New Holland 273 baler

I am looking at a New Holland 273 baler and I need some expert advise. Is this a decent baler? I have a model 66 and I hate the way it makes bales; very difficule to make a straight bale with the wad board method. Also, it is an expensive repair when the cotter pin breaks! Any help from all you experts would be appreciated.

I have a 277, same 'family' I think, and it does a way better job than my old Super 68. I'd buy it if it's sound and the price is right.

I have a 273. It took me a manual and a whole day going over every adjustment to get it working right. Now I've used it on 7 cuttings over three summers and have missed maybe 10 bales. And usually that one is the very first one out.
Check the condition of the bill hooks, make sure there are at least two wedges in eachside of the chute, adjust the pickup ension properly and it's a good machine. 14"x18" bales.

G0rd0

... I HAVE A 275 AND 273 BOTH GREAT BALERS NEVER MISS A BALE

Hey, thanks for the advise. What is a "good price"?

..... i paid 1.200.00 for mine but that was 4 years ago??? see em for 3500.00 sometimes depending on condition

jimjo,

I also have a NH 273 baler that I've had for about 8 or 9 years. I put up 2000 bales per year. Like everyone else, I'd say it's a good baler.

However, like every other mechanical device, you can expect breakdowns. I've replaced one drive chain, multiple pick-up tines, one tire, a few shear bolts, a drive wheel for the metering arm, one set of knives that cut the twine, one bearing on the plunger mechanism, and other miscellaneous stuff.

I keep mine well greased and shedded. You MUST have an owner's manual so that you'll understand the many adjustments that can be made and find the many lubrication points.

Good luck on your decision.

Tom in TN

I bought one this Spring, have gotten up a little over 200 bales & never missed one tie!! That was enough testing for me to sell my MF 9, it did break the pickup chain on the first round but it had been sitting a barn for over 10 years so I should have oiled the chain good & didn't.

(quoted from post at 11:13:53 11/10/09) ... I HAVE A 275 AND 273 BOTH GREAT BALERS NEVER MISS A BALE

Click to expand...

What is the difference between the Nh 275- 273? Is the 275 a bigger baler? As in weight.

dw

(quoted from post at 07:48:21 11/23/09)

(quoted from post at 11:13:53 11/10/09) ... I HAVE A 275 AND 273 BOTH GREAT BALERS NEVER MISS A BALE

Click to expand...

What is the difference between the Nh 275- 273? Is the 275 a bigger baler? As in weight.

dw

Click to expand...

he 275 is actually an older machine than the 273. The 268, 275, 273, and 310 are all those low profile packing assembly machines and alot of the parts interchange too (if you get the 273 keep that in mind). From the plunger back they are the same machine as everything else but the packing unit is alittle different. My dad has a 275 and had a 310. A close family friend to us has a 310 as well. Good machines but can be expensive and time consuming to fix. The packing assembly came apart real bad on the 310 a few years back. It came apart to the point it punched holes in the top of the baler and bent tracks etc. Basically just messed the machine up. To put the machine back together it would have cost almost $2000 in just parts from New Holland. Long story short we pieced it back together better than new by digging through parts catalogs and pulling what we could off 268,275,273 and 310 balers we found in the bone yards, reinforced what we felt needed reinforced, and purchased new parts when we had to. Grand total was about a $1000. They are good machines but inspect that packing assembly good and make sure it's sound. If the tracks are torn up note it. If the bearings are torn up note it. Are all the tine there? If not were they ripped out by the plunger? If so did it take the tine carriage out with it? Just some stuff to look at.