This weekend I brought home an IH 234 mounted corn picker. I paid $700 for the gathering unit, power unit subframe, husking bed, sheller, single front wheel, and super snoot. The corn picker's history - it was bought used from the local dealer in 1968. The picker was in action until 1976 where it sat in the shed until I loaded it up trailers to being back to my farm. The most it ever had picked in a given year was about 200 acres. It was mounted on a 560 with a fast hitch. The picker and units are in great shape except all of the dust that has collected since 1976. I really question how much the sheller was used since 90% of the corn picked was ear corn, very little shell corn. Even the rubber gasket that sits between the supersnoot and hood is intact.
The serial number of the gathering unit is 1450, an early model.
My plan is to clean it up, grease it up, oil the chains, and mount in on a 706. Hopefully, off to pick some corn. Now, to find a 706....
As my wife has told me numerous times, why do you need a corn picker if you don't have any corn to pick? Women....they just don't understand.
I found the picker out in western Minnesota, Mt Lake, which is about 200 miles from where it is going to be used for play. Two brothers had owned it, but since 1976 it had been retired to the shed for their combine. Alvin and Willard were both generous in helping loading the picker---GREAT guys!!
Now to find a 706 to mount it on and pick a little corn next fall!!
FYI, Better start hunting for mounting brackets for a 706 [756 and 826 also work] because the ones from the 560 will not fit. I'm not sure if you can run the 540 rpm setup on a 706 either. When I went from a 560 to the 706, I changed to the smaller drive sprockets and the 21 spline PTO coupler and used the 1000 shaft because that's what was recommended in the manuals. There are a few other adjustments that need to be made on the main frame and with the lift linkage but you'll figure that out when you go to putting it together.
I do know a guy from over by Decorah that is going to be hauling some 234s off to scrap. They are pretty rough, but may have a mounting that you need. Will ask him.
I would appreciate you asking him for me about the axle brackets, bracket for the clutch housing, lifting shafts/linkage, and PTO pieces. TW is correct there are mounting differences between the 560 and 706 for these pickers, and I do thank TW for reminding me of those and tips concerning the PTO differences.
I just got the picker into the shed for the winter today and I am happy for that; thanks to my dad, brother-in-law, and best friend for their help.
I wouldn't be opposed to getting a 656 to mount this on either, but that is another different set of mountings and supposedly harder to find.
Thank you again Jim and TW for your help with my "new" toy!
Here are some pictures of my "new" 234 picker. The gathering unit has a serial number of 1450. Does someone out there have an idea of year in was produced? Overall, it is pretty good shape. I haven't put the elevator or the auger on either of the husking and sheller units yet. Now to shop for a tractor. I was thinking for the money, a 706, since this picker/tractor will be more of a "toy" than workhorse. What are your suggestions for a tractor and why?
