Vermeer baler update

Insurance on the old baler will cover 20% of the new baler. Dealer support narrowed the choice down to JD or NH. Nearest Vermeer dealer is over 200 miles away and most parts need to come by bus over 300 miles away(One of the few disadvantages of living in the sticks). I hay some land with my cousin who has a 660 NH. I was very impressed with how it worked. We hay native grass here in Manitoba's Interlake and the NH seems to work very well in those conditions.

One last thought. When the baler caught fire I had pointed the tractor into the wind, which was fairly strong, dumped the bale and tried to put the fire out with my fire extinguisher. I had it out several times but flared back up as soon as I stopped using the fire extinguisher. It was tough conditions to bale and there was a lot of hay caught up in the belts in front. Short of a fire truck I don't think I could have saved the baler.

I also would suggest to everyone to think about how you have your implements hooked to your tractor. My baler was on with a bolt and a nylon lock nut to keep everything secure. Thankfully I had the wrenches with me at the time, but it was only seconds away from the heat driving me away from the hitch when I got the bolt undone.

John

I have mentally gone thru your situation several times. I mounted a 2 gallon pump up sprayer on the tongue with bungie cords. Hope I never need it.

But the thought of a fire in the first place.
The panic of what am I looking at.
What do I do next?
What about the heat as you mentioned?
How do I save the baler? The tractor? Me?

Hope I never have that happen.

I would not have thought to dump the bale. Great idea. Will remember that. Otherwise all I have to do is pull the pin (which is held in place with gravity) and drive off. Everything else is breakaway. (Now that I have had the opportunity to mentally go through it....thanks to you.)

You figure that dry grass is just a powderkeg just waiting for an opportunity to go up.

An overheated bearing, due to no grease surely would be a source for reignition.

The straw you mention is all over me too. I like to bale sudan early, makes it tender, big fat leaves, and literally no stem. But the tender leaves (like alfalfa) break up and fall off while the bale is turning and pack up in the front.

Glad you'r happy with the new one. Insurance didn't hurt I'm, sure.

Mark

I have mentally gone thru your situation several times. I mounted a 2 gallon pump up sprayer on the tongue with bungie cords. Hope I never need it.

But the thought of a fire in the first place.
The panic of what am I looking at.
What do I do next?
What about the heat as you mentioned?
How do I save the baler? The tractor? Me?

Hope I never have that happen.

I would not have thought to dump the bale. Great idea. Will remember that. Otherwise all I have to do is pull the pin (which is held in place with gravity) and drive off. Everything else is breakaway. (Now that I have had the opportunity to mentally go through it....thanks to you.)

You figure that dry grass is just a powderkeg just waiting for an opportunity to go up.

An overheated bearing, due to no grease surely would be a source for reignition.

The straw you mention is all over me too. I like to bale sudan early, makes it tender, big fat leaves, and literally no stem. But the tender leaves (like alfalfa) break up and fall off while the bale is turning and pack up in the front.

Glad you'r happy with the new one. Insurance didn't hurt I'm, sure.

Mark

Mark