got to paint

[parts man]

We bought a New Holland model 56 hay rake about 5 years ago (can't beat a NH side delivery rake!) that had sat ouside most of it's life. It is in good working condition, but looked pretty bad! we had been talking about painting it since we bought it, and finally took the time this week because it need a new drive shaft from the wheels to the gear box. We also had to replace the bottom seal and bearing while we were in there, and about 10 teeth. It isn't a restoration, just a repaint as this is a working implement on our farm, even though it is an antique in it's own right. It would have been built in the late 50s or very early 60s, and they continued the model under different designations for many years after, and possibly are still being built, though I must admit, I haven't seen a new one at a dealer for some time.

I forgot to get any before pictures of the rake intact, but this is of the basket as I started painting.

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/posts/basketb4.jpg

You likely noticed, prep work was minimal, just scruffed it off with a wire brush, and cleaned off any oil.

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/posts/spray.jpg

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/posts/done.jpg

I think it turned out pretty good. :trink40:

The decals are 37 years old! My grandfather bought this set of decals for our previous 56 rake, but never got them put on. The sticker on the tube said " NH 11 68", and they were the old type that you soak in water first, that was a new experience for me.

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/posts/rolabar.jpg

[Greg]

Great job, parts! Looks like it was just delivered by the dealer. You do very good work.

Greg

[jodyand]

Looks good parts :fing32: Looks like you did a good job on it and what luck to have the decals for it.

[Jim_WV]

Very nice partsman ! :fing32:

I would be hesitant to use it now, would'nt want to get it dirty :trink40:

[parts man]

I would be hesitant to use it now, would'nt want to get it dirty :trink40:

:fing20: It's really gonna hurt to hook it up for my BIL to use! ROF

Thanks for the comments guys! It turned out pretty good, especially since I haven't really painted any thing in about 4 or 5 years. At least it won't be an embarrasment to be seen hauling it around the field! :D

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/images/raking.jpg

My BIL raking with it last year.

[Archdean]

Looks great to me!!:fing32: Tedders are the thing here (look like giant praying manitis's ) but I like your rake best!!:hatsoff: nice work!!

[parts man]

Thanks Dean! we have a tedder too, but don't like those tedder/rakes, they don't do a great job of either. The NH rake will roll up a nice fluffy windrow so the air can get through well to dry it down.

[drbailey]

So thats what you were talking about working on , It looks great !!!

[guest]

Turned out real nice Dave! :fing32: Looks good as new. That piece of Red Iron looks alot like the 464 the guys used to rake and cut hay on my river bottom pasture. I'm still lookin' but not in a big hurry My neighbor cut the back 40 hay pasture with his rotary cutter last week. I will let him have the hay off of it when it grows back. Its was pretty far gone to use for hay feed for horses.

I have 3 barns that need a SERIOUS coat of red paint Parts; when can you get to those??? :hide: ROF

[parts man]

Chief, I may have some free time coming up in about 8-10 years ROF my kids should be old enough to hold down the fort for short times so I can get out and play a little. :D

The tractor above is a 444, same vintage as the 464, but I believe would be the next model smaller (no 464s in our area, I think they were a US model). If you check the 464, I think it would have a 3 cylinder, 179 CID diesel. If so, it would be about 42 PTO HP, the 444 has a 4 cylinder BD154 diesel engine, about 38 PTO HP. Great little utility tractor, nice and manueverable for the light jobs like raking etc.

[freebird]

Great job! I wish I had some more acreage for my "stuff" like I see in the background of the first pic. Really though, good paint job.

[parts man]

Thanks Freebird, this is a picture of our home farm, there is a fair bit of space, but it is pretty well all plugged full! :D

http://www.chowntractorparts.com/images/farm.jpg

The side hill in the back-ground of that first picture is the "display area" for used tractor tires, implements, and a few other odds and ends.