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new-to-me swather

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Fordfarmer

Well-known Member
Got rid of the JD 800 this spring, and have sorta been looking since. Still have 1 field of oats to go (planted late), and it's a green, grassy mess. Found this one on craigslist - a 15' cut '77 Versatile 400 that hasn't seen all that many acres. It was delivered yesterday, got the head on this morning, and I'll be trying it out shortly. The 200 c.i. Ford sure starts easier than the slant-6 Chrysler in the JD. The canopy is a little bit redneck, but that's OK... so am I.
Versatile400003.jpg

Versatile400001.jpg
 
I had one of those.
it was a gran eating beast. If i remember correctly JD canvases will fit it. If you ever have to change a belt on the main drive make sure it goes together square. That job will try your patience.
 
My nephew has two of those; one for swathing hay and one for swathing grain. Pretty reliable swather.
 
Used two 400's for years. The larger tires are a nice touch... go easy on turning the corners, it is fairly easy to break an axle. Keep all slap out of the knife drive components and it will serve you well. That 200 Ford is a tough little engine, we have had four of them and no trouble. They make a great snowplane engine too..
 
Only cut 4 rounds on a 35 acre field, (hay to bale, so limited time on the swather today) but that was enough to show me it's 2x the machine that JD was. Cuts as fast as I care to go! I like the extra 3' compared to the JD, too. PO said they had to cut on very soft ground one year, so they put these 18.4x16.1's on it. Should provide plenty of floatation for this machine.
 
the slant 6 might not start as goog but will take half the gas that the ford does, 400's were not known to be economical to run compared to the Chrysler, beyond that the 400 was a popular machine around here
 
(quoted from post at 15:54:18 08/29/12) the slant 6 might not start as goog but will take half the gas that the ford does, 400's were not known to be economical to run compared to the Chrysler, beyond that the 400 was a popular machine around here
Click to expand...

Haven't run any equipment with the chrysler slant 6 but I have a ford 200ci in my 1495 haybine and it is very thirsty. Fuel gauge doesn't work and first time I took it to the field I ran out of fuel because I would have never dreamed it would drink that much that fast.
 
Okay, I've never seen anything like that up here in the north east, so I have to ask- does the cut product go right out the back full width or is it gathered in a windrow in the center or to one side or what?
 
Here's a front view, showing the draper canvasses. This one leaves a windrow in the middle, but there are some that leave it on the left or right, so you can lay two next to each other.
Some people use 'swather' and 'windrower' interchangeably, but to me, a windrower will have an auger head and is made for hay; a swather has drapers and is made to be gentle on grain, though it can be used for hay.
Versatile400004.jpg
 
Don't we cut a swath and lay a windrow?
My dad always refered to the width of cut as a swath be it grain harvesting, tillage or spraying.
We were always busy swathing grain or picking up windrows, but we never windrowed grain or picked up swaths.
Yet, seems like we used the terms swather or windrower interchangably when refering to the machine.
Unless your from North Dakota. Those guys always said swatter.
 
Fordfarmer said:
Got rid of the JD 800 this spring, and have sorta been looking since. Still have 1 field of oats to go (planted late), and it's a green, grassy mess. Found this one on craigslist - a 15' cut '77 Versatile 400 that hasn't seen all that many acres. It was delivered yesterday, got the head on this morning, and I'll be trying it out shortly. The 200 c.i. Ford sure starts easier than the slant-6 Chrysler in the JD. The canopy is a little bit redneck, but that's OK... so am I.
Versatile400003.jpg

Versatile400001.jpg
Click to expand...
Anyone know where to get Sickles sections for one of these? I have a 12' from 1975(I think). I tried Jensales and Sloan. Gonna call Webb tomorrow. TIA
 
We had a pair of those along with an IH 4000. They were a POS. Almost had to carry a welder with us. The 4000 was a much better swather. Only thing you gained over the 800 was the hydro which might be worth it enough to you but I could scrap the rest of it. The header on the JD was much better simply because it had an enclosed knife drive and not that slap stick drive.
 
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