Ford 503 side delivery rake - need opinions

powerscol

Member
I ran across a Ford 503 PTO driven side delivery rake. What are the weak or strong points on this unit. Price seem right ($200) , but I don't need a money pit. I'm told it is in good operating condition, but may need a few tines replaced. Is this a dependable unit when properly maintained?

Plan to look at it in the next week or so.

Thanks - Keith
 
If it is like the Ford rake I have with the rubber mount teeth it is a money pit unless you can get rid of the rubber mounted teeth. In theory the rubber mounts are good but rubber does not hold up well and at $4 each the teeth get to be a problem
 
I think that's the one with the PTO driven stripper in front of the rake? If so, it's about the best fluffing rake I ever used, but mine is beat to death and the stripper is bent and cracked. One strand of grass gets caught in a crack and next thing you have a stripper with a foot and a half of hay wound onto it. They also do better in lighter hay. In real heavy hay it simply can't clear the hay to the side fast enough, you have to slow down a bit.
 
old- they had the rubber teeth as an option. Replace them with the spring steel teeth as they need replacing. They last much longer.
 
They bring that much around here when they're only
suitable for parts. I gave $500 for a decent one
about 20 years ago. Have covered 1000's of acres
since. Picked up a 2nd one a few years ago. Most
parts are still readily available. I like them.
 
Ya I understand the steel ones lasting but finding them that fit can be hard. Looked a while back and pretty much found nothing
 
Ya nearest NH dealer to me is a good 40 miles one way. Living here at the lake of the Ozarks it seems the good farming places are all 40 plus miles from me
 
Old, Tractor Supply price on rubber mount teeth is under $2 each. I go through probably a half-dozen in a season with my JD but it is NOT A THREE POINT. I really like that old rake, but I'd think a Ford three point would be more likely to bust teeth so probably you're correct that it'd need lots of 'em.
 
That's how it is here, too. Used to have 3 dealers in town, and JD dealer 15 miles away. Now, the JD dealer is part of a chain (and service is poor), and is the only dealer in the county. 3 NH dealers that I do business with - 45, 50 and 60 miles away.
 
Funny thing is that the 2 tractor dealers I have say 40 or so mile from me are both less then a mile apart. There is a JD dealer about 25 miles from me but I only have one running JD and it is so old they can not get much of any thing for it
 
$4.99 here in my town for the rubber teeth so cost to much to use till I find some steel ones
 
Old, get online and look for teeth. Even my local Case dealer has the standard rubber teeth for $1.80 ea in packs of 10. I've seen them for less online at Shoup or some place.
 
The stripper bar on a 3pt 503 is a terrific idea if its in decent shape, keeps hay from being carried over the top on a windy day; also makes it easier to roll a windrow that got wet half over to dry. I got steel teeth from an older Ford dealer. Shoup and other suppliers may have them also.
 
The thing is i want to get rid of the junk rubber teeth that you have to replace once a year. Get costly to have to buy say 30 teeth every season
 
(quoted from post at 20:40:13 12/20/13) The thing is i want to get rid of the junk rubber teeth that you have to replace once a year. Get costly to have to buy say 30 teeth every season

I gotcha. Probably have to find the Ford part # and make sure the steel teeth match up. Mine are steel and I don't think any have broken. Of course the rake doesn't get used because of the stripper so that helps!
 
There is no equal of a 3pt SD rake for use in small or unusually shaped fields to rake. I have had an older JD350 for 35 years, a Ford 503 for about 5 years. If the Ford 503 is in good condition, I would hook onto it every time.
 
I would probably use this one if it was not for the rubber teeth. Every time I have used it I have lost a few teeth and at close to $4 each not worth using it and those are the rubber replacement type at that
 
I have had one for 11 years and it has been very dependable. Paid
$165 at an auction. I have the steel teeth and have never had to
replace one, though I have had to bend a few of them back if they
got bent. I had to replace the little belt a while back but the big
one is still doing fine. It is great for me, we have 30+ acres of
small fields with hills, trees, power poles and such and it will dodge
anything because it is 3 point mounted and easy to lift.
Zach
 
Looking for Ford 503 parts or possibly a used rake for parts. Need one of the main bars that the teeth mount to (part 148228)
 
I would not part this one out since it works just fine other then the rubber teeth needing to be replaced. I might sell the whole thing
 

Thanks so much for the help folks. I hope to get to see it this week. It is supposed to be in perfect running condition with new belts. It also has the steel teeth, not rubber. I may be able to even get it delivered for the price too. Ill pull the trigger for the price if it is good. Boss unit is OK too after talking to one of the hay cutters that goes to our Church.

Two folks that hay in my area love them. I am being told that for the grass mix I will be working with they do very well, especially if I slow down and am careful with the windrow pattern. One will teach me how to run properly - will cost me some smoked BBQ ribs though :D .

In checking on parts I found one of the local agg shops keeps the basic parts on hand (belts and tines) Bearing are also available through a machine shop here per one of the gentleman. Evidently they are fairly popular around here.

I also got a lead on a very good JD 24T baler too.

Merry Christmas, and the Best for the New Year - Keith
 
I"ve been using a 503 for six or seven seasons now, I hate it but for now it"s all I"ve got. The stripper pushes the windrow down and won"t let it fluff. Going into the wind, the hay will blow up and wrap around the stripper, sometimes the whole length if I don"t catch it in time. The slightest twitch on the steering will throw the windrow out of line. It won"t handle a heavy swath, can"t double up windrows. Hard to make a good corner. It drags hay around, leaves a gap, then dumps in all in a big pile at the end of the turn. I usually do a second raking in the opposite direction either straddling or to the right of the windrow, to fluff and untwist.
Can get the steel tines at TSC but I have to bend them a little to fit.
 
I bought a 3 pt. Ford rake at a sale for $50 some time ago. I have never tried to use it. Previous owner had just installed sveral new bearings.
 
After getting some detailed pictures I discovered it is actually a model 14-72, painted red. which I believe is an earlier model. Is this correct? One of the bars has a slight bow in it. Should this be a big concern. I'm told everything else is solid. It has the steel teeth, and there is a bucket of spares to go with it.

I may go look tomorrow. Any additional thoughts?
 

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