Ford 532 Baler versus 542 baler?

I just bought a 532 in very good condition with a T500 ejector and have a chance to pick up a 542 dirt cheap. The 542 hasn't been used for a while, was covered up outside, but has a fair amount of surface rust. I am replacing a Ford 250 which I have been using since 1983 and am now baling over 3500 per year.

Well the cheap 542 didn't end up being too cheap after all. Auction closed on ebay at $555.09 this AM. I looked at it earlier this week (Tues I think) and it will need some work, like probably most of the bearings replaced on the plunger assy, pickup, and exposed parts. Plus 2 new tires and the carrier bearing housing on the PTO shaft is broken, the knotters really rusty. All the rust was surface. I didn't bother bidding when I saw the price skyrocket!

The 532 I bought ($800) has really good paint, no visible damage, flotation tires, good pickup, and an ejector in like-new condition. (The original owner had removed and stored it because his tractor was too small. Second owner never installed it). Unfortunately it does have the rubber mounted pickup teeth, but isn't missing any. The only problem is a broken knotter cam on the right knotter, and he has a new part to replace it. Knotters look essentially the same as those on my 250, and I have had them apart numerous times until I fixed the problem by buying a parts baler. Currently have two complete extra knottter assemblies ready to simply bolt on if needed.

My 250 is a good baler, but I broke the PTO overrun clutch and the one from the parts baler is slightly twisted on the splined portion. It works, but I run the slip clutch loose and pray a lot! We often push the old girl to the limit and have baled as many as 675 bales in a day with it connected to our 44 JD A handstart. My haying partner has a NH 275 which I have also run with the A. You can really tell that is behind you!

My JD 2010 diesel handles both fantastically and should have no problem pulling a wagon behind the 532.

Gee, so you think maybe my old 542 is worth $1300 if I could get it to your neighborhood?

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Ford balers came with either spring teeth or rubber base teeth in the pickup. You can't just swap a spring tooth for a rubber base tooth because the entire pickup assembly was different. If you're hoping to score some pickup teeth, make sure the parts baler has the same style pickup as the one you're using.

I could use some rubber base teeth. I haven't found a source for replacements other than NH and they are expensive. Shoup has one in their catalog that looks close enough that I might be able to modify it to work, but I haven't tried that yet.

Rod