JD manure spreader

[Rob30]

I just finished fixing up an old JD spreader. It works, but I keep breaking the apron chain. It was catching on the floor boards. However it also falls off the guides on the bottom. The guides seem to be strait. I will be filing the floor boards to put a rounded end on them. Hopefully that will stop the hang up.
Any suggestions about the guides?

[Up North]

Have you adjusted apron chain to proper tension?...Sounds like it is too loose.

[michiganfarmer]

it sounds loose to me. There is a shaft in the front with a couple sprokets that the apron chain rolls on. On the outside of the spreader, on both sides, right where the shaft comes through the body, there should be an adjusting bolt, with a lock nut.

[Up North]

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

it sounds loose to me. There is a shaft in the front with a couple sprokets that the apron chain rolls on. On the outside of the spreader, on both sides, right where the shaft comes through the body, there should be an adjusting bolt, with a lock nut.

Yes, good description. If the threads on adjusting bolt are all used up, you may have to back adjusting bolts off all the way, remove an equal number of link(s) on each side of apron chain and reassemble. Then reset the tension adjusting bolts(s) and douse the whole apron chain in oil - lube it up good.

[Old Vet]

Also make sure that the tencion is not on one side of the chain . Run the chain and take up the tension the same on bothe sides of the chain.

[Rob30]

About how tight should the chain be? I did not know the tension was adjustable. That would have made apron chain repair much easier.
What kind of oil do you use for lube. Old engine oil? Would the oil contaminate the fields?

[Up North]

Originally Posted by Rob30

That would have made apron chain repair much easier

Yes, it certainly does. We usually back tensioner bolts all the way off(both sides equally as Old Vet says), then take a Goldenrod fence stretcher and use it to pull two apron bars together to produce slack in chain for removing links or reassembling after removing or replacing links. This procedure is most easily done on the underside of spreader behind rear wheels but ahead of beater assembly. We throw down a big piece of cardboard to lay on if needed.
How Tight? A little hard to describe, but I would say you want the Apron chain to hang 3 to 6 inches below underside of frame in rear location described above. If it hangs much lower it will drag the Apron bars in deep snow or mud. Then they bend. Then when they come around to the front wall of spreader they fail to pass thru slot entering front spreader floor. Then Apron chain breaks. Real Fun in the dead of winter.
We save all crankcase drainings when we change oil on tractors or pickups.
Then we use this waste oil to oil spreader floor, walls, and apron chains. In severe cold weather this oil will prevent manure from freezing to spreader walls, floor, and Apron chain.

[Rob30]

I checked the adjustments. The front roller gears are adjusted by sliding the gear itself forward. But there is only about 2 inches of adjustment.
The chain now hanks in the middle almost to the ground, when it falls off the sliders.

[Ross]

Rob loosen off the tension and remove a link from each side. Hmmm it's tedious but count how many links are on each side, they should be the same. Then retension the apron.