New Idea hay rake R-87

I have not posted on this site for about 10 years, but now I need a little help from someone that is a real old timer.

I have a very old hay rake that I have used for years. It has three tooth bars and two large steel wheels. There are also two small steel wheels in the rear. (One of mine is missing) There is a gear box on the right side that has a triangle shaped hinged cover. It also has traces of green paint on some of the angle iron. I thought it was a JD until I discovered it has a small metal tag on the back side of the brace that the tongue attaches to. It says New Idea R-87. I assumed that R87 was the model number. But a search of New Idea R87 returns nothing. Can anybody help me figure out what this is?

The link is a picture of a rake that looks about like mine. The owner of that rake says it is a R140.

Since I broke a bar last season it is now time to fix it/tighten it up a little.

Are parts still available?

Gaius sounds like Guy Us
A link to a rake that looks close to mine.

I think I have a NOS bar for a 3 bar New Idea rake in inventory left-overs.

Gaius
That indeed looks like the New Idea rakes my father had. I wager it broke where one of the teeth bolted through the bar.. He would drill a 1/2" hole through the bar, about 3" from the break each side and perpendicular to the other hole. Then insert a smaller pipe in side and weld both holes closed as well as the area each side of the original tooth hole and drill out the hole.. That's the old time farmer fix .. LOL
Jo

It's very possible that the rake doesn't have a "model number".

I'm not sure about new idea, but I know IH didn't use model numbers on theirs of the same vintage.

Instead, their rakes had names such as "Internationa Harvester 4 bar, enclosed gear, side delivery rake".

Very possible New Idea did the same.

In your case, I'd search for "New Idea 3 bar side delivery rake" and see what you come up with.

I will start out with a bit of history to help you understand. New Idea did not use serial numbers on their machinery but used lot numbers for to determin when they were made due to small changes in some parts and to tell what parts were to be on that model. The rake was first built in Sandwich, Il. and when New Idea bought out the company they moved production to Coldwater Ohio and carried the Sandwich name later to be called the Sandwich-New Idea and that model was made between 1925 and 1934. The first one to be built with just the New Idea name is what you have and just carried the New Idea name and was just called a New Idea 3 Bar and built 1934 to 1947 and was lots R57 to R115 and yours at R87 was built the second of 6 runs in 1940.The one in the picture is a 4 bar that carried the No. 4 and was built 1948 to 1953 and with a lot number of R140 it was one of the only lots built in 1950 and is a 4 bar rake. The 4 bar built after that time was the No 44 and that model had tractor levers on and was built 1954 to the end of 1955 and my book was printed on June 1, 1955 so it could possible have been in production longer. The frame on the 3 bar, the No. 4 and No. 44 is the same, just the real is different along with the rear caster wheels and brackets, the 3 bar had cast brackets and spoke wheels and the 4 bar and pressed steel brackets on a disk wheel. The bars are not interchangeable between the 3 bar and the 4 bar. They are made out of 1" inside diameter & 1 1/4" outside diameter steel tube, water pipe will not work as even tho it is 1" the inside and outside diameters is larger. for a broken bar to fix get either a 1" outside diameter heavy wall tube or a 1" shaft and slide inside the bar (if it broke it probably is at the centerreal bearing and wore too thin so you may need to take a piece of steel and replace that section and reinforce it with that bar inside that needas to reach 2 tooth bolts to each side of the break or splice. I have repaired a lot due to wear out or rust away. Now if it is the left hand end that went bad you can cut the bar off and take that 1" steel shaft and put in back the 2 teeth bolts and the end spider get the holes trued up and have a bushing bade that will press in and has a 1" center hole and that will work and tighten it up. I have a 3 bar setting here now just wating for warm weather to work on it outside, then I have a 3 bar that will get a 4 bar real put in and 3 other 4 bar units wating their turn for rebuilding. I rebuild the steel wheel hay rakes for the Amish for use behind their Belgins. Work on New Idea, John Deere, McCormick and Case and they all have the same bar size so if you would find a rake of any of those makes with sections of the bar being good you could take it and weld in for the bad section in your bar. The low wheel rubber tired versions are the 45-G and 47 models. Over the last 18 years I have probably handled over 30 of these rakes. Any questions just ask. I have parts books on all of them but there are a few changes that do not show up in the parts books. I know where there is one of the sandwich rakes wating to be put back together with parts I furnished, 2 McCormicks made 1917 to 1920 that need to have one made out of the 2, then I just finnished a 1926 to 1929 model McCormick and it is curently setting on the dealer's lot along with some 4 bar McCormic and 3 bar Deeres. McCormick, New Idea and Case setting here now wating there turn.

The last New Idea rake listed is lot R180 built in 1955 as a Model No. 44.

Jerry,
Thanks for responding to my query. I stopped at the local steel supply shop right after I posted this and they had the correct size pipe on hand. Cost me $20.00. I am in the process of boring out all of the the (very well worn) bearings in the reel and making new press in bushings for them. That, replacing all the broken finger, and adding a few coats of paint, should bring the reel back to "near good as new".
Do you have a new pipe, and if so what do you need for it? I need to replace the other two also, they are very rough and have been repaired many times.
This will still leave me looking for the rear wheel that is missing.

Gaius

Jo,

Thanks for the info.
I wish the previous owner had done what you suggested here. He welded pieces of junk to the sides of the pipe. It worked, but you can't replace broken teeth without cutting the pipes. Since there where several broken teeth and patches on all the pipes, I decided to replace them all. I do not want another breakdown when I have hay on the ground.

You are correct sir.

Thank you

Gaius

Leroy,

Thanks so much for all the info you provided. It provides me with the exact info I needed. By the way the tag does say Lot No. R-87. Just as you said.

My pipes are just so rough that I think it will be wise to just replace them all. I can put the pipe in my mill and drill a set of holes faster than to make all the patches that they would need.

I am also planning to make press in bushings for all the reel bearings to get them back to spec. I have a milling machine and a lathe so this is all within my capabilities.

It would be nice to find a parts book, and caster assembly.

Thanks again
Gaius