TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a loft

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

Blue3992

08-03-2006 14:59:19

Report to Moderator

I have a large barn with a loft that is covered in old, loose hay. 3 inches in some spots up to a foot in other spots. On top of the hay, there are a lot of old windows, bikes, furniture, and other misc stuff I want to keep.

About the only way I�ve figured I can get the hay out is enlist a couple guys with pitchforks, snow shovels and dust masks and start shoveling. They hay has got 30 years of dust, rotten hay, raccoon droppings, and who-knows-what-else in it, so I was hoping for an alternate solution.

Is there an easy way to get this hay out? Like some sort of truck-mounted vacuum or something?

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

newtothisgame

08-04-2006 19:58:49

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

my dad always said i think to much and here is one of those ocassions not sure if it would work just throwing the idea out there if the hay is matted dow pretty bad and if it is pretty even a thatching blade on a push lawn mower set as high as can go you would have to wet it down this way or a fire would probally happen or if you could lift a self propelled snow blower up to the loft it might also work just one of my hairbrained ideas i came up with

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

in-too-deep

08-04-2006 16:16:00

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

If it's possible, back a manure spreader or atleast pick-up or trailer in the barn, cut a hole in the mow floor and drop it right in the spreader or truck. If you can use multiple spots you'll be done before you know it.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

RickL

08-04-2006 09:32:19

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Simple silage fork/or pitch forks.scoop shovel and face mask. Couples days be done been ther done that but it was almost eight ft deep in most of it,so in your case you don't have much looks to me like.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Billy NY

08-04-2006 07:48:55

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

You never know what you may find under and in all the old dried out mess,I would definitely wet it down to reduce the dust in the air, not good the breath even the slightest amount of it. That and a good quality dusk mask and it looks like hand work, I cleaned our hay storage area almost 2 years ago, a little nasty dirty work that is for sure, bet you find something interesting in there though, kinda makes it worth doing.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

davpal

08-03-2006 23:17:47

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Just get some good dust masks and get to it. Sweep it over the edge and push it outside with a blade into the field or haul it to a field and pitch it off. I had to do a barn for a friend that had about 10-15 feet of it in there, loose broken bales. It was a real bitc@! In the bottom level was 3-4 feet (not kidding) of manure and straw mixed that had to be forked and shoveled into a manure spreader by me and spread on a field. It was a huge neglected barn on a homestead he bought from some real old people. He ended up tearing it down and put up a new pole barn there. It sure was a lot of work but I was 15 and had a lot of energy back then! A nice leaf blower will really clean it out good when you are done sweeping. Have fun!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dave(Tx)

08-03-2006 19:52:03

Report to Moderator

Or do it the easy way. in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Move everything out but the hay. Then run a waterhose to it and soak the hay with water. Now you can sweep/rake it out and no dust no fuss.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Kelly Campbell

08-03-2006 19:38:06

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Back a manuere spreader up and let-er rip!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Hal/WA

08-03-2006 18:49:39

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

At least it doesn't look like there is much chicken or pigeon manure in it! That really makes it bad.

I wouldn't plan on moving it all at once, just do a few square yards at one time, and put the stuff you want to keep where you have cleaned. A garden rake can help dislodge some of it, but most of the work is done with a manure fork and a push broom. A wheelbarrow works great to take that kind of junk to the compost pile.

Always wear a good dust mask. That old hay/straw will bring up allergies you never knew you had. Been there, done that, and it's ugly.

But when you get it all done and cleaned up, you will have the satisfaction of seeing that it looks better and you will probably find a lot of things you didn't remember you had. Good luck and have at it!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

paul

08-03-2006 17:08:21

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

We are renovating my sisters barn for storage. Just did that very thing. 2-4 people with brooms, shovels, etc. Dirty job, but that's how it's done. Leaf blower used as a vaccumn/multcher helped in some spots, but not much.

--->Paul

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Chances R

08-03-2006 15:21:55

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

I had a old barn 50' x 50' x 20' that was full of straw. Attatched to it was a lean 2 that was in good shape. I had a track how pull the barn away from the lean 2 and then dig a big burn pit. I took my 8' grader blade and pushed piles of straw into the burn pit. It was a awfull job, lots of stinking smoke. You couldnt get in a real big hurry because the piles of straw would smother the fire. By the way I did try to give the straw away.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Allan In NE

08-03-2006 15:19:44

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Use a potato fork, some elbow grease and a little sweat. Nothin' to it.

Allan

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

MN Bob

08-03-2006 15:10:15

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

Man you have a job cut out for you. We renovated an old house that had the old blown in insulation in the walls. I put my sawdust collector outside, ran the hose to a garbage can and put a lid that is sold for that purpose where they sell collector, (ace hardware)ran another hose inside and sucked all the insulation out. Might try something like that. Have to keep emtying the garbage can but sure saved work. Right, wear the mask!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Matt from CT

08-03-2006 15:07:04

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Blue3992, 08-03-2006 14:59:19

> Like some sort of truck-mounted vacuum or something

I was thinking of vacuum trucks before you even wrote that.

They're used by some septic tank companies, as well as municipalities for storm drain maintenance (remove the muck & sand).

I've also heard of them used for a very similiar application -- removing blown-in insulation after a fire (either the insulation is smouldering, or it's concealing hidden fire still).

Link if you want to buy your own :)

Link

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Mattlt

08-04-2006 08:48:37

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Matt from CT, 08-03-2006 15:07:04

Agree on the septic vacuum pump truck. We've used them for some attic fires in our area. They work great for sucking out smoldering insulation.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Ray

08-03-2006 15:12:38

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Matt from CT, 08-03-2006 15:07:04

I'd say a gallon of gas and some matches.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

supergrumpy

08-04-2006 07:49:26

Report to Moderator

Re: How to remove loose, 30-year-old hay from a lo in reply to Ray, 08-03-2006 15:12:38

add a case of cold frosty and some lawn chairs

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy