I want to mount a picker on my farmall 560. friend of mine has a new idea 319 for sale and cousin has a 74 Oliver for sale. I have been told that the 319 has a "universal" mount for the tractor, but looking at the mount for the Oliver is looks the same. Does anyone know if the Oliver is a universal mount?
Here is what I found in the brochure for the Oliver 74. I don't have any hands-on experience with them, but I believe the subframe is adjustable for your tractor, just like the NI but maybe the axle brackets might me a little more specific to each tractor. Check out jdtom's Oliver 74 and he also posted the brochure for it on this forum. Also, send him an email about the 74. He had one and can give you more of a direct account.
I don't have a lot of corn picker experience like some of these guys, but have a fair bit of farm an older machinery experience. One more disclaimer , I have never been around a Oliver picker. So on to your question, I would go with the 319 if your wanting to pick regularly, or as a user. If it's to take to shows and what have you, then it probably doesn't matter as much. I reccomend the 319 based on parts, there were so many of those new ideas compared to others, their is just way more used and independently made parts out there for them and they are much easier to find. You got the Ralph guy that's on face book, and the places on the stickies on this forum, you could have your part in a few days and be back to picking. I realize a good machine shop can make about any part, but more down time and money. If the New Idea cost more you may make up the price difference in a couple repairs. That being said I have never asked about picker parts at, I'm guessing its Agco / Massey ferguson dealers for Oliver, so maybe some Oliver parts available.
I kinda wanted a IH 1pr when I started looking for a picker, but decided against it when I started looking at parts availability in the places I knew to look. Good luck either way you go.
