT 1
Hi folks, We have an old Claas self-loading hay wagon, built 1978 or so. If i use knives in the pick-up, the feed chain will seize  I can buy an old JF trailed field chopper for a low price, and i was thinking i could build it onto the old Claas wagon to replace the worn standard pickup. We have a small farm, and we wont use more than one wagon for hay harvest. This could save me a man on the tractor with field chopper, and the driver of the field chopper doesn't have to wait for the wagon to unload. The combination would save me at least one man at harvest. That JF, i think it's model FC 750 or so, with swath pickup, doesn't have a metal detector. How hazardeous are lost tines of rakes and tedders for such a machine? will the knive blades be blown through the blowpipe when they hit a tedder tine?? Is there any other safety system on these machines?? Can anyone tell me something about this JF field chopper, supposed to be model FC 750 ?? Is this a good idea in general, or are there some flaws in my idea, will the chopper be too heavy on the front of the wagon or something?? Danish and Scandinavians, please tell me.. |
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Post by Fred on Jun 22, 2002 13:05:38 GMT 1
I use to operate an FC800, great little forager, ideal for the steep slopes the farms here have. Ran it on an MF398. If the grass is very wet then it is prone to blocking the chute up. Due to chute size it doen't take too long to unblock compared with some makes, the whole chuteis swung down for access above the chopper, one man job. Wether you need a metal detector or not depends on your situation. If you only pick up on your own fields and know mower blades, turner tines and fense stakes are absent then its not needed, but contracting is another matter- it has never ceased to amaze me what some farmers leave lying around. I didn't have a detector, fine until the day it ate some blades, lost some time replacing them and trying to find all the bits in the trailer was a nightmare, you certainly don't want the cows eating pieces of blade! Remember a metal detector does not always work anyway, I think in a small operation like yours keeping an eye on tines when raking and picking up is cheaper. If your forager is a side mounted model it puts the trailer weight on the tractor, thus allowing a smaller tractor to be used compared to a trailed forager towing a trailer. Is your machine one that was fitted in line to a trailer? If it is side mounted I would first try like that I think, it is not long to hitch and unhitch with a trailer on, as the trailer hitch and forager frame stay with the tractor. If you fit it to the wagon you can add as much metal as you like to strengthen the outfit, you might need a few weights on the front of the tractor.
Hope this helps.
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Post by eppie on Oct 6, 2002 15:56:05 GMT 1
It's a long time ago since i started this thread. The guy (my brother's boss) was too expensive with that chopper at that time. I said " You wont sell it. I come back in 6 months, and ask again. Well, i spoke to the guy. He still had the FCT 750 chopper. I asked him if he wants to get rid of it. I could buy it for 750 guilders, which is 340 Euro. After some trade talk, i could buy it for 150 Euro, excluding the tires. (i dont need those tires anyway, i wanted to mount it on the front of the wagon, remember?) I made a 100 Euro bid. We havent made a deal yet. SOOO, what i actually wanted to ask is: Does anyone know what the weight is of this JF FCT 750 chopper harvester?? I dont need to know it to the exact kilogram, but i sure need to know if it is 800 kg, or 2 ton. JF also has a factory made chopper wagon: www.jf.dk/default.asp?Action=Details&Item=116 |
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Post by eppie on Oct 13, 2002 16:45:00 GMT 1
Hi,
I have found a PDF brochure on the JF website.
The model is an FCT 900, and it's weight is about 1800 kg.
Chop lengths are 15 and 30 mm.
30 mm is still very short for horse feed.
Will this machine work when i work with half the number of knives, to achieve 60mm chop length, or will the rotor wind itself up in the grass, i.e. block up ??
The guy told me that wont be a problem, because it will keep it's wind stream.
Now, he asked 100 Euro, when i buy it off the tax record. I think i'll wait a bit more, and then make an offer of about 50 Euro and see what happens.
What can i expect from 1800 kg on the tongue ??
I can't take off the chopper's heavy frame without having to set the chains and gear housings in line again.
Will this simple constructed chopper weigh much more than the standard chain pick up/feed chain??
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Post by eppie on Oct 26, 2002 12:49:19 GMT 1
Hey guys, Today i did some bull talking with the guy, and now he asked 85 Euro for it. Lets see: 1800 kg X 5 eurocents per kilo (scrap price) is 90 Euro. Well, maybe 100 kgs will be rubber parts, so that means 85 Euro scrap iron value.... Well, that's not much of an investment risk, dont you think ??  |
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Post by Fred on Oct 26, 2002 13:07:23 GMT 1
Go for it
It will keep you busy all winter getting it ready. If it's fitted to the front of the feeder wagon how will you open the chute to get to the blades, unblock the chute etc. I suppose the air thing will stay same as that would be a factor of rotor speed not number of Knives. So halving knives gives longer cut length. Alternative is to have blunt blades. Chop length goes up then.
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Post by eppie on Oct 26, 2002 14:42:24 GMT 1
Hi fred,
I was thinking i have to change the rear chute hinges into some hook system. When i open the two clamps on the front of the chute, i could pull it forward to unhook some hooks on the back of the chute.
By the way: when i blow it directly into the wagon, i need a pipe of 1,5 meters long, and not that long and heavy standard pipe.
I did some measurements and wrote it down. I will check the wagon's frame right after, and see if it fits without too many trouble.
Hey, and what, do you think, are my chances to fit the pick-up unit in line with the machine? Currently, the pickup is about 40 cm out of the center of the machine, which gives me unfavourable transport width, when it sticks out of the wagon's width.
Besides, if the pickup is mounted 40 cm out of the center, i cant drive over the swath without driving it into the ground, or not using the whole pickup width.
And, it cant keep me busy all winter, i have more to fo this winter. I want to unmount the tires, drawbar, and mount a modified chute on the chopper.
Then grab a disk grinder and slaughter the ols pick-up of the wagon. Then see if it fits, and if it does, i'm done.
I wasn't intending to make an artwork of it. If it works good, and it is a practical solution, it's fine.
I am expecting to cut off 600 kgs from the wagon.
1800 kg minus 600 is 1200 kg more weight..
I think i have to convert the tongue to a low pulled one, or else the tractor pulls itself over, when it stays like it is now. (tongue mounted above centerline of rear axle)
I'm just curious how my brother's old 6718 will growl on this machine.. officially 66 hp, but according to minor smoke, maybe 75 hp... I'm sure it wont be hard to get the revs down, even if this old beast sure pulls hard....
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I can buy an old JF trailed field chopper for a low price, and i was thinking i could build it onto the old Claas wagon to replace the worn standard pickup. We have a small farm, and we wont use more than one wagon for hay harvest. This could save me a man on the tractor with field chopper, and the driver of the field chopper doesn't have to wait for the wagon to unload.