New Idea Manure Spreader

I have an old New Idea spreader. The drive chain for the paddles broke and after I put another link in the chain, it will not come out of gear...the paddles spin whether the lever is in the up or down position. What could I have done wrong...I"m not much of a mechanic? Thanks.

Do you have the chain too long so it is still engaging the sprocket when the lever is in the off position? Have somebody move the lever while you watch what it's doing.

Give us a model and we can probably tell you number of links that are supposed to be in the chain. It sounds to me like you went around an idler wrong. I was thinking of the web feed chain, the chain for the beaters stays tight all the time and what throws that out is the ratchet feed. With model we can figure it out.

I was half asleep when I put this post on so I messed up in the reply, sorry. The beaters drive off the big sprocket on the left side and to throw out of gear the front sprocket that is connected to the lever is raised and to put it in gear it is lowered. If you put it around the guides wrong it cannot lift the chain off the large sprocket on the axle. The chain that I said stays tight all the time is on the right side and drives the web. That long left side chain depending on the model of the spreader will determine how many guides-tighteners it passes thru. And any of them that the chain misses will make that problem. You might be able to if you look close seewhere it had rubbed on things to tell if you put it on the correct side of the guides. Different model spreaders will be slightly different in that but all are simular. My parts books are all out in the truck right now and I cannot remember off the topof my head the exact pattern. I do have several spreaders setting here I can look at later. I was getting John Deere and new Idea mixed up as Deere drives the beaters different.

Many thanks, I'll look for the model number. For something that appears fairly simple, this has been a pain.

Probly nothing you did wrong. The lever moves the roller to the cam that moves the ratchet. It could have broke or a cotter key came out and let the rod slip out. That would keep it engaged.

That's what I got to thinking when I was out riding this morning. The chain is through the idlers wrong.

Dick, I think there are too many links in the chain.
When I replaced the broken one, the chain would not come together, so I put in a enough to bridge the gap. When the activation lever was let down, the chain almost touched the ground....I thought that didn't look right. Now, I don't know how many extra I actually added...more evidence of being a poor mechanic and trying to fix something I was unfamiliar with. Thanks for the response.

That must be it....see my response to Dick. Thanks!

This is for the web, not the beaters

Ok, the spreader is a model 17. I moved the chain to where the idler from the lever in front lowers it to make contact with the large sprocket, or raises the chain away from the sprocket. But, it doesn't completely clear the sprocket and sometimes the paddles try to spin. Also, I put on a load and the chain started to slip over the drive sprocket a couple times, but if I stopped and backed up a few feet it would spin the paddles again. If I take any more links out, I don't know how the chain will reach to hook up again. Thanks

Nebraska,
I counted the links and I think there are 66. This is a New Idea Model 17. I almost think it needs another link, so that the lever on front of the spreader can lift the chain off the drive sprocket. As it is now, if you put any more pull on the rod that moves the idler, it is so tight you can't get the lever to the top locking position.

Leroy, it is a model 17. I counted 66 links. It seems very tight when raising the front activation lever to disengage the chain from the sprocket. If there were another link, I believe the idler would raise the chain higher. Thanks

Just got out my No. 17 parts book. The main drive chain it lists 3 different ones. Steel link chain is No. 72 chain and 71 links and lots 371 to 417. 1739S Main drive chain, No. 70 tubular chain, 71 links. Order 0662-SRA, lots 371 to 378 with offset link assembly K2266A, Pin link assembly K2267A, And Roller link assembly K2268A. Then there is 0662SRA Maindrive chain complete, 71 links, No. 672 steel pintle chain lots 379 to 417 with Detachable link, No. 672 part number K3097A. Sprockets are same for all types of chain. Now Beater drive chain is 43 links of No. 62 steel chain. Wide spread is 42 links of the same 62 chain. So it looks like you are 5 links short but remember a worn chain of that length will stretch at least 3 links over what a new one will and a stretched chain will want to climb the teeth in the sprockets. So if your chain was wore enought to break it probably needs the whole chain replaced. The web chain is No. 67 or 67H chain of 67 plain links with 11 or 13 bar links nepending on lot number. And that spreader was built 1955 to 1960.

Leroy,
Wow...I think my head is about to explode! Bottom line here appears to be that I need more links to get the thing to disengage. Where should I check about buying the 71 link chain? I did not know about the offset links, pin links or roller link assembly....my main drive chain all looks the same.
Thanks for continuing to try to help me!

The size of the chain is No. 72 and it is 71 links. The other half links and roller links are for a roller chain that they used on some of them the same way as any other roller chain, same way on a bicycle chain. I just checked wed evening on a supplier that I was sure would carry it, he is out till a delievery next week that he hopes it is on. Told me there is only one company in the world still making that chain and thinks they may be getting ready to get rid of it as well. His price is unless new shippment would change it is $6.40 per foot, not sure how many feet it would take but he would shipp if you ordered enough to make it worthwile. He also said that you could substitude no. 70 detachable link for the no. 72 detachable link chain and the links are like .020" shorter but it will work. I know a lot of places do not carry it any more. Last year I needed a piece of smaller detachable link chain and got it at TSC and later found he had it for a third the price. This is an Amish machinery dealer so only way to contact him is by snail mail unless you are close enough to drive there. PowerLine Equipment, J. L. Hilty, 388 W. 350 S., Berne, In 46711 I get over there once in a while so if when I do get there I could do more checking if you would want me to, expect it to be end of June before I am there again. I suspicion your chain is getting wore out or baddly rusted for it to break and probably the complete unit should be replaced. Think possibly New Idea is about all that used that size chain. Getting so far in if want more info please start a new thread. Leroy

Leroy,
Thanks again. Yesterday I added two more links, to bring the total up to 68. That allowed me to gain more lift on the idler that is activated by the drive lever. The chain now clears the big drive sprocket. I will try spreading another load, probably today.