international 816 mower conditioner

Anybody have or use one of these? I was wondering how common they are and how they work with no reel.

I used one for several years. My grandfather bought it new around 1967. He wanted a New Holland haybine but the dealer, who also sold IH, brought it out for him to try instead. It was used until '73 when dad bought a new JD 1209, a major step up. When I started farming on my own, I pulled it out of the weeds and used it a few years.

The hay is leaned forward by the "flickbar" and the cut ends of the hay get "flicked" into the conditioning rolls. At least in theory.

It worked well on tall first cutting hay that was not lodged. It would plug often on shorter finer second cutting. Lodged hay or the back swath would sometimes stall a 55 hp tractor because the rolls would grab the hay before it was cut.

Somewhere I have the original sales literature and an owners manual (Not for sale). They were also available with a "Power Flickbar" or no "flickbar". Later models could have a reel, looked like a real cobble job from the pictures. I dont know how well the other styles worked, if at all.

It wasn't one of IH's better ideas, just an attempt to come up with something to sell against the NH haybine. I don't think they are common at all, I've only seen one other. Mine sits in the weeds out back. Your question brought back memories, I'll probably have nightmares tonight. (just joking)