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Round balers

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John

03-20-2002 15:20:45




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I was reading the other post on round balers. Just how many horse power tractor do you have to have to make a good round bale? I know it depends the type and make of baler, But give me some examples. Thanks




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thurlow

03-21-2002 13:13:05




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
Used to use 5000 Ford to pull Vermeer 605C; adequate for flat land; marginal for even small slopes. Have baled many thousands of bales with 4020s. Now use 4430 (like it better because of cab and quad-range) to pull 605F and 851 NH. Vermeer makes better bale, but NH is easier to run in some kinds of hay.



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Bob Semrau

03-21-2002 09:40:57




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
I own an Oliver 1600 (60 hp) that works well with my JD 510 (6X5) baler. I've also used it with a Vermeer 605 (no suffix, this was a REAL old baler). My ground isn't very hilly, though.



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gy3020

03-21-2002 09:22:52




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
WEll, I bale hay as a custom business. I run a 530 Deere baler with a Deere 3020 that is about 10 hp shy of recommended ratings for the baler. I am looking to get no less than a 80-95 hp tractor to pull it with this year. You need the power if you are in hilly terrain and if you want to put the capacity of what I do through it. The 3020 does a good job with it but just not quite enough in hilly areas. They say that 40 hp tractors can pull some of the smaller balers but I wouldn't go less than 60. Hope this helps!

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mm

03-21-2002 06:35:41




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
what exactly doesa 5x5 and 5x6 mean



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mm

03-21-2002 06:32:42




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
what exactly doesa 5x5 and 5x6 mean



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Clem again

03-21-2002 08:04:12




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 Re: Re: round balers in reply to mm, 03-21-2002 06:32:42  
5X5, 5X6, 4X5, 4X6, etc are bale sizes.



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paul

03-21-2002 08:30:05




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 Re: Re: Re: round balers in reply to Clem again, 03-21-2002 08:04:12  
That's size in feet.

Like small square baling, in addition to needing hp, you also need a physically big enough tractor to control the baler. These things can weight 4000-6000 lb, plus a 1500 lb bale in them. If you feed them light you can get by with 40 hp I suppose, but will the baler be pulling the tractor if it's too small & on a hill? I think a 60 hp tractor would handle most round balers, you might want more on the bigger ones, could get by with less on the smaller ones.

I think they run from 4' x 4' to 6' x 6' bales in size, with almost all available combinations. With most designs you can make smaller diameters if you want.

--->Paul

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Big Jim

03-22-2002 10:35:06




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: round balers in reply to paul, 03-21-2002 08:30:05  
I agree with you. I bale with 4'x5' Vermeer baler with a 60 HP tractor. It handles it real good. More HP yet would not be a problem, especially if you're running one of the bigger 5'x6' sized balers. You're always better off to error going a little larger than too small.



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paul

03-22-2002 11:38:45




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: round balers in reply to Big Jim, 03-22-2002 10:35:06  
What model do you have? Just like the original poster, I too am looking for a round baler. I plan on baling some alfalfa, some ditch hay, & some cornstalks. Those cornstalks always seem to be the hardest, sounds like you need to watch what you buy to handle those. Saw a really beatup 605F sell for $1600. Couple years ago I watched a really clean 605H sell for $2100 - I'm _still_ kicking myself for watching that go....

Always wondered how those steel roller fixed chamber soft core (I think that's how they are described?) balers do in cornstalks. I know they make looser bales, etc. but they are easier to come by on a budget around here.

--->Paul

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Wheels

03-24-2002 14:06:34




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: round balers in reply to paul, 03-22-2002 11:38:45  
We use a owatonna 590 roller baler. It makes the soft core bale. We bale cornstalks with it and it works good except when the stalks are real dry, the bales stop rolling. It does that in straw also. We think the rollers are easier to maintain than belts and have had not many problems with the baler.
Wheels



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Big Jim

03-22-2002 13:29:56




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: round balers in reply to paul, 03-22-2002 11:38:45  
Paul,
I have a 504 F Vermeer baler. I paid about $4,000 for it several years ago. haven't any problems with. Vermeer balers seem to be real well built. Couldn't tell you how it would work in corn stalks though, as I am strictly a grass hay farmer.



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Clem again

03-21-2002 08:02:21




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 Re: Re: round balers in reply to mm, 03-21-2002 06:32:42  
5X5, 5X6, 4X5, 4X6, etc are bale sizes.



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John in Maryland

03-20-2002 18:32:10




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
We have baled 5x5 bales w/a 38 horse tractor before, but it put something on it. Depends on the tractor too, weight, etc. I don't think you really need anymore than 50-60 horsepower to run any size though.



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Honkey

03-20-2002 16:58:00




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
You will never need more that 100 hp to run a baler. Most 5x6 balers require 65-95 hp. 5x5 balers can be pulled with as little as 50 hp.

Hope this helps
Matthew in SD



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Dave

03-20-2002 16:03:52




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 Re: round balers in reply to John, 03-20-2002 15:20:45  
ran my NH644 silage special with about 50 hp JD 2520 tractor was ill You need a heavy tractor to hold the weight on the hills I was a flatland farmer



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