IthacaJeff 151 #1 Posted March 29, 2014 Hi all; Been looking around for a big wagon to carry water totes (about 2200 lbs each). A farmer friend gave me what looks to be a Deere 952 wagon running gear, probably from about 1940 or so. Very cool. The bolsters on top of the axles are gone, so the "tabs" that attach the axle housing to the wood stringers are home-made jobs welded on. Anyway, the wagon was in a very short length -- 8 feet -- and I've lengthened it to 10 feet. My question is what exactly to do with the set screws on the reach. The reach pole is connected to each axle frame by a single bolt, but there is also a set screw that seems to have little function. Can any of you farmers help me out? A set screw? Really? Thanks, Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 35,939 #2 Posted March 30, 2014 What's a reach pole Jeff..... It's obvious I can't answer your question on the set screws, but I am curious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IthacaJeff 151 #3 Posted March 30, 2014 The reach pole is the center pole that connects the front axle gear to the back. The axle assemblies can slide closer together or farther apart depending on the size of wagon you want. Sorry I don't have pics, perhaps when I start the refurbishing. Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baerpath 517 #4 Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) usually the reach has a bolt all the way through. Not familiar with the JD running gear you have I was thinking some of our gears have twist collars that are adjustable. They give the wagon lateral flex they also were adjustable so a wheel could only drop so far into a woodchuck hole so the axle didn't break Edited March 30, 2014 by baerpath Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6wheeler 586 #5 Posted April 2, 2014 In the old days, the reach would have been adjustable. Usually, the reach pole would be 10' long. The bolsters were slid in a foot on each end. That way you could use the same running gear for multiple uses. The running gear would be shortened to 8' to fit a flare box on it for picking corn. Then at haying time, the box was removed and the running gear was stretched out to 10' to put a hay rack on it. Back in those times that running gear probably cost $80 to $100 dollars. Buying it as just a flare box w/ adjustable running gear probably cost about $150 dollars total and then a guy could build the hay rack for $15 to $20 dollars would make sense. They had 2 wagons for less than $175.00. There wasn't a through bolt in that design, only the set screw. The reach had only 4 holes drilled in it on 1 side of the pipe and when it was extended or shortened? The set screws were set in the appropriate holes. Does it have steel spoke wheels on rubber? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IthacaJeff 151 #6 Posted April 4, 2014 There is one through bolt on each side (front and rear axle assembly), and a set screw on each axle assembly toward the middle. So, my question is, do I simply tighten up the set screw against the reach pole, or do I screw the set screw into a hole in the reach? The wagon gears are from around 1940 and do not have spoked wheels. Each tire is a different size (working on finding 4 of the same size), the bolsters are missing, the original stakes have been replaced with jerry-rigged/welded angle iron. I'll rebuild the deck and may even paint the chassis. . . JD green! It is a beauty! Jeff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
