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Post Info TOPIC: Old NI Uni's
Superpicker


Wasn't Born Yesterday

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Old NI Uni's
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I was just wondering out there has or knows of older New Idea Uni-harvesters that are still being used. I have a 1968 701 with a 737 bed and 725 corn head that I have been using.

Just picked up the oldest one I am aware of, 1965 model 701 (lot #2) with Continental 6 cyl engine. This is shortly after MM sold the concept and NI picked it up. Some of the first ones NI sold were MMs painted orange and buff, built from leftover MM parts. I have seen early NI's built with MM gauges in the instrument panels. They put Cont. in them the first year and then 292 GM's after that. This has a 727 husking bed and 3 row 725 head. It has been shedded, runs good and is very clean. The husking rolls I think have very few acres on them. It was owned by the same individual for close to 30 years. He used it on about 5 hopper bed wagon loads of corn a year the last 10 years or so. I will get some pictures when I get it home here in a few weeks.

Who here has hauled these Uni's around? I estimate this weighs around 12,000 pounds. I am going to have to get a heavier trailer if I make this a constant habit. When I got the '68 model, I only had to drive it around 5 miles home. This one will be moved around 45 miles. I think with a good greasing and oiling and gassing up it would be ready to pick corn.

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john in NY


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Looking for a UNI without a cab so I can haul it without being over height.  We have a 708 with a chopper on that I really like.  Spent $1000 getting it hauled from Southern PA a few years ago.  Lot's of machines still in use in Southern PA most are 708, 709 or 800's.  Not many 701's around.

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Skip7879


Getting There

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With the Uni System can you switch from silage chopper to corn picker or are they one or the other.

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jdtom


Too Much Time On Their Hands

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In their heyday, you could get these attachments for a Uni:

Tool Carrier (for mounting your choice of planter units on)

Snowblower

710 Combine (a 2-3 row machine) and headers

717 Combine (a 4-row machine) and headers

729A Sheller

727 & 737 Husking Beds

767 Superchopper and headers

There were usually 2-4 different sizes of power units available at any given time throughout the lifespan of the Uni-System line. Obviously it was recommended that you have one of the larger power units if you intended to have the forage harvester in your line of Uni attachments. 

I have a file folder full of Uni brochures in my literature collection from the mid 1960's up to the last ones New Idea sold in the 1990's. It's not for sale but I'd sure be happy to share info or scan pictures for those of you needing it so feel free to contact me .

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John in IL


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I have been toying with the idea of finding an older 4wd uni, possibly a 708 or 709 and putting a husking bed on it.  I don't have any experience with these machines,and am wondering if I would be able to run a 3 row narrow head with this setup or will it be to wide.  What would you guys suggest for a husking bed and what should I be careful of when looking a these machines?  Any other suggestions are welcome also.  John.



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RFP


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jdtom wrote:

In their heyday, you could get these attachments for a Uni:

Tool Carrier (for mounting your choice of planter units on)

Snowblower

710 Combine (a 2-3 row machine) and headers

717 Combine (a 4-row machine) and headers

729A Sheller

727 & 737 Husking Beds

767 Superchopper and headers

There were usually 2-4 different sizes of power units available at any given time throughout the lifespan of the Uni-System line. Obviously it was recommended that you have one of the larger power units if you intended to have the forage harvester in your line of Uni attachments. 

I have a file folder full of Uni brochures in my literature collection from the mid 1960's up to the last ones New Idea sold in the 1990's. It's not for sale but I'd sure be happy to share info or scan pictures for those of you needing it so feel free to contact me .


I going to add one more attachment to your list, a square baler.

 



-- Edited by RFP on Monday 12th of October 2009 08:23:58 PM

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john in NY


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A good source on Uni Systems reasonably close to you is Jack Welti in Plainview MN    (507.269.0876).  He buys and sells uni's and has salvage machines for parts.  I think Dee Implement in IA is a big Uni dealer.

www.wisfarmer.com usually has several machines advertised this time of year. 

The 709 has an AC 429 engine which is quite a bit bigger than the Perkins in the 708.  The horse power is a big deal if you want to run a chopper and/or pull a big load.  

In theory you can buy several attachments for the uni and switch them.  In practice it's a real pain and with the realtively low cost of power units you might as well have a power unit for each attachment.

A 3RN head will just cover a 708.  I think the NI heads on the 708 and 709 don't let you put them in reverse when they plug.  The adapter to use JD heads lets you reverse the head.

I have nice 708 with an 868 chopper with JD corn and hay heads.  We want another machine for a picker.

My advice on buying a uni is to decide what you want then run a wanted ad in the local farm papers looking for "a shed kept unit - no junk please". 

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jdtom


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Oh, yeah - I guess I was just thinking of the New Idea Uni's. That was one for the Moline Uni's. (Or was it still available on the first-year New Idea Uni's?) I have also seen a manure spreader on a Moline Uni - was this an actual attachment or some farmer's shop-built unit?

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Tim in NJ


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There was also the 12' Cut/Ditioner head for it.  You could set it up to work with the forage harvester and feederhouse for collecting cornstalks or greenchop, or you could run it on the front by itself without the feederhouse and harvester on the chassis and it would cut, flail-condition and windrow hay like the pull-type Cut/Ditioners.

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Superpicker


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The 760 baler attachment was MM item. I have never seen one a on a 700 series NI. MM also offered a swather unit and experimented with a loader and also tillage tools such as a plow, but did not put these last two into production.
I have seen a brown mule (last model) with a 723 2 row head and a 727 husking bed, but it was quite a load for it. Those MM motors were a 206 cu. in.

The town of Coldwater, Ohio (where NI was located) still has 708 & 709 mules with snowblowers on them they use when the snow gets deep.

The MM spreader was an attachment built by Templeton I believe. A friend of mine had one on a restored L Uni near McCordsville, IN and used to take it to the Indiana State Fair each year. I drove it one time in a parade.

The 700 and 701 units also could use the early 726 husking bed and 2 row superpicker (snapping roll) 720 corn head. The later stripper plate heads will not work with this bed. Tried that swap once. I have only seen one of these 726 beds, I figure most are scrapped out by now.

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john in NY


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Saw a picture yesterday of a MM Uni with a baler that is for sale.  It is restored and looks pretty cool.  Too bad it's expensive and in England!

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Hoosier Chuck


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I got a relative with some Uni stuff for sale.

701 power unit, an 3 row head that has stripper plates (don't know the number) and a  nice 731 4 row head that has been gone through.  Also a 737 husking bed with good rolls. 

Lots of good parts or wouldn't take a lot to get it going again.  He upgraded to a newer diesel 4x4 Uni to pick with.  Located in southern Indiana (North Vernon).  Call me if your interested.  812- Seven One Eight - Two Zero Five Seven


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