need baler advice

Thanks,

Jim

I'm not familiar with the M&W and I'm not aware of any dealers in this area (northern Minnesota), unless they make snowblowers (ha ha).

Been raining here for a month...

Jim

You asked for advice on makes and got good advice. I will add 504 I ,Super I and newer Vermeer balers for 4 by 5 balers. If you want an older baler, don't go below the F series. Earlier Vermeers had the closed throat and they don't have a good reputation. Appearently the Gehl balers with the rollers in front work well, and are well made. The best baler to get is one that has good local dealer support. Oh, I pulled the 847 with a 65 hp tractor and it had to work. Have had a Vermeer 504 F and a 505 I and the tractor pulls them easily. Good luck.

KEH

The NH and Vermeer bales are very abundant in our area and both have good dealer support. I've always been a little leary about the chain balers.

My neighbor has a F series Vermeer, but he tells me that model takes more horsepower (100 hp) compared to the older models. He also said a couple of models (D and E series??) were trouble, but the older ones were good and did not require much hp. (I have a 65 hp tractor).

Jim

You asked for advice on makes and got good advice. I will add 504 I ,Super I and newer Vermeer balers for 4 by 5 balers. If you want an older baler, don't go below the F series. Earlier Vermeers had the closed throat and they don't have a good reputation. Appearently the Gehl balers with the rollers in front work well, and are well made. The best baler to get is one that has good local dealer support. Oh, I pulled the 847 with a 65 hp tractor and it had to work. Have had a Vermeer 504 F and a 505 I and the tractor pulls them easily. Good luck.

KEH

Jim

Or you can cuss & complain about baling every day you do so for the next few years with a cheaper closed-throat baler.

;)

--->Paul

I'm starting to hear a similar message... Any recommendations on brands?

Thank you for your input.

Jim

Soft core is a cheaper option if you store your hay indoors, they tend to make a looser bale, but bale well.

NH chain & bar balers (8xx) work well if they are maintained, knock leaves off of alfalfa tho.

--->Paul

The dealers in our area (northern Minnesota) include NH, Vermeer, JD, Case/IH, Hesston, and Gehl -- I may be missing one or two.

I put up grass/legume hay, no corn stalks. I can store the bulk of my bales inside, so soft core bales are fine.

Based on the discussion here, and in talking to my neighbors, I hear complaints on most brands -- more on some, less on others -- which is typical. However, I hear very few complaints on the Hesstons. Maybe I've not spoken to the right people...

It's been raining here for a month now, unless it quits, I won't need a baler!

Thanks again.

Jim

1. Small, lighter bales it will make. Tight bales to withstand lots of rain it will not. If you're storing bales under a roof then no problem.

2. Lay on your back and scoot under that thing from the rear of the baler. There is a roller that hangs out the bottom of the baler that has "rings" on it that guide the bottom belts. Feel right next to the main part of the shaft and see if there are any worn spots in the "rings". They will wear holes in them and will break off eventually. It's not easy to check but if that roller is worn, a new one from Deere is ~ $1000.

3. Open the left side door and check sprokets and chains. Look in the front of the baler above the pickup and check the rubber coating on the top compression roller. It should be in so-so shape.

4. Check all belts. Check the bottom belts. If the bottom belts are worn beyond further use and you put endless belts on it then you're in for a JOB. I have heard of people putting laced belts on the bottom of the 410 / 510 but I've never actually seen it done. I put new endless ones on the 510 I had and it was an all day affair.

5. Be sure to get that adapter to goes on your drawbar to hook the baler to. You'll need it.

6. Be sure and ask about the manual. It shows how to hook up the baler and acceptable distances of drawbar, pto height, etc.

7. There's not much you can do about checking bearings unless you've got one of those temp guns and can operate the baler. Would be good if you could get a temp on them though. Some of those bearings on that thing is a bugger.

8. When I sold my 510, I was beginning to have problems finding bearings to fit it. Had one going bad on a tailgate roller. Went to a bearing shop and guy there told me that bearing was a discontinued part number but he was able to find a couple sitting on someone's shelf in Dallas and got them for me.

All in all those old balers are so-so. They're definitly not one of the new technology balers that have hydraulic tension and like the other post, they are closed throat, meaning there's two rollers that the hay has to go between to get to the bale chamber. Make sure hay is dry! If it has too much moisture in it you will cuss that thing up one side and down the other. Always use windrows as wide as the pickup.

Good luck,
mee

How about other brands, do you have any recommendations?

Jim

Do you have other brands of balers that you would recommend?

Thanks,

Jim in Minnesota

My neighbor has had a 5??? Hesston baler for 10 years and has not replaced a thing, he loves it and swears by it.

Jim