GEHL 2480 SILAGE CAPABLE?

ZangFarms

Member
I am in the market for a new to me round baler. I'm looking for something that makes a 4'x5' bale and that will handle baling silage. That said we recently got a really nice Gehl 2480 in on the lot at work. Aside from needing belts it looks to be in great shape. Has auto tie and a monitor. They're advertising it as a dry hay only baler. My question is why wouldn't it bale silage? Looking at the parts catalog which shows both the 2480 and 2880 the only real difference I can see is that they show a "silage roll" option instead of the standard smooth roll in the bottom of the chamber behind the feed rolls. They don't list one for the 2480 but this baler has what appears to be the silage roll in it. The only other difference I can see is that the splices on the belts on the 2880 are heavier. Is there anything else I'm missing? If I've got to put new belts on the baler anyway there's no reason I can't make them the heavy splices to handle the silage a little better. I only make a hundred or so bales a year of silage.
 
I never had a silage baler,but I've been running Gehls since 1979. I'm on my second 1475,which is one model older than a 2480. I can just tell you first hand that it's won't bale wet hay. The first thing that happens is that the bale gets out of round,then it runs too hard. If you're lucky enough to get twine on the bale before you shear a pin,it won't come out of the chamber.
 

I did find a decent looking 644 I am going to call about too. Is there anything I should look for if I go look at it? It's a silage special, twine only, auto wrap.
 
It's not the Gehl isn't a good machine, I'd worry about parts availability and the electronics though. The NH 644&648 are very popular and numerous. The auto-wrap is very simple and works. The wide pick-up and hydraulic bale tension are also proven features. The feeder finger unit between the pick-up and throat should be checked out as well as the bale forming rolls at the front. The newest NH balers are still the same basic design. If the Gehl needs new belts, it has probably done a lot of baling......Ron
 


Thanks, I ruled the Gehl out at this point not because I don't think I could make it bale silage but because I don't need another project this late into winter. I called about a 644 new Holland that sounds pretty good I'm gonna try and go look at.
 

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