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Best Square Baler Made!!!

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Mark

06-12-2004 15:17:02

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I want to buy a good used sqare baler John deere?? or New Holland?? whick model in a used one to buy, so I can be bale some good sqare bale with!That has been sheded and took care of price range too >? at a fair price

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SPEEDWAY SQUARE BALING

06-13-2004 19:38:56

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

HAYHAULER said it right about john deere's bale length last year i had a good hauling crew that i loaned to a new farmer cutting his own hay for the first time, they came back bitching about how the length varied some 3'some 6', they also had trouble with them getting stuck in their pop-up loader and had to come get my conveyer type loader(picks up bale gently and takes it to the top of the trailer)the only thing that worked with the average bale length of 5'. this year when the guy called wanting a hay crew, they said it would be double if he couldn't get the bale length fixed so now he wants to get rid of his baler and pay me just to bale with my HESSTON 4590( he'll mow and rake). this ought to be interesting. how do ya charge for doing the easy part- would .75 cents a bale be to much or to little.

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Tim(nj)

06-13-2004 20:13:47

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to SPEEDWAY SQUARE BALING, 06-13-2004 19:38:56

I get .75 per bale just for baling, but I throw the bales into wagons as I bale, customer unloads.

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kyhayman

06-13-2004 18:22:16

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

You have a lot of good advice here. I've never run an inline baler, never even seen one run, but have wanted to explore them more. Both NH and JD balers have their quirks. From my observations banana bales are the biggest problem with NH and long/short the biggest problem with JD. Banana bales, as mentioned below are an adjustment problem. Long and short bales are a raking problem (variable windrow thickness). BOTH PROBLEMS CAN BE MANAGED.

I can only speak for my local area but here's the rundown here. NH balers are 2:1 the most popular. Most of the full time and large part time farmers feeding their hay use them. Most of the custom operators and hay sellers use JD (336/338 for twine and 346 for wire). Most of the folks with a very few acres seem to have better results with JD 14T and 24T. As mentioned below, I have a JD336 and am planning on getting a JD338, when I replace. I borrowed a 273 last year when I had a breakdown on a holiday. Personally I didnt like two things . It baled slower than my JD and I dont like not being able to see into the feeding chamber to tell when I need to slow down (baling real heavy timothy, 190 bales to the acre). Just personal opinion though. Bottom line get a GOOD one , regardless of color or make, not one rusted out or worn out.

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Doug in IL.

06-14-2004 05:59:20

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to kyhayman, 06-13-2004 18:22:16

I have owned and operated several John Deere balers. 14's, 24's, 346 and 338. I don't know how people are getting such a wide variation in bale length. I use a New Holland bale wagon to pickup and stack. My bales have never varied more than 3 or 4 inches. Many times, less than that. Maybe 4 or 5 inches on a bad day. I owned a New Holland 276 once. For one season! It was then traded for another JD. It would not work nearly as well with a bale wagon as any of the Deeres. Too much variation in bale density, banana bales, and several mechanical problems with the chain driven feeder fingers. The JD 300 series balers are hard to beat. My personal favorite is the 346. I know nothing about the Hesston. They sound like they could be good machines. I have never seen one around here.

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Tim(nj)

06-14-2004 10:32:29

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Re: Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Doug in IL., 06-14-2004 05:59:20

Most likely causes of bale variation in a JD baler are 1.) ground speed too fast 2.) not having the resistor grids installed in the bale chamber. My 336 used to make bricks all the same length. Had to with that pan thrower.

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farmerjohn

06-13-2004 18:11:10

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

We bought a New Holland 276 in 1976 and baled 15,000 bales a year for 15 years with no problems, still have it though semi-retired with doing mostly round bales now, the knotter could use a little work.

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Jim in michigan

06-13-2004 13:31:08

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

I have a nice 24T for sale, I am in Upper Michigan, if interested email me,, it needs a tire, but I can put one on ,,,,Thanks,,,Jim

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cockshuttguy

06-13-2004 16:56:03

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Jim in michigan, 06-13-2004 13:31:08

I'd suggest a NH model. I had a few of them and the 273 was the best ever. Very very few problems.
Excellent knot tier.
Good Luck.

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gene

06-13-2004 08:14:47

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

just my 2 cents worth but i would hate to guess how many bales my JD 24T has baled. we bought it new. have never had any trouble with it. i think some of the newer JD'S are even nicer but i would even go agaist them with my 24T. like the one person look at the dealers an where are they located at an how long it would take to gets parts, cause they all break ounce in a while
johndeeregene

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Hayhauler

06-13-2004 08:02:02

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

John Deere balers bale the fastest of the offset type but make the most odd sized bales, Heston inlines balers are the best ones for a large operation but are more expensive and have more knotter problems, New Holland balers bale the slowest but make the most uniform bales once they are set right. Banana bales are caused by the operator not knowing how to set the baler, I know from experience hauling a neighbors hay that JD makes a lot of banana bales, a lot of 2 ft long bales and a few 8 ft bales.

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Tim(nj)

06-13-2004 14:59:09

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Hayhauler, 06-13-2004 08:02:02

I have a Hesston 4550 on its third season now. Bought it new. Would not go back to a JD 336. Don't know about the Hesstons being more expensive to buy, as I got mine for $1500 less than a new NH 565 and $1800 less than a new JD 328. Knotters are Rasspe design, same as JD and NH, so I don't see why they'd be any more trouble on a Hesston. I've made nicer bales in 2nd and 3rd cut grass with the Hesston than I could with the JD, and the Hesston will even bale straw from a rotary combine without losing anything off the pickup like a side-pull baler.

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Gary inTX

06-13-2004 07:23:21

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

Mark,
I have a Deere 346 that makes real good bales, am doing some maintenance on it now as some parts needed changing. Parts all should be available for it, don't know of anything that isn't available. As for the other post on the Hesston inline square baler, I'm sure they probably bale fine and I'm not trying to knock them by any means but the offset style is proven and you have the pickup off too the side where I think its much easier to keep an eye on. This is just a personal preferance type deal. As far as jockeying a offset baler around to get through gates? Mine is the same width of the tractor when the tongue is in transport position. I never heard of New Holland being bannana balers, I had a 275 New Holland one time and I know I did have problems with it doing that alot. I do custom hay baling here and I like the green paint!!!!

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SPEEDWAY SQUARE BALING

06-12-2004 22:38:33

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

Look for a used HESSTON, its a centerline baler,meaning your can drive right over the top of the windrow(just like a round baler),they pick the hay straight up-stuff it in and shoot the bale straight out the back(no side to side action like the offset balers) and they are fast. all other balers have to pick the hay up at least 23" before it gets thrown sideways into the chamber then pushed back to make a bale, HESSTON,CASE,NEW IDEA balers pick up the hay about 10", you can actually bale behind a brushhog if you want too.
They are a heck of a lot easier to get through a narrow gate, unlike the offset balers that take a lot of jocking around before it finally goes through( back in the mid 60's some salesman came through oklahoma selling these little 8' gates CHEAP,almost all the farmers bought them up thinking what a deal) I BET THE SALESMAN IS STILL LAUGHING AT ALL THOSE FOOLS THAT BOUGHT HIS GATES. HESSTON KNOWS HAY
SPEEDWAY SQUARE BALING
BROKEN ARROW, OKLAHOMA

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IanC

06-12-2004 20:51:21

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

How close is the dealer for either brand, how many parts do they keep in stock for older machines, are their service techs young electronics wizzards or older guys who actually KNOW stuff? These may be of more importance than bale shape/density, 'cause you know it's not going to break until you've got 10 acres ready to go and rain coming (or is that just ME?).

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JD 5020 guy

06-12-2004 20:11:09

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

How do you plan on stacking them. With a bale wagon or by hand? If you are going to use a bale wagon then I recommend the JD 300 series. Bale wagons demand perfect brick shaped bales to work right. Like the other poster said, the NH balers make banana shaped bales. We owned 2 of them before getting a JD 347. It was always a @#&$ to stack bales from a NH baler with a bale wagon.

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Rick

06-12-2004 18:09:01

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

Mark; From my experience I would stay with the Deeres until late New Hollands. The packer fork makes life alot easier to deal with. In my area New Hollands called the banana balers, I a,m sure you have seen alot discuss about that on here. You really have to keep feed forks adjusted right to help solve this problem. The Deeres don't care they just bale and feedbetter to the chamber far side do to the packer fork. 14t or if can get the 300series JD would be my suggestion or 570New Holland as they followed Deere with the packer fork on that model. I am not choosing on brands but when one does alot better than the other thats the one I will use. Good luck. I do have a neighbor that wants to sell his 14T. Worked fine when last used and has been in shed ever since. $500.00 he is asking

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paul

06-13-2004 09:12:31

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Rick, 06-12-2004 18:09:01

There are about 2 - 1 NH balers vs JD balers around here. I have a NH 270 myself, it's been on the farm as long as I have been, makes 2000-6000 bales a year.

I've heard a lot of discussion on banana bales, but i really never understood the term? Which way is the bale supposed to twist, & what is that all about?

--->Paul

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Rick

06-13-2004 11:43:24

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Re: Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to paul, 06-13-2004 09:12:31

Paul; you been one of the lucky ones; It simply comes from not be able to get enough material to the far side of the bale chamber. Your feeder forks must be still set correctly. The packer fork simply helps pull material to the far side thus eliminating the light feed side on one side versus the close side. I grew up behind JD balers with throwers and worked for other neighbors loading flat racks behind New Holland balersand we really had to watch the setting more on the red ones versus green. And sometimes the only way to help it was to put more wedges on one side than other. Then I would go home and bale with are JD and not have to worry about that problem. The limiting factor between the two in straw is the auger feed versus finger feed. I now run a New Holland 570 it has packer fork otherwise would never have bought it. It sold in estate auction cheap is why I am running it now. good luck Rick

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paul

06-13-2004 12:49:58

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Rick, 06-13-2004 11:43:24

Locally, the auger is the dreaded thing on an otherwise good green baler.... ;) We had one of the soft fingers tear off the NH, the baler even worked fine that way for a year 'til dad got to replacing it. I run ditch hay, alfalfa, & straw in mine.

Mind you, I understand the concept of the packer fork being better. In practice, never reared it's ugly head around here.

--->Paul

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Rick

06-14-2004 05:22:07

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to paul, 06-13-2004 12:49:58

Paul; Thats great that you are getting along fine with yours. Thats all that matters. I have made the augers more aggressive by putting little fingers on auger edges. Rick

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tim[in]

06-12-2004 16:02:39

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Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to Mark, 06-12-2004 15:17:02

from what i have heard from some the john deere 336 may be the best and simplest baler ever made.a wider pick up would be nice but then i made do for years with a jd 14T and baled straw behind an F gleaner. but less shear pins on it would have ben nice.i'm not a jd fan and am considering maybe a ford or massey for my 30 acre farm i have now. but the right price and reliability and i am color blind

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kyhayman

06-13-2004 04:57:52

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Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to tim[in], 06-12-2004 16:02:39

I agree completely.

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Ken

06-29-2004 08:24:59

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Re: Re: Re: Best Square Baler Made!!! in reply to kyhayman, 06-13-2004 04:57:52

Hello, I'm looking at a JD 336 but have never used anything but MF 224's. (well and a New Holland a bit) Is there anything in particular to look for? It is in good shape externally, no rust in the bale chamber.

I noticed the pickup doesn't seem to have a float with gauge wheel like the MF's.

The knotters look almost identical to the MF's though.

Any tips on things to check? Where should I check the knotter for wear? (I've never seen a worn out knotter, they always get busted by someone adjusting them wrong before they get old)

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