Good bad points on NH chain balers-845/848/851?

Alan K · Sep 18, 2017

Any one have a New Holland chain baler? Put an ad in a paper for a round baler and had a couple calls, one an 845 and 851 the other. Saw an ad for an 848. Im sure the bad points are the sprockets and chain wear. Do these balers work in bean straw or cornstalks as well as grass hay? How much power is needed to run them? Planning on using a 70hp tractor on it.

cole in mo. · Sep 18, 2017

Have ran an 852 for several years, great baler, bales anything that will go over the pick up head. But like any baler things will wear out, the main chains need oiling a few times a day unless it got auto oiling. Sometimes a string won't start, other times one won't cut off, they like a windrow as wide as the pickup, and not overly tall, helps make a firmer bale, set it to max string wrap, I pulled mine with a JD 2510D, no problem.

JD Seller · Sep 18, 2017

Check the chains for wear. Looks close at the bar brackets that are welded to the chain. They can be prone to cracks. They make bales but not that tight of ones.

The bars will knock the leaves off dry hay. You can follow the baler track around the field.

rustred · Sep 18, 2017

i have an 851 that i bale with my 660 ih , it has all the power you need for baling. kind of a tuff old baler, will bale anything put at it long as the pickup drags it in. not really the tightest bales but hey, they dry in the bale also a bit. dont need anything fancy for a few cows. just keep chain oiled.

Brown Swiss · Sep 18, 2017

They worked, the floor chains pull out a lot of material. Will see a big pile when done tying.

hd6gtom · Sep 18, 2017

Allen I have an 851 auto tie. As stated they bale anything. Be aware the later 851's had a heavier duty top chain. I put a new H. D. top chain on mine 2 years ago from Shoups. On mine the whole back of the tail gate unbolts from the tailgate frame. Makes it real easy to replace the top chain. I had to replace the bearings on the pickup about 10 years ago. There is an hole in the side of the pickup to make it easier. I had to replace 1 chain idler on top if the baler, it came from N.H. I replaced the drive belt, it came from NAPA. I had to replace a couple of pickup teath that came from the local farm and home. I was using farm and home twine in the baler and had a lot of trouble with the twine. When I bought twine from the local fertlizer dealer those twine problems stopped. This baler was bought new by dad in the 1970's I believe these are the first new replacement parts put on it.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 18, 2017

I have 7 NH 851 balers 3 runners and 4 for parts,the things to looks for as said is the condition of the chains and also if the cylinders hold the door shut while its making a bale and the
only way to tell is to make a bale with it.They don't make the tightest or best looking bale but they will bale about anything and are easy to work on if needed.They are also cheap
in my area the 3 runners I gave $500 for the one and $300 each for the others all are in good condition.Run them with a variety of tractors Oliver 1550 and 1650,Allis Chalmers
D19,185 and 180.Also have a like new 847 that sat unused in a shed for 30 years(long story) and had only baled about 50 bales when I got it and I've baled about 100 with it,real nice working baler makes a real nice bale and the door locks shut while its making a bale so the condition of the hydraulics on the baler or tractor isn't critical.

rusty6 · Sep 18, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:44:08 09/18/17)
D19,185 and 180.Also have a like new 847 that sat unused in a shed for 30 years(long story) and had only baled about 50 bales when I got it and I've baled about 100 with it,real nice working baler makes a real nice bale and the door locks shut while its making a bale so the condition of the hydraulics on the baler or tractor isn't critical.

Yes, I like my 847 too but it has a weakness for bending and breaking those cross bars on the chain. I have welded a lot of them and re-inforced with heavier pipe inside. It does make a loose bale but not a problem except in the oat straw I was baling recently. So dry and slippery that twine was slipping off the ends of some bales when I picked them up. Check that the floor isn't worn through. Mine was patched when a previous owner let the chain guides wear out and didn't replace them soon enough. When hay or straw is super dry it can be hard to start a bale and sometimes plugs on top of the pickup to the point I have to clear it all out by hand. Solution? Shut down and come back when the humidity is up.

formerly ny bill · Sep 18, 2017

i have an 848 baler that was well used when i got it. it makes a 4' wide bale, which is a benefit when hauling 2 wide on a trailer, vs a 5' wide bale. the 848 has a roller on the floor (no chain on bottom), so floor chain condition is a non-issue. mine has a poker on the intake (not sure on the other models), so starting a bale is a snap. i really like mine, very little problems with it. i only use it for dry hay.

hrRoss · Sep 19, 2017

have a NH855 with net wrap,chain baler, like it, works good, few problems

Bob H from Missouri · Sep 19, 2017

I bale with an 847 that I bought used around 15 years ago. Probably baled around 700 bales with it as I only have 13 acres in grass. But it's enough to keep the cows fed plus sell some during the winter. The secret is to keep it greased and oiled well. I pull it with a Massey Harris 333 at 35-40 horsepower. Man, it puts that tractor thru the paces. That Continental is really talking while tying a big bale.

Good bad points on NH chain balers-845/848/851?

Alan K

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cole in mo.

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JD Seller

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rustred

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Brown Swiss

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hd6gtom

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Traditional Farmer

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rusty6

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formerly ny bill

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hrRoss

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Bob H from Missouri

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