Hay wagon rebuild....Almost done.

andyd4ntx · Nov 4, 2013

About 4 months ago I purchased a very used and rusty Electric Wheel Co wagon running gear. The guy I bought is from could not tell me how long It had been sitting outside for. His best guess 20 years or more. The deck was gone and one wheel was rusted apart.
This is what I started with.....

I had no luck finding another wheel that would fit. So I had to get another 16 inch wheel and had a local welder cut the center of the damaged wheel and graft it into the other rim.
Its been a lot of work for just a hay wagon but yesterday I rolled it out of the barn for the first time....

I am hoping to use this to tail the JD214T bailer JMOR sold me.
What do you Guys and Gals think.
Andrew

RayP(MI) · Nov 4, 2013

Nice job! Be sure to spray it down well with
linseed oil.

Leroy · Nov 4, 2013

John Deere grain drills and balers, some of them, used that rim and David Bradley and one other wagon maker as well that I cannot think of now.

andyd4ntx · Nov 4, 2013

The rusted out rim was a real problem. I took a spindle with me to 3 different salvage yards and a couple of trailer places. I could not find a wheel that would fit. I tired Ford and Dodge 5.5 dia bolt patterns they are close but not exactly a fit. So in the end I had to have one grafted and welded up. After that the lumber yard I ordered the 4x8 beams from could not get two matching 4x8's it took them over two weeks, then the tire store in town took two weeks to come up with 2 matching used narrow 16 inch tires. I have been told that used Narrow 16 tires are few and far between anymore.
And I thought " it's just a hay wagon how hard can it be to fix up!"':lol:'
Andrew

Leroy · Nov 5, 2013

Any 5 lug implement rim will fit that hub as will Ford 4 wheel drive pickup wheels. The lug pattern is the same but center hole is bigger on them. A 235-80Rx16 LT will work on those wheels.

andyd4ntx · Nov 5, 2013

Hey Leroy:
Out here we don't have too many choices to find implement wheels. I went to every salvage yard and trailer place in a 50 mile radius. and you are correct the 235 -16 is what the local tire shop found for me.
I Ospho'ed the wheels today and they will get prime and paint in the next few days and then this one is done. Then I get to start on the NEXT one!
Ya I bought two wrecks to rebuild':roll:'
The Wife says I like "Do It Yourself Kits"':lol:'

Andrew.

Dave H (MI) · Nov 5, 2013

I run into rusted out rims from time to time, I just cut out the centers and buy a new rim and weld it on...or...in some cases they are riveted on. Takes an air riveter cause these are not your wee rivets. Wagon looks nice and I would find it very handy. Not sure how happy you will be with it for hay in the long run. Your deck looks solid but is small...looks like 7 x 12 maybe? Main issue I would have is the rear rack is too short. The combination of the two is going to make it hard to really pile on the bales. That being said, I have an 8 x 16 that I put 125 bales on and it has a short rear rack. I should also say that my favorite flat wagon is 7 x 14 with a tall back and I put over 100 on that one. The smaller wagons are more versatile and better at multitasking. If you are storing it inside and don't have big doors, small is better. I think you did a nice job on it. I would definitely give it the once over as a work wagon if it were at an auction. It's a good thing when you take something that is headed for the scrap yard and renew it's lease.

andyd4ntx · Nov 5, 2013

Hey "Dave H " Yes you are right it is small as hay wagons go, 12 feet long by 6.8 wide. I set it up for three rows high. So I should be able to get 50 bales on this wagon. I need short wagons as I am going to pull this behind the baler and tail the baler with it. My hay fields are small and irregular shaped so a larger-longer wagon won't work behind the baler. I am still looking out for a couple of larger wagons to store hay on short term.
It was a lot of work , but fun to give something from 60 some years ago a new lease on life for a while.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Andrew

flying belgian · Nov 5, 2013

That looks real nice. One suggestion I have is to
bolt a 2x6 along each side on top. It keeps the
bales tipped in just a little as you go up and just
makes it easier for the guy stacking.

Leroy · Nov 6, 2013

A 18' bed will trail and work as good in small fields as the 12' bed. And the wheelbase it shows is what is normal for a 14' bed with the normal rear axle overhang. Take a piece of flooring and fasten it to the ends of your cross pieces for a rub rail and also to keep the outer edge of your outside floor boards from breaking off, then take anouther piece and put on top of the floor at the edge to keep your bales from sliding off sideways as you are loading. We had 16'ers ranging from 6.5' wide to 7' and one 18' bed that was too much for one to walk to the back to load and keep up with the baler. If I was farming anymore I would have 14' beds for easy storage and loading by hand it would be your width but for a kicker 7'. I would not put 4' between cross pieces tho, only 16" but would use 2 x 4" for that with standard 1" lumber for the floor. Only was I would use 2" lumber for floor is if I had to lay it crosswize to get a lower loading height.

Dave H (MI) · Nov 6, 2013

You are welcome! Belgian is right, however, you do need a board down the length of the wagon on each side. I use 2 x 4 and it will tilt the bales in a little but that is not the real reason. When you are loading your top bales and the deck is slippery with chaff your feet will slip and you will go off the wagon...painfully. Get them on there. Seal the boards against water. When I put pretty new wood on a wagon I have used commercial water sealers but after a year or two they all get the same treatment....crankcase oil and kerosene, mixed 50/50 and applied at the end of the season. After a winter outside they are ready to go. If you are planning on loading on a moving wagon following a baler you best be a young man in good shape and get those side boards on there. Make sure you carry a big thermos of water. BTDT and now I sell off the field and they loads it themselves while I sit in the truck and amuse myself watching. I have at least five wagons around here with flat racks. We are going to start loading again in the next year or two so I guess they are going back on the field.

andyd4ntx · Nov 6, 2013

Wow, Flying belgian, Dave H and Leroy thanks for all the great info. After reading what you guys have said I will put on the side rails and get the bed coated. I have another chassis that I will be starting on soon so I will use the info you have all passed on to me when I build up that wagon.
I can not express how much it helps a beginner like me to be able to listen to you guys and have you comment form your own experience.
Haying is all new to me. ( at 53 Years Old ':roll:' )

Thanks again for the time you put into this board.
Andrew

dustycoal · Nov 6, 2013

Looks nice , never have enough farm wagons around,
just to handy.

Hay wagon rebuild....Almost done.

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