Sometimes you need or want a break from the “usual” routine. Since farmers usually have good shops and like to repair or build equipment a restoration of a manure spreader seems like a “busman’s holiday” but Lar Voss and Eli Price of Colorado Hay enjoy making unique “works of art” usable again.
The spreader shown below looked like this when purchased at the auction. It was generally rusty but luckily not rusted through anywhere. Older spreaders tend to be rusted out on the bottom as previous owners fail to keep them clean after use. This one had other “issues” but was generally in excellent condition for a seventy year old machine.
The tires were not original and needed to be replaced and the machine did not work – at least as intended.
There were major issues with the chain drive cam and the operating levers were broken or in need of repair. But the pieces were included which is an important first step.
One of the handles had been welded but by a beginner or someone had borrowed a friend’s machine. This handle would be removed and fixed properly as part of the project.
The other handle had been broken off but was in the spreader. It is not the original handle but it is of the same type and size so will work once repaired. One can guess that this was the same welder.
But the major issue was that the cam which drives the chain feeder had been broken entirely off.
To remedy this problem, someone had driven a log splitting chisel into the drive mechanism to keep the chain engaged. This will turn out to be something that wasn’t easily seen in the initial inspection as it was covered by a fender.
Rebuilding the Cam
Luckily the original operator’s manual for this spreader still exists online so one can see approximately what the cam looked like when new. It is part of the wheel assembly and was made of cast iron.
Welding mild steel to the old cast iron hub can probably be done by the experts but a simpler and more lasting solution appeared to be to saw off the part that was broken and replace it with a new cam which is what was done.
The cam is the triangle fixture in the lower right corner of the diagram.
To hold the piece in the saw required machining a 2” rod down to 1.75” to insert in the hub and then the rod could be secured in the saw by a combination of various pieces of scrap metal.
Here is the piece in the saw and the cam after removed. The cardboard template was used as a pattern for the new cam and shows how much of the original material was missing. The pattern was made by friends who have the identical machine which I had restored a few years ago.
The new cam, cut out of mild steel, looked like this. We used a mag drill and broach to cut the hole and keyway. In the picture below one can see the cam and the lever which rides on the cam and indexes the drag chain to move the load to the reels for spreading. The second picture is the new cam in place with spacers to center on the roller.
With the cam repaired, Eli shortened and repaired the handles. We shortened them to make it less likely they would be broken off in the future.
Here are the handles after Eli shortened and repaired.
Painting:
Since the machine had no major rust damage, we did not have to make any repairs, other than straightening what was bent and repairing what was broken, so we cleaned the machine with a pressure washer three times and scraped some areas as needed. We then used Corroseal to convert the rust to a non-rusting barrier. 1 It stops the rust and converts it to a hard black coating which is then primed and painted as seen below. It only converts rust so the original painted areas remained.
1 Taken from the Corroseal website: How does Corroseal Rust Converting Primer work? Corroseal Rust Converting Primer chemically changes the composition of rust on steel, turning the rust into a non rusting barrier layer, while at the same time, primes the steel surface ready for top coating.
New 7.50 x 16 R1 (tractor tread) tires were located on EBay and were mounted on the existing rims after they were painted. They are seen in the background.
After repairs and priming the machine was painted and decals applied.
Eli had to make a new pin for the wheel hub as seen above. It matches the original one on the other side. We added hardner (8:1) to the paint to lessen the chance of oxidation of the red paint and to add to the shine. Decals were found online and finished project is shown below.
Cost: These spreaders cost about $250 in 1950 and about $2,700 in today’s dollars which is close to the value of a restored spreader. To be paid for our time, we have to purchase the machine and parts for less than $1,000. If we can restore in 8-10 man hours (usually spread over a weekend) we can be paid for our time. This machine was about twice that in both cost and labor but we judged it worth it for a unique machine.
The finished project ready to work another 70 years. Hopefully the new owner will keep it shedded and clean.
And here it is with a 1950 IH C ready to work.
It may do the garden this afternoon.
Our previous project was restoring a Case T6 which is shown below.
Lar Voss of Johnstown, Colorado
• Eli Price is an auto/truck mechanic with twenty years’ experience and is Maintenance Manager for Colorado Hay LLC.
• Lar Voss is owner of Colorado Hay and farms 900 acres east of Loveland Colorado. He is owner broker of Western Land and Water LLC and was in the top twenty of nationwide land sales in 2019 in a contest sponsored by the Realtors Land Institute.
EDWARD SIMPSON says
nice
Dan Frederick says
I have one of these spreaders. The top spreader isnt on and the drive chain isn’t there for it. Original rims were rusted out. Welded some different rims to the center hubs. Just some car tires on it. Still works. Painted it and resently did some floor work. Use it when cleaning our chicken coop.
Gérard LAMBERT says
I got one but it is a McCormick model 100 H for horses (3 wheels), Completely original and in perfect condition.
Jim Figgins says
Just bought a model 100. Have to put a new floor in in and tires. Everything else works. the emblem is the number 100 with a circle around it and the woods Manure Spreader to the right of the circle. Your article was very helpful
Clayton H Thomas says
Just purchased a model 100, I think, needing the front left spindle and sprocket for apron chain drag. Can you help me with this?
Thanks, Clay
Jay says
Where can I get some help my apron chain not moving
Terry Bruce says
Model 100, the apron chain moves with the handle however when you engage the handle the tires freeze up when going forward and click when backing up. Something acts like it is froze up? I just learned how the cam is supposed to turn. I don’t think my cam is working?