jd 35.....38 harvester question

pjbrown · Oct 19, 2011

Could any one tell me the difference and the history of the jd 35 and 38 harvesters? years made and size differences. Did the 35 replace the 34???? I have had no luck finding any history about these machines on the internet. Thanks.

David from Kansas · Oct 19, 2011

We bought a new model 38 in 1969 (still have it)and I think that may have been the first year for them, but not sure. My guess is that the 34, 35, & 38 all came out about the same time replacing the older models. If anyone has a JD pocket ledger of the 68-69 vintage it may contain some info.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 19, 2011

I had a 35 and an early model 38, very simular except the blower drive on the 35 was belt and the 38 was double roller chain. My dad had a later model 38 (bought new in the fall of 1970) and the u joints and shafts that drove the feed rolls were much heavier. I'm under the impression that the 38 was upgraded over the years and eventually was replaced by the 3800 and the 35 replaced the 34. Dad replaced his 38 with a 3800 in the late 70s. Dont know exact years on mine, my machines were bought used during the 80s.

NY 986 · Oct 19, 2011

The 34 came out about 1963. I believe the 35 and 38 came out in the mid to late 1960's. The 35 was dropped about 1970 I believe and the 38 was replaced by the 3800 in the early 1970's. The 34 was made up to the introduction of the 3940 and 3960 along with the 3800 which happened about 1978.

pjbrown · Oct 19, 2011

so the 35 was lighter duty than the 38?

pjbrown · Oct 19, 2011

the 34 was a chop and throw ????? I was told the 34 was not as good for haylage.

pjbrown · Oct 19, 2011

has the 38 been a good machine for you? Do the knifes sharpen easy?

Anonymous-0 · Oct 20, 2011

The 35 and 38 have the same knives and shearbar and the cutterhead turns the same RPM. The early 38 has lighter feedroll driveshafts, they will swap with the ones on a 35. Probably 90% of the parts will swap, I used to do it often when I had a breakdown. Later 38s, like my dads, had heavier driveparts. I would rate the 35 and early 38 as equal and later 38 as a heavier machine. The 34 had no seperate blower and blew with the knives. OK in corn but not good for haylage. I'm going to disagree with NY986, I think the 35 was introduced and replaced the 34 about the time the 3800 (with the improved "J knife" cutterhead) replaced the late 38. If your looking for a chopper I'd move up to a 3940, much easier to adjust the shearbar.

David from Kansas · Oct 20, 2011

The reason we bought the JD 38 was because we had some extremely tall rowed feed that year and we had tried cutting it with a Gehl two row and after trying all sorts of things like cutting one row at a time to putting different tractors on the chopper, we could not get it to take the tall feed. My uncle, brother and I historically helped each other fill silo each fall. So my uncle suggested a new JD cutter so I partnered with him and that sucker ate that 15' tall silage like there was no tomorrow, powered by a JD 5010 tractor. For several years we did lots of custom chopping for neighbors. We chopped some one year that was so tall, down and tangled that you could not walk through it and the cutter did a fantastic job of sucking that stuff in. It was slow going but did a really good job.
The knife sharpening system wasn't the greatest, but the onboard stone did help dress up the knives between true sharpening, which required removal of the knives.

jd 35.....38 harvester question

pjbrown

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NY 986

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pjbrown

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