Apologies to the JD guys

When I was a kid dad had a JD 800 swather, then later because I learned very little as a kid, I bought one of my own. I changed the steering belts on both more than once. Anyone who has done that job knows what I'm talking about. I always said it was the most poorly designed, hard to work on piece of equipment ever made. Changing those belts was at least a day long affair. Well this weekend I did the same job on my Case 955 swather. Turns out it's the same job, with maybe a slight advantage to the Case in access.










At least on the case that hood is easy to get off and the other in the pics is on hinges so you can get at everything, but still an all day, finger mashing, use all my bad words job. Lol. I don't know how many trips up and down it took, but it was as many as I could do. So my apologies to JD for having all those bad thoughts about those 800 swathers all those years, turns out they aren't that much different after all. Lol.

Then of course there were some bad bearings and the hydraulic pump coupler that needed rebuilding.



I built those up and was able to get a new rubber at the salvage yard that has all the new parts. Got that part all together.




Even put new bushings in the variable speed mechanism.



They had generic bushings at the salvage yard that worked. Took the carb off to clean it too and managed to drop and loose forever the 1/4" fine thread but that holds the linkage to the carb, so another trip to town for a nut before it's operational.

On top of my son visiting, I spent some time watching one of my granddaughters too. We had a blast! It's possible that I shared a few too many chocolate covered peanuts with her tho. Lol
Granddaughter

Nothing worse than working on those old swathers especially if a bearing goes out and you have to change a jack shaft and the only way to do it is to try and get a pulley to move that?s held on with a gib key

They were likely all built buy or copied off of the same company.

I haven't worked on Case or JD800 but did work some on Heston 240, 260 etc and International. Early ones had so many belts and inner one was always the one that broke. Bearing had collars that wouldn't turn off and generally a nightmare. I am glad things have changed over time and not belt driven.At the time they were a definite advantage over the mower and rake though.

Jon, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you are not a millennial. You are a baby boomer. What may seem like a tougher job than one that you did when you were 35 is actually easier. your memory just makes it seem like the job on the Case is difficult.


"I don't know how many trips up and down it took, but it was as many as I could do." is the key sentence.

Jon, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you are not a millennial. You are a baby boomer. What may seem like a tougher job than one that you did when you were 35 is actually easier. your memory just makes it seem like the job on the Case is difficult.


"I don't know how many trips up and down it took, but it was as many as I could do." is the key sentence.

Well, maybe, but it was like a
bajillion trips up and down

Currently doing the same job on a Heston 420. If I remember I got it done once in 3 hour but I had help. A little longer by my self. 2 hours in, one shaft left to get out and then I can start the other way.