Minnesota Grain Binder

alliswd45

Member
I just recently purchased a MN grain binder, didn't come with transport wheels, bought a set of wheels and hitch off a case binder, read an older post on here about the hitch, didn't seem to make sense how it mounted, is it the same hitch you use to pull in in operating position as it is for transport, or do you have to have a separate hitch? Does anyone have pictures of how it mounts? Also, does anybody know what model this is?

Thanks, Carl

mvphoto16096.jpg
 
I think it was on the IH...maybe similar on the MN machine, but the transport wheels had a square steel shaft that fit into square holes on the frame, bull wheel end, and the hitch attached to the small wheel end. Binder wheels had to be cranked up to use the transport wheels. Your transport wheels look like they are on a common axle? I"d look for some kind of mount near the bull wheel. MN products were made by MN Prison Industries, Stillwater, MN....when the inmates still had to work on the farm or in the prison factory.
 

I know where were the rear ones go, just don't know how the hitch is suppose to mount or what it looks like. I live about 15 miles from Stillwater where they were built.
 
Do you know what model that binder is? I have an old MN parts book from the 1950s, and may be able to find a drawing of the hitch for you.
Lon
 
I have a JD binder that the transport pull hitch slides in thru the grain wheel and hooks in a loop under the binder. Regular hitch then gets lifted part way up and a pin slipped in to hold it. IH binders and swathers were that way also.
 
I will ask dad in the morning if the hitch and wheels that are in the shed were for the MN binder the ih swather and if he wants to sell them
if he don't want to sell I will get you pics of them
 
As to the tongue it depends. Some binders used
the same tongue for transport and operation.
My experience is with 10' PTO binders. Both JD
and IH. Both of those used a separate tongue
for transport but that was also due to the PTO
shaft getting in the way. IH you folded the
operating tongue up and left it attached. The
transport wheels slid into sockets usually in
front of the bull wheel.

Looks like the tongue on yours may be a rework.
the wheels sitting on the platform are a set of
tongue trucks not for transport, their purpose
was to take the weight of the binder off the
horses necks. If they are for this binder the
wood portion may be what you need to slide in
on the grain end to transport. If so it will
attach on the underside.

If the wheels in the picture are the ones from
the Case machine they won't be much good to you
unless you are gonna pull it with horses. All
I know about these tongue trucks is they are
finger pinchers.

Transport wheels will have a axle stub usually
a couple of feet long. Slides into brackets as
mentioned. Would be easy to make something
that works if you have a original to copy.

Have only been around a Minnesota just a little
so not real familiar about that brand. Will
say though that things like hitches and trucks
do NOT mix and match between JD and IH and am
betting Minnesota had their own also.

If and when you need canvas I can hook you up
with a Amishman in Ohio that makes them very
reasonably.
 
I figured the truck was for horse application. I have the wheels and axles, just need to chuck em in the mill and take 1/16" off two sides and they will fit in the pockets. Just need to figure out the tongue, from looking at it today I'm thinking I can do it with a chunk of square tube and make it would good. But an original to copy would be grea .

I also contacted macknair & sons in PA and he is getting me a quote on canvases from the Amish. I figured canvases would be the hard part to get, that was the easy part! Lol
 
I talked to dad and the hitch and trucks that are in my shed are for the IH binder and IH swather that grandpa had he doesn't remember ever having transports for the Minnesota power binder.
Sorry I couldn't help
Travis
 
Carl,
The parts book I have covers the #1, #2, and PTO binders, but does not show any assemblies, just the individual parts with reference numbers. The binder section is about 100 pages long, and it would be hard to sort out exactly what you need without looking at your binder. If you want to borrow my book, I will lend it to you for reference. My e-mail is [email protected]
Lon
 
I don't know if this will yield any information or not, but if you can find any patten #'s on the machine, Google them. Its amazing what pop's up, it's worth a try.
 
Hi there Allis,

My father wanted me to reply to your post. He said that he has a MN binder for parts if you're interested. You can email me [email protected] and i'll get you his number. We are in McGregor which is about two and a half hrs north of the metro. Thanks!
 

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