A question for square baler fans

Did John Deere offer any self powered (not self propelled) square balers?

I'm considering options to put an engine on a friend's 348 baler. We were wondering if there were any machines equipped that way,and if so what models. I know
other baler manufacturers offered machines with engines, so why not Deere?
 
They all did but after the 60s tractors had enough power and it was unnecessary. And yes you can run a 336 with a strong JD A and good operator
 
So the 346 was offered with an engine or just with the engine mounts and accessories? I found some stuff discussing a Wisconsin 4 cyl. Maybe a VG4d? Anyone care to guess the hp of said unit?
 
(quoted from post at 01:47:50 11/30/22) My question is why do you want to install an engine?
he baler is destined for a rebaling operation. Making round bales into squares. The machine will be stationary, so having it self powered would simplify some of the requirements.
 
Makes sense. For a minute I thought you wanted to go back to the old days. There isn't a soul alive today that wishes they had the Wisconsin powered balers back. The grooves are still there on the flywheel to belt an engine to. I say just find a good non Wisconsin engine and
fabricate it up or find someone who can.
 
The fab part is my project. I'm merely trying to get a handle on what it needs power wise, what will fit, and what's available. Knowing what has been used on older models helps. I saw the grooves in the flywheel today and figured the place for a motor would be on the tongue and the front framework. That looks like what was used on the 346. I would have expected more than two belts though.
 
The Amish use engines to drive late model JD square balers. Honda engines are popular.
 
From what I find the VH4D was 30 hp, and the VG was 37. I take it the 30 hp was sufficient to run the 214? We're looking at 30 and 35 hp options to start with, but really just beginning to look at what's out there.
 

JD dealership where I was employed had several JD sq balers in area with both 2 & 4 cylinder Wisconsin engines. I remember the Wisconsin engines were notorious for being difficult to restart operating after being stopped by hay making people for lunch break. 30 HP engine should be fine because many yrs ago I baled some hay just for kicks with a JD BO tractor & it is rated @ 14 HP
 
Same could be said if you slugged it and choked the engine off. My inlaws had a 116W with an engine. The talk was if the baler stalled, you might as well figure on restarting it tomorrow...
 
(quoted from post at 12:38:12 11/30/22) Why not use electric motor?
n electric motor has certain advantages, granted. It would be much simpler to set up, mount and install. However it does limit the mobility. So far the plan calls for the baler, a semi portable round baler unroller/feeder unit, and necessary support equipment. All of which could be easily transported from site to site. As far as I know there are still a number of variables to be considered in that regard.

Right now we're thinking of a 30 or 35 hp v twin of some sort. Briggs, Kohler, Honda, etc. Provided that would be sufficient, power wise, to do the job. Also considering small diesel engines as well, depending on size, weight, power, etc. And then cost.
 
That hard starting problem was just a lack of maintaince and we were quilty of that. A good engine man got us straightened out on that problem and once we followed his instructionsd no more hard starting problens. First thing is take off all cowling and clean out all dirt chah so air could get to engine to cool it. We actually had to chisel out that crap to just get down to the head. You just needed to take that cowling off and clean things out good if you were done baling for season or every morning before starting for the day and then repeat it at lunch time after eating to giv engine enough time to cool down to where you could handle the cowling bolts and take the cowling off and clean it out good of any dirt chaf and replave the cowling. Depending on conditions and how long you would be out baling how often during the day you would have to do it. Ours was the 2 cylinder Wisconsin on a NH 66 baler Dad bought new in 1955. Before we got rid of it to get a baler with thrower that engine had beeb borte once and needed it again. Also a different problen that would make hard starting was the diafram in the fuell pump. It would get bad to where it would leak air thru it but noticable to the eye. Put in a new diaphram and would start right away. We learned to keep a new one with baler at all times and the wrench and screwdriver with baler at all times to change it in the field. Sold the baler in 76 when we got a PTO powered baler with the thrower after handling those balles and 3 of us got overcome with heat that last season and that is what made the move to the different baler. But after we started cleaning out that cowel every time we shut it off never had starting problems ynless that car diafram had to be changed. And before we found that problem we even tried pressurizing the fuell tank to get the gas up to carb.
 
The Nerw Hollands with the 2 cylinder enginers use 3 V belts to drive the baler. What you have is too new for me to know anything about as quit baling 1981.
 
I was thinking of the electric motor as well if stationary... there'd be less danger of fire. That was alsways a concern with the engine
drive ones. Hay dust, hot gas engine, what could go wrong ? :)
 
. Doubt they have three phase power to operate a 30 HP three phase motor . A 10HP 240V single phase will be slow and prone to tripping the thermal protection .
 
I have not so fond memories of spending an hour in the field cranking a V4 Wisconsin on a swather. Never fired once during the hour of cranking and then just started.
 
(quoted from post at 09:01:38 11/30/22)
(quoted from post at 12:38:12 11/30/22) Why not use electric motor?

Right now we're thinking of a 30 or 35 hp v twin of some sort. Briggs, Kohler, Honda, etc. Provided that would be sufficient, power wise, to do the job. Also considering small diesel engines as well, depending on size, weight, power, etc. And then cost.

Harry I m 25 miles west of Fort Knox
I have a Snorkle Lift 60 ft stick I m going to scrap
It s got a nice Deutz 3 cylinder diesel that s around 35-40 hp
I hate to scrap it but don t have a use for it
Let me know it interested
 
(quoted from post at 21:07:49 11/30/22)
(quoted from post at 09:01:38 11/30/22)
(quoted from post at 12:38:12 11/30/22) Why not use electric motor?

Right now we're thinking of a 30 or 35 hp v twin of some sort. Briggs, Kohler, Honda, etc. Provided that would be sufficient, power wise, to do the job. Also considering small diesel engines as well, depending on size, weight, power, etc. And then cost.

Harry I m 25 miles west of Fort Knox
I have a Snorkle Lift 60 ft stick I m going to scrap
It s got a nice Deutz 3 cylinder diesel that s around 35-40 hp
I hate to scrap it but don t have a use for it
Let me know it interested
o be honest, an F3L912 was the first thing that came to mind. I've always liked that series, and am quite familiar with it. Hesston and Freeman both used them on certain models. Reliability would be second to none. My only real concern would be weight. It would be twice the weight of v twin gas engines, plus the added length may be an issue with placement of the unroller. I can't rule it out though. You can't scrap it. What would you take for it?
 
They were hard starting when brand new. They had issues building up carbon on valves that had to be removed.
 
(quoted from post at 20:29:00 11/30/22) They were hard starting when brand new. They had issues building up carbon on valves that had to be removed.

Ditto I remember several nearly new Wisconsin engines being difficult to start after being at operating temperature on JD small sq balers.

This post was edited by Tx Jim on 12/01/2022 at 03:54 am.
 
How often did they clean the fins out to let the air to the head? On a new engine even a half a day in dirty conditions would do that.
 
i we had a john deere 214WT that had a60 hp 4 cly Wisconsin on it.. it also had a bigger flywheel then the pto driven model
 
The person that told us the reason for a lot of the overheating problemd was the mechanic from the dealership that sold our baler new asn was the one that had to deal with all the warenty claims about hard starting so I assume ne knew what he was talking about. He was not out abou hard starting problems but knotter problems and after workin on the knoters he had trouble getting it to start so he got onto the starting problems as it did not want to start for him and in checking things out found every thing cloged. Need either Dad or me ever thing about that. Cleaned every thing up and starting problems were over on that end as long as we owned the baler. And the engines used in other applications did not have starting problems.
 

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