Happy New Year to all of you!! I hope your new year is full of many great things!!
This past fall, I had something happen to my IH 234 corn picker that I am hoping someone might be able to explain to me. I had picked a few loads and had just turned around and lined up to the next rows. I decided to shut the PTO off and clean off a couple of stalks. I jumped back on, started the PTO, put the tractor in gear and off down the row. About 50 feet into the row, my right gathering unit was lower than my left. I shut it all down and took look to see what was the matter but I really couldn't see anything specific. Finally found my culprit, the lift fork had slipped off and was now under the lifting pad it was suppose to be under. I finished off the row since I was kind of in the middle. Since I didn't have much for tools in the field, I took it back to the yard to lift the right side up until I could get the fork down and in the correct position. Looking at the lifting fork, there was a gash along the lifting fork but nothing broken or bent. I put the lifting fork back into position and it was good as new. So, what happened? I was on level ground. There were no sudden turns or twists, no unusual lifting with the power lift/rocker arms. What could have happened to cause the lifting fork to slip out?
I'm not familiar with the 234 so this is just a wild guess but possibly it could have been partially slipped out or was hung up and then finally gave out from the constant vibration of the picker after you began the new row.
Did you lower the picker all the way to the ground? I've had one slip out if for some reason I put it all the way on the ground and accidentally pushed the handle too far forward.
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Pickers: IH 2MH on Farmall 400, IH 234 on 766, IH 234 on 706, 2- 234 sheller units, 234 husker unint, 234 grinder unit, IH 34HM-20, New Idea 305 w/ husker, IH 14P pull type Shellers: Moline model E
I did not hit any holes, gullies, wash-outs or any of the such. I could not say for sure if there may have been a slippage along the way, but the field was pretty smooth. More than likely, I bet when I lowered the picker down, I could have pushed it down and the fork slipped out. Thanks for your ideas...Andrew I bet that is what I did.
