Ford 532 Baler

Don't know anything about Ford balers. See one on Craig's list, says it's field ready with manuals, $750. Any common problems with these to look out for?

Thanks,

B

they are not new. good balers and parts are available. sounds like a fair price. Does it have a kicker?

they are not new. good balers and parts are available. sounds like a fair price. Does it have a kicker?

Didn't say it had a kicker, so I doubt it. And no, didn't expect anything too new for $750. Just need something useable for 20 acres or so.

They don't have a great reputation, and $750 isn't a steal. Believe I'd keep looking.

Some models were "Made for Ford" by New Holland,
and were just New Holland models painted blue!

Some models were made for Ford, but I don't think they were made by New Holland. The 532 was definantly not a New Holland.
The 532 was, I think, one of the last series of Ford balers. Had a decent reputation around here, but they are getting some age to them. Parts availability will not compare to New Holland or John Deere models of that age. For 20 acres, it should be fine.

Hi Red, a few months back you were asking about planting alfalfa at your sisters place, is this bailer for that ? If so, how did the planting go ?

Well... I actually have one. It's shoved more than a quarter million bales through it's shute. The knotters are of the same design as most NH balers used. The feeding system resembles a Claas more than anything else I've seen. Some say it's a baler that was made for Ford by Long. That's quite probable...
They were a good baler. The downside is that parts are expensive for them and many things are NLA. Most of wht you need probably is available or can be rigged up to work... but items like pickup fingers are about 25 bucks each from NH. SHoup supposedly has one that will fit ofr less than 5 bucks... but still expensive for how often they give out.
The over running clutch in the PTO hub is also a fairly common failure... at about 400 bucks I think. I welded a piece of steel to the hub and yolk on mine so now I no longer have an ORC... but I didn't spend 400 bucks... Otherwise it works fine.
750 bucks for a good working baler is probably a decent deal depending on the market in your area. 5 years ago it wouldn't have brought more than scrap price here. Now the old balers are worth a mint again...
So... a 532 would not be at the top of my list by any means but if the options are limited, it will work. I'd much prefer a Hesston/CaseIH inline but I think you'd be looking at 4-5 times the money for one of them...

Rod

Very helpful. I wasn't aware it had a built-in over ruuning clutch, if it works that sounds great, since we may be baling some with a straight H, but have our eye on a 460.

The add says same family since new, always shedded, consistant tight bales. Sure sounds good, but haven't seen it yet. Kind of wanted a green one, as that's all I've ever used, but this may have to work.

Thanks again Rod.

We haven't yet. She thought she had a neighbor ready to do it and something came up, don't know what. Looks like we'll be planting some darned exotic grass mix for the darned Alpacas she sort of inherited. And they just bought two horses too. Talk about a play farm.

We think we only need about half the acreage for the grass, so will still put the other half to alfalfa with a planting this fall. About 10 acres grass and 15 acres alfalfa. Getting lucky finding some good deals with equipment really close to her place, within 5 or 6 miles, so can just drive everything home instead of hauling it. Starting to get a little exciting. Glad she's the money handler/supplier and I'm just driving tractors. So far anyway.

Thanks for asking.

So how are you voting on the circum-something ban? j/k haha Totally j/k, don't answer that.

Appreciate the advice. But I'll tell you what, we haven't seen much in her area, SW MI, for under $1,500. This one is described as one family owned, always shedded, consitant tight bales, used last year, with original manuals, field ready, everything you want to hear, but will have to wait and see. I've never even seen one in person. We've always had green balers at our place in KS. Just been told they came with an over running clutch built in? That sounds pretty darned handy. Never heard of that before, but wonder why others didn't have that feature. My poor old granddad baled 5 million bales with an H and M.

Just check it over carefully the same as any other 30+ year old baler... If it's as good as they suggest it should do you for all the hay you want to bale.

Rod