Haybine 488

MNfarmer · Mar 30, 2020

Would a New Holland 488 be a decent machine for 200 acres of grass hay? I found a used one in really nice shape.

old · Mar 30, 2020

I would think it would do just fine. Not as good as a disk bine but better then a sickle bar mower

shaun wallace · Mar 30, 2020

A 9 ft machine will take a while but if doing own it wouldnt make much difference. Would not be a custom machine unless narrow gates are a problem.

rustred · Mar 30, 2020

better get on it. I have a 498 and no complaints. new Holland makes pretty good stuff.

SHALER · Mar 30, 2020

I have one. 488's have been made for maybe 45 years now so that says something. Now, I have about a quarter of your hay acreage. Here in the eastern corn belt I personally do not know anyone that has more than 150 acres of hay that uses one. Vast majority of folks north of 100 acres have a disc mower or a discbine. I am guessing you are in Minnesota and I know nothing about making hay there. IF you dont work off the farm or are not really pressed for time, Id suppose Id buy it. If you only can make hay after your day job or on weekends, Id get a disc machine.

MJMJ · Mar 31, 2020

Certainly a good mowing machine, but I sure wouldn't want to cut 200 acres with one when disc mowers are so common.

grandpa Love · Mar 31, 2020

I'm picking mine up this week. Been in a barn for 10+ years. Hopefully a tune up and go. $250. Worth a shot

John in Md. · Mar 31, 2020

Ah, the memories. First cutting orchard grass, wrapped crushing rolls, hay down only mowing in one direction, repairing wobble box, pulling 9' knife for broken section, Broken Guards, choked cutter bar. That's why it's cheap, I'd but a 7' New Idea Cutditioner before I'd buy a 488.

Bret4207 · Mar 31, 2020

(quoted from post at 10:11:37 03/31/20) Ah, the memories. First cutting orchard grass, wrapped crushing rolls, hay down only mowing in one direction, repairing wobble box, pulling 9' knife for broken section, Broken Guards, choked cutter bar. That's why it's cheap, I'd but a 7' New Idea Cutditioner before I'd buy a 488.

A Cutditioner over a good 488?!!!! Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha!!!!!! :lol:

Leroy · Mar 31, 2020

I have seen the disteraus job the disk bines do and would never own one. As for the 200 acres is that total acres made per year in say 1 couttung or like where I am average 5 cuttings per year for 40 acres per cutting.

MJMJ · Mar 31, 2020

(quoted from post at 11:17:45 03/31/20) I have seen the disteraus job the disk bines do and would never own one..

Huh? Not sure what you ve seen but clearly it wasn t a normal one.

MNfarmer · Mar 31, 2020

Total acres for the year. Maybe 20 acres of second crop.

Bruce from Can. · Mar 31, 2020

This pair have cut thousands of acres.

I bought the 488 new in 1990, and still have it, though I don?t use it much anymore, it was my main hay cutting machine for 25 years. I now cut with a disc mower, only because it is faster. The 488 doesn?t require a expensive high hp tractor to run it, and 200 acres spread across first and second cut isn?t a big deal. Good machine, parts readily available from NH.

NY 986 · Mar 31, 2020

Service it then put it to work. Should be a very good machine if in very good condition. Hopefully, you got it at a very good price. Smaller hay tools are down some in price right now at least where I am.

Leroy · Mar 31, 2020

Those cutditioners did not even sell next door to where they were made. So cost was less because of no shipping And New Idea has not existed for years no parts being made.

tom upton · Mar 31, 2020

Yes I have a 479 which is similar. keep good guards and knife on it, and grease on wobble box every couple acres. You can cut hay at anywhere up to about 4 MPH. If they have one fault it is the push bar in front of machine will bend back into reel in heavy hay. I and many others have welded a reinforcing bar across in front of it and your good to go. Makes a real nice windrow of nicely conditioned hay.

jhwis · Apr 1, 2020

I know they have wobble box issues. My neighbor has one. It is a good machine though. 200 acres is a lot, but if you got time it is ok. I ran a JD 1219 which is similar for 25 years for the old man and then bought one myself. I loved it. We did prolly the same number of acres per year. It takes time for sure. I have a discbine now and wouldn't go back to a haybine because of time. I did like cutting with my 1219 though. I knew it better than I knew my wife... don't tell her that.

ztrmowers · Apr 1, 2020

why are you so negative of the disc unit I ran one for years, did very nice job and boy could you mow

2510Paul · Apr 2, 2020

I needed something a few years ago and didn't want to spend the money for a discbine. As usual I over researched it, yup 488 hands down. They still make them, that tells you something. And parts should be available.

Turns out I didn't it after all. It was not hard to sell.

Paul

Bruce from Can. · Apr 2, 2020

$250 bucks ! How lucky can a guy get ?!?

MNfarmer · Apr 2, 2020

Thanks for the reply Tom! Are you using stub guards on yours or regular guards?

MNfarmer · Apr 2, 2020

Thank you all for the replies, I greatly appreciate it!

Bret4207 · Apr 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 06:19:55 04/01/20) I know they have wobble box issues. My neighbor has one. It is a good machine though. 200 acres is a lot, but if you got time it is ok. I ran a JD 1219 which is similar for 25 years for the old man and then bought one myself. I loved it. We did prolly the same number of acres per year. It takes time for sure. I have a discbine now and wouldn't go back to a haybine because of time. I did like cutting with my 1219 though. I knew it better than I knew my wife... don't tell her that.

They don't have "wobble box issues", it's just that the wobble boxes need lube every few hours. It's not a huge deal to grease them twice a day. They do wear out, but so does every other sickle drive system over time. If they are well cared for they last a long, long time. If they aren't, not so much. I prefer the Hesston drive myself, but NH has a lot going for it.

tom upton · Apr 2, 2020

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Haybine 488

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