New Holland 404 Hay Crusher

GarryinNC · May 13, 2013

Bought a NH 404 crusher at an auction 2 weeks ago for $75. It was missing pto shaft, had worn chain and rotten tires. Six feet of new #60 chain, scrounged two tires from scrap pile @ tire shop, pto shaft from a scrapped piece of equipment and we tried it today on some fescue. That is my dad(87) running it. He is the best! Using one of these saves us at least a day of curing time. Mowed it with a Vicon CM 240 disc mower.

Larry NEIL · May 13, 2013

That old thing works good, but your 87 year old Dad is my hero!

showcrop · May 13, 2013

I used to have one of those. It seemed to work well and never plugged up like the Cunningham that we used when I was a kid. I sold it, probably when I got my first Moco.

GarryinNC · May 13, 2013

I know: No PTO shield and we were running with the chain & sprocket cover off as well. Also the tractor is, i think, a 3000 with 3600 decals. It had that type grill in it when we bought it as a dealer trade in. It sure has been useful though.

Garry

ben there · May 13, 2013

i been looking for something like that for awhile...just use a sickle mower on grass hay but i want to plant and bale some sweet sudan...now i got a model number to do search on...thanx

Bret4207 · May 14, 2013

I had a 404. Couldn't go 100 feet without it plugging or wrapping the hay. Bought the manual for it, talked to old timers who also hated them, never did get it to work. Scrapped it and bought a tedder. Best decision I ever made.

But hey, if it works for you, have at it and good luck.

GarryinNC · May 14, 2013

We have used another one just like it for 30 some years, but have choked it up a few times, had good luck with it mostly. Used to have a Brady crimper with the two metal rollers, it is sitting in the weeds.

Garry

JRSutton · May 14, 2013

Somebody on the board here donated a ford conditioner to our 4H club.

It'd match your tractor perfectly.

We're going to try it out later this week hopefully, on our first cutting.

We cut with a sickle bar too.

I've heard horror stories about the things clogging constantly.

I've never used one myself, so I can't wait to give it a try, even if only to see how bad they really are!

chuck41 · May 14, 2013

Hi Guys, If you hate a 404 something is not set
right(roller adj)or speed? and forward speed. They were a loved machine
and we sold so many of them even after the
Haybine came out. Also worked best in alfalfa,not
grass's. Chuck

New Holland 404 Hay Crusher

GarryinNC

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Larry NEIL

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showcrop

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GarryinNC

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ben there

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Bret4207

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GarryinNC

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JRSutton

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chuck41

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