Team Hitch on a Binder

Team Hitch on a Binder

Converting the three abreast to team on a McCormick-Deering Binder

Photos and text by Lynn Miller

Team Hitch on a Binder

The newly restored Dufur Threshing Bee binder was set up for a three abreast. Mike and Mac McIntosh wanted to pull this little five footer with two of their Belgians and needed to convert that hitch to a doubletree setup. The photo shows how the factory tongue truck was shifted to receive a doubletree dead center. The side draft bracketing (out of view to the left) was swung back to closer to center. That strap on top would function like a hammer-strap.

Team Hitch on a Binder

Mike passing a bolt up through the truck assembly.

Team Hitch on a Binder

This bolt would receive a doubletree.

Team Hitch on a Binder

Next, with daughter Nellie holding the lines, Mike McIntosh hitches the family Belgian team for the maiden field of the Rumgay restored binder. It took a little back and forth and testing to arrive at the right hitching length.

Team Hitch on a Binder

Mac McIntosh, senior teamster for the Lazy M Ranch of Terrebonne, Oregon, heading out to the grainfield to see if the tight, quiet, binder was going to actually get some grain cut and tied.

The binder worked mighty sweet for the first few feet then bundles broke or failed to tie. Jim and several other “mechanics” swooped down and did exploratory surgery to determine the problem. There were at least two issues: 1. patches of green weeds tended to gum up the mechanism, and 2. the twine was found to be a bit rotten, breaking under the strain of the knotting procedure.

Team Hitch on a Binder

Nothing could be done about the weeds in the crop but the twine situation was repaired, tension reset, and the binder worked beautifully. I had a turn at it and can attest to a sweet secure ride compared to the jarring and sway from the previous years.

Team Hitch on a Binder

Here’s Mike McIntosh getting his turn with the machine. With proper maintenance and off season storage there’s no reason this unit won’t be good for an additional hundred years of harvest. Now that’s remarkable efficiency.