Started with a Ford 16-65 mounted on an MF 65, then went to a NI 323 1-row, which was joined by a NI 311 2-row wide, which was joined by a NI 324 with 326 husker. Now I have a shiny late-model 324 with the heavy-duty PTO and the 327 12-roller husker doing all the work. The Ford unfortunately wore out to the point of no return. The 323 found a new home 5 miles away. The 311 and a parts donor are still here. The older 324 has problems. I enjoy picking ear corn and it has turned into a decent money-maker.
How did you like use the ford mounted corn picker. i've got one on a a wd45 allis that i am hoping to use for the first time this fall. any suggestions? thanks=)
The Ford had some advantages. The design of the snapper from the points up to the rollers was the best I have ever used in down corn (on a picker anyway). The mounted design gave more traction to a smaller tractor in soft ground. There also was no side-draft on hills. Disadvantage was the husking bed. Just didn't have the capacity needed for modern hybrids. Keep a broomstick with you to push ear jams out from under the flapwheels over the husker rollers. Other disadvantages were the difficulties of mounting and dismounting the thing, and sitting right next to all the dust coming off the snapper rollers. I think I have a pair of good husker rollers for the Ford out in the shop yet, if you want them for cost of shipping. I may also have some others odds and ends for it around.
sure i would be interested . let me know costs. i always wondered why more guys didnt make some kind of cab to protect them from the dust. was it just a cultural thing back then. i notice europeans have had cabs on small tractors for years but here most guys wouldnt have them till the late sixties. while tractors may look better without cabs, i remember cold winds, snow blowing down neck and rain showers. give me a cab any day. lol. i'm thinking about making one for my tractors
