Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Round Baler Choices

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Bob Semrau

04-06-2005 21:03:12




Report to Moderator

Well, I"ve sold my JD 510 at a consignment auction, and am looking for a new round baler that will make a tighter bale, as I store the bales outside. I"d like to keep the cost to less than $4000. My baling tractor is a 1964 Oliver 1600 gas, 60 hp.

Two balers I"ve seen locally (Michigan) are a Vermeer 504G and a New Idea 483. I also looked at a 504F, but it seemed to be in too rough shape. I know that Vermeers have a really good reputation, but the New Idea is newer. Which would be the better baler for me ?

Hopefully, these will both be a big step up from the 510 ...

Thanks !

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
txgrn

04-09-2005 06:39:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
A 530 is a big step from a 510 but you ain a gonna get one for $4k.

Mark



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Semrau

04-09-2005 21:47:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to txgrn, 04-09-2005 06:39:33  
Mark :

I looked at 430s and 530s and they were all too expensive for me. I ended up buying the Vermeer 504G.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
txgrn

04-10-2005 02:05:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-09-2005 21:47:29  
Hear you on the $$$ when you can find one used. Vermeer is the second best selling around here and seem to put out a decent bale.

Mark



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
txgrn

04-10-2005 02:04:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-09-2005 21:47:29  
Hear you on the $$$ when you can find one used. Vermeer is the second best selling around here and seem to put out a decent bale.

Mark



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike in Ont.

04-08-2005 16:46:01




Report to Moderator
 what about Gehl in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
I bought a Gehl, it was inexpensive, works good on a 50 HP tractor, make a good tight bale (I stored my hay outside with no cover) and there are quite a few dealers that carry parts. Just my experience.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
KEH

04-07-2005 15:33:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
I used a 504F Vermeer(MF1450) for a few years. Adjusted properly, they will start bales each time. They need to have a full set of pickup teeth on them to start bales also. They are easy to pull and will be no challenge for the Oliver 1600. You can stop the baler with a full bale in it and restart it with the tractor at fast idle. Try THAT with a NH chain baler, which I owned also. The Vermeer will use up bearings faster, and I agree with Alan about checking them, if possible. One will always go bad miles from home with rain coming(arguement for having a spare baler?). Vermeers of that age usually hydraulic twine arms which means you need 2 remotes which the 1600 probably has. If the Vermeer you are looking at has a hydraulic cylinder to add pressure to the bale, the o rings can go bad and not provide pressure to the bale, making it much looser. I rebuilt one and I"m not sure it lasted long. I found a 505I vermeer and traded for it. It makes a much tighter bale, and a Super I is better still. Not sure if you can get one for $4000. The 504(MF 1450) I had did NOT make a full 5 foot diameter bale. The I series Vermeers do make 5 foot bales. If the New Idea baler is a fixed chamber baler which has a soft center, the trade off is that usually that type baler packs the outside layers very tight which resists weather better.
Good luck. KEH

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Semrau

04-07-2005 17:30:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to KEH, 04-07-2005 15:33:32  
KEH :

This 504G doesn't have hydraulic bale tension - the 504F I looked at did, though. It has electric tie.

Thanks for the info !



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay Dr

04-07-2005 06:30:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
third party image

The NI 483 are easy to operate. Some people say the give off less dust when in operation than other style balers. They are a soft core center baler. The NI 483 bales are harder to unroll if you want to unroll your hay. The NI 483 has a good pick up design. The NI takes less HP than the Vermeer. The NI bales will weigh 500 LBS less than the same size Vermeer bake. The Vermeer makes a hard core round bale.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob Semrau

04-07-2005 07:53:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Hay Dr, 04-07-2005 06:30:29  
Hay Dr

Is the 500 pound weight difference due to the soft core ? That sounds like a definite disadvantage to me - more bales for the same amount of hay. Are bales from both balers as tight on the outside ? I am assuming from your previous posts that you would prefer the Vermeer ...

Thanks



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay DR

04-07-2005 12:41:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-07-2005 07:53:55  
Both balers will do a good job. It comes down condition of the balers to value. The Vermeer does make a bale that is more dense but if you are feeding hay out in 6 months there likely is not much difference.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

04-06-2005 21:17:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
Not sure about either one of them but I know I will never own another baler that is a belt type. I have found the good old chain balers work better and last longer then a belt baler. I hate to have to replace belts every couple of years



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay Dr

04-07-2005 06:18:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to old, 04-06-2005 21:17:09  
Those chain balers work so good New Holland quit making them almost 15 years ago. LOL



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Joe(tx)

04-07-2005 09:14:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Hay Dr, 04-07-2005 06:18:53  
All I know about chain balers is that nobody around here will buy one. I have a MF (Vermeer 504G) and have had few problems, mostly fixing those created by the previous owner. Replaced belts, bearings and drive chains when they wear out during the 20 years I've had it.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

04-06-2005 21:16:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Round Baler Choices in reply to Bob Semrau, 04-06-2005 21:03:12  
Not sure about either one of them but I know I will never own another baler that is a belt type. I have found the good old chain balers work better and last longer then a belt baler. I hate to have to replace belts every couple of years



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tx Jim

04-07-2005 04:24:09




Report to Moderator
 Belts in reply to old, 04-06-2005 21:16:31  
I have baled 20,000 rolls with my baler and it still has original belts.I would rather relace or replace a belt than untangle the CHAIN on a chain baler.If baler are stored under cover belts will last several years.IMHO,Jim



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Larry in Pa.

04-07-2005 05:22:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Tx Jim, 04-07-2005 04:24:09  
Amen to Tx Jim, as an owner of a NH 851 chain baler for the last 16 years my next baler will have belts.
The 851 served me well AFTER I spent over $1000 to replace the chain, but that was a long time ago. I bale in fear of the chain breaking for you are down for about two days. You also better have a place with a sturdy overhead beam to pull the chain up. With the price of steel as it is I would guess the price of a new chain would probably be equal to the value of the baler. I'm shopping for a belt baler.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

04-07-2005 06:28:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Larry in Pa., 04-07-2005 05:22:19  
Mornin' Larry,

I've always thought that the chainers have received the bad press because of the way they were used, not in the way they were designed.

A chain is a chain is a chain and being so, they warrant a little extra attention during use.

The key to keepin' those old sisters happy is to give 'em a drink of used engine oil every blessed day during use.

Any high speed chain will wear and break if it is allowed to run dry. Keep 'em oiled and they will darned near run forever.

Just my view,

Allan

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay Dr

04-07-2005 06:39:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Allan in NE, 04-07-2005 06:28:36  
The use of engine oil is the #1 cause for baler fires.A bearing can fail on any MFG and the engine oil residue on the baler is almost impossible to extinguish if on fire. JD, Vermeer, & NH now recommend a dry lubricant like a chain lube foam that drys. Your chains will also last longer with a dry lubricant than if you are using a wet lubricant.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RickB

04-07-2005 14:18:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Hay Dr, 04-07-2005 06:39:27  
Failed bearings are the number one cause of baler fires. If there is no hot bearing, there is no fire. Period. Doesn't matter if there is a bunch of oil or a bunch of chaff, it will burn.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay DR

04-07-2005 15:54:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to RickB, 04-07-2005 14:18:08  
Since we started switching customers to chain lube about 14 years ago we have not had one of these balers using chain lube catch on fire and do substantial damage. Yes the hot metal from the metal bearing going out causes the fire. The Chaff will burn but not as hot and as quick if there is oil residue present. The oil soaked chaff works as an accelerant and fuels the fire to burn hotter and spread quicker. Most of the time you can dump the bale and get away from it and the fire in the baler will go out because the fuel is gone. If the fire burns hot enough for long enough the belts and hydraulic hoses (full of flammable oil) will fuel the fire.
We have thousands of customers running balers out there and using chain lube has all but stopped balers from total loss due to fires burning the balers up. Take those old boilers off the balers and use chain lube. It works we seen the numbers first hand to prove it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

04-07-2005 06:50:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Hay Dr, 04-07-2005 06:39:27  
Dunno, sure could be.

I always replaced bad bearings long before headin' to the field. They talk to ya if you just take the time to listen.

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

04-07-2005 06:18:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to Larry in Pa., 04-07-2005 05:22:19  
Chains are real hard on alfalfa as well - knock the leaves off.

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ken Macfarlane

04-08-2005 10:45:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Belts in reply to paul, 04-07-2005 06:18:28  
I don't do the round bale thing but I hear of them burning all the time. No one seems to strap much of an extinguisher onto the things. A big old water filled or 25 lb dry chem extinguisher could probably save a lot of these balers.

Is it hard to eject a bale early on?

Most guys I've heard of losing balers just kinda park em, unhook the tractor and drive away...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy