New Idea 290 Setup Question

[Mark (PA)]

Hello, I just got a New Idea 290 haybine. I'm pretty excited since I have cut hay with a sickle bar for the last 5 years. nothing wrong with that but I always had to go over it again with a cunningham hay crimper (yep.. i'm old school...) so anyway now that I have this new piece of technology!

I am wondering if anyone can give me any hints on it. I have a manual and it is setup in the 9 degree cut angle. any reason I shouldn't put it in the 4 degree angle?( lower the rear wheels?) and also what cut height is nice for these units?

The owner told me that that at times the rake reel would slip. He didn't know if it was a clutch slipping in there etc. any hints on that?

other than that he told me just go slow and it should cut all day (2nd gear)

Thanks for any hints! I am considering replacing all the rock guards and blades. did that with my sickle bar when I first started cutting and I can crank along in 3rd gear easy on my super A with that unit!

Thanks again

 

[scott mcintosh]

how high you set your cut is matter of opinion where set the machine.I run mine with out skid shoes to get close but thats me.hope your not thinking of running it with your super A.Scott

 

[Don-Wi]

We have a 290 we use for just cutting swamps anymore, and it's a pretty good machine for it's age. If I remember right, the wheels are set so the machine is higher (9 degree cut) and the skids are set in the middle holes probably.

New sections make it cut like a dream, but it needs to have new hold down clips as well. I found that John Deere guards fit in place of the original guards, so ours has a mix of guards for JD and NI machines without any issues. I could run in 1st high, multi-power in high with our Massey 285 and it would cut all day in good hay. The ground speed depends on which sprockt you have on the end of the crimper roll that drives the reel. There were 3 options, and we have the one in the middle on it. I forget how many teeth are on it, but I can try to look at the manual the next time I'm home. The extra sprocket(s) are supposed to be bolted to the frame under the cover, next to the gear box. I think the sprocket options are 13, 19, or 21 tooth.

Just for reference, it was also painted blue and sold as the Ford 535, and there are several operator manuals for the Ford model in the Ebay stores now. There is also one NI 290 manual on there. We had a 535 for years till the frame was
ripped in 1/2, and then we found the 290. I reccomend the manual, as there are lots of grease zerks on there, and some aren't so obvious. If you need to replace the double drive belts, I replaced the last ones pairs of singles as they were about 1/10th the cost of the double belts from Agco. Zero problems since either.

If you have anymore questions, I can try to help out as I'm fairly familiar with this haybine. We just don't use it as much anymore since we bought a Hesston 1014+2 hydro-swing to cut hay feilds with.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[alteramaxplus]

(quoted from post at 21:08:47 03/04/09)
..... I reccomend the manual, as there are lots of grease zerks on there, and some aren't so obvious. If you need to replace the double drive belts, I replaced the last ones pairs of singles as they were about 1/10th the cost of the double belts from Agco. Zero problems since either.

If you have anymore questions, I can try to help out as I'm fairly familiar with this haybine. We just don't use it as much anymore since we bought a Hesston 1014+2 hydro-swing to cut hay feilds with.

<img src="http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb41/djn125/harvesting/P1000234.jpg">

Donovan from Wisconsin

Don (or anyone else who knows this mower!),
If you happen to still be around, I'd love to know how you got those belts off. I busted mine last season and now trying to get ready for this years crop, but at the rate i'm going it'll be next year before I figure out how to tear this thing apart! :shock:

Thanks,
Dan

 

[alteramaxplus]

Well, if it helps anyone out, I discovered the parts blowout on the NewHolland website (as the Ford 535) and found that the part called the Jack Shaft at the back/bottom which has 2 big pulleys and a sprocket for the is just held on by 4 15/16" bolts... which is much more apparent when you clean the grime off it properly I thought it was all part of the frame!

I was able to get it back in myself, but the thing weighs at least 30lbs, so if you can get helper you're much better off. I had to creep it up an inch at a time with some old twine and wood blocks underneath! :-/

Cheers,
Dan

(quoted from post at 11:12:13 05/19/12)

Don (or anyone else who knows this mower!),
If you happen to still be around, I'd love to know how you got those belts off. I busted mine last season and now trying to get ready for this years crop, but at the rate i'm going it'll be next year before I figure out how to tear this thing apart! :shock:

Thanks,
Dan

 

[kczekai]

I am trying to put the drive chain back on after it came off. Had to fix a link and not sure how it is suppose to go on. if I put it on the way it says too, it seems to long. do you have picture of how it should go on. I have the operators manual but there is no good picture in there