New Idea 12 A spreader

Dean Olson

Well-known Member
I feel like I finally found a barn find. Spreader appears to be all original with very little wear. I greased and oiled it all up and it works perfect. Lot # show it to be made in 1950. I do have a few questions.

1st picture shows a chain tensioner that doesn't appear to be correct???? any insight?

I plan to pull it with a Farmall Super H and or a Super C. How fast can I tow this thing?
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That is supposed to be a 6 tooth tightner sprocket. But your pictures show a very major problem, one that I have to repair on a 10A spreader now. If you look at the bottom angle iron frame just in back of where the toung fastens on it shows the bottom of the angle is rusted away on the bottom picture that is the left side, picture 2 of the right side altho not as good a view looks to be the same. When the bottom side of the angle goes away there is nothing to hold up the floor and that is also where all the pull is on the spreader. So check that out very good and if is like looks in picture repair before use so you do not have a major disaster. The one I have to do belongs to am Amish friend and is the 4 wheel version and it went and he half patched till it lost the complete floor under a load. I will have to put all new wood in when I turn it over to replace the bottom angle. I have 3 of those spreaders setting in my parts row, and some have that bottom angle behind the axle that holds the widespread also rusted off. As for towing that model only has bushings for bearings anyplace including the axle, no roller bearings as they were in the 12 that was discontinued in early 48 and replaced in late 48 with the 12A with the cheaper bushings. So if going very far grease several times. And the main drive chain on left side wire it up so it cannot bounce and hit the large drive gear-sprocket as going down the road and that chain hitting the gear-sprocket it will break that gear. That is why said to tie lever in but that still will not stop that chain bouncing and from hitting on a bump. Have that busted on some of the spreaders I have setting here. Field work 3rd gear in either tractor at half throttle is max unloading speed and for road speed high gear in either tractor is OK. Road travel behind truck depends on that frame I was saying about and tire quality but then the tires are the orignal 64 year old tires and probably not very good and if you blow one at much speed (the 35 MPH) you might as well be looking for anouther spreader. Do the repairs needed now and you should have a good spreader for years to come. I repair this old machinery for the Amish, have 10 spreaders setting here now for either parts or repair that I have not gotten to , bin concentrateing on rakes and the other machinery has fallen behind that includes disk harrows, grain drills and the spreaders. Also a plow.
 
Thanks for a thorough response.

Can you post pictures of a proper repair to the rusted out area.

Do you have that tensioner gear? I suspect I'll need a few more links of chain. How many links are there supposed to be?
 
We have one of those spreaders. Does a great job. That idler is the same as the one on mine...a cast iron roller. I'm not sure, it may have a bronze sleeve.
 
Can't post pictures. On what I have to do is replace the angle iron completely and that means taking out all the rotton wood and completely unbolting everything that is fastened to it and I also have to replace other cross irons. For yours how good of a welder are you? With what is left acording to the picture you might be able to use like a cutting disk on a 4 1/2" angle grinder to get a smooth straight edge and take a piece of angle and cut it to just fit the bad section and weld it in, have plenty of water hose avaible as the wood will want to catch fire. If you have a loader or something you could lift it so it is laying on its side it would be fairly easy to weld in that piece. That is if you are a good welder that I am not. Will try to post chain sizes tomorrow and will try to get out and look if any parts spreaders have that on but I don't think so as one has no widespread as that part of the angle was rusted away when I got it. Just needed that big sprocket I was telling you that could be broken to repair an older horse spreader.
 
Main drive chain 71 links, book does not give size of link. Wide spread 44 links, beeter drive 40 links. Only total links given in this book but others I have might give size of link.
 

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