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Darnit! Let's Talk About This A Minute

A

Allan in NE

Well-known Member
Yeah, I know. You're bored to tears with this topic.

I bought this 855 baler 2 years ago for $1500 and it cost me all of $38 to put it in the field. Have run 400-500 bales thru it and it hasn't even "blinked" one time. Just keeps goin' and goin'.

LOVE THIS BALER!

However, it is starting to worry me a bit. The chain is showing some age, sprokets and rollers as well. Some of the boltholes in the bars are getting elongated. Plus, I noticed yesterday that the door hinge bushings are in need of replacment.

I'm mechanical, I can do the work, but it's probably gonna take a good $3500 to rebuild it. $3500 to rebuild a baler that I gave $1500 for.

I'm a tightwad. Every fiber of my being says to just overhaul 'er this winter.

A good belt baler is gonna run right at $16K for a decent used unit.

A dollar is a dollar, right? Not really so sure newer is better? $3500 vs $16K.

Would you fix it up?

Signed,

Standing at the crossroads

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588.JPG
 
Are you only considering New Holland? I know some guys are brand loyal, and that's fine. Just a thought though, I purchased a Vermeer 505 SuperI baler that was 5 years old with all the bells and whistles for $9500. I have done nothing to it but bale hay. A friend of mine bought a new 5400 rebel last spring and he paid right around $12000 for it brand new off the dealers lot. My findings are Vermeer are a little cheaper to buy and about the most reliable machine there is. I can think of at least 10 Vermeer balers in my area right now, and everyone likes them very well.
 
Let's see: You would have $5000 invested in a baler that would do the same thing as a $16,000 used one. Sounds like an easy answer.
 
Hey!

Thanks for the hollar.

It's about got to be either a New Holland or John Deere. Big boys tell me that the NH will eat that JD up.

Point being tho, and the new baler idea aside, how stupid is it to fix up that old chainer? Is that just plumb silly in anyone's/everyone's book? I know I'm stuck in my old-fashioned ways and SCARED of those belters.

However, breaking down during hay harvest just ain't a gonna cut it.

Sorry, just don't like Vermeer stuff; don't like the way they are put together. :>(

Allan
 
That's what I think too. But, my old gourd doesn't always work so darned good anymore.

Maybe it never did. :>)

Allan
 
Allan;

It aint doin you much good the way it is. Sounds like a good winter project. If it lasts that long.

steveormary










i
 
Well, like was mentioned, if for $1500 baler price + $3500 in parts you will have a good working baler, why not? You don't know what problems you may be getting with someone else's used baler. I just got lucky. You won't find anything decent for $5000 though, and if you go through your own you'll know exactly what you'll have when your done. I know you have been concerned about the chain baler "beating" your hay to death. I have never ran a chain baler, but I do know the two belt balers I have owned were pretty darned good about leaving the leaves on the stems. I guess if you are wanting a belt baler, why put the time and money into this one? If you are going to keep using the chain baler, then I'd sure work with what you have so you know what you have when done!
 
Well if I liked the baler, I think I'd fix it up. If you put $3500 in it now, how may bales could you run through it? If you baled 3500 bales thats only $1 a bale. I agree with M Nut on Vermeer, I really like them. Most folks around here run JD or NH, but the NH dealer sux
 
If I fixed the ol sow up, it would very easily out last me.

I think I just have my neighbor's 688 on my brain. That is one slick baler, but it just does not pencil out for 130 acres of hay.

Plus, there are the idiosyncrasies of the chainers; ya don't just go out and bale when ya take a notion. Gotta pick and choose the right time of day, moisture, etc.

Think I gotta quit watchin' those neighbors. They’re drivin’ me crazy :>)

Allan
 
If I have a piece of equipment I like in the same situation I just buy another one like it cheap and use it for parts or a backup baler.(You can buy 2 more like the one you bought for less than the cost of an overhaul not to mention the labor)A backup baler can be a real moneysaver in getting hay in on time if the main baler breaks down and not having to run for parts if needed.I usually keep a tractor hooked to a backup so all the time I loose is going to get the other baler.
 
What else you got to do this winter?? I'm already looking forward to all the pictures and stories we are going to get showing the rebuild. Besides that it will give you some additional cash, with the money saved, to purchase another project or two.
 
There is one other feature of a belt baler to consider, more dense bales! Which results in at least two things, fewer bales to handle and less spoilage of what you have. Saves time and $.
 
Allan - I think you have already made your decision and are seeking confirmation of the same. Go ahead and make your list of parts needed so you'll be ready to work if we get an early winter. Looking forward to your posts of repairing it while the snow flies in a few months. Good Luck. bob f.
 
The one thing you got on your side is the fact that you`ve ran 500 bales through it already. If it was one sitting on a lot needing that kind of money into it, might be a different story.

You pretty much know what this particular machine is about, a decent 855 around here can still bring $3500. So, if you fix it and run it another year or so and decide to trade it in, you`re probably gonna get more than $1500 out of it.

You might not get all your money out, definately not your time, but any time you start turning wrenches on your own stuff it`s hard to get money back out of that..

If you`re not custom baling, where them pretty, tight bales mean something, those chain balers will run with anything out there, and outdo most.

In my opinion, if you have the time and energy, fix er up. It`ll bug you forever if you don`t. Otherwise 20 years from now you`ll run across it in the back row of some dealership, buy it back and fix it anyway:) BW
 
(quoted from post at 06:22:27 07/07/08)Think I gotta quit watchin' those neighbors. They’re drivin’ me crazy :>)

Allan
Click to expand...

[b:abe6492ddb]Trying to keep up with neighbors will cause more problems than solutions.[/b:abe6492ddb]

If you like your chainer, fix it up and use it. If you have a direct problem with the chainer, then trade up.

If you're going for a belt baler, I think you could find a decent used JD 535 for under $10,000 fairly easily, but I don't know if a good one could be found for $5,000... The 566 and 567 are going for near $20k here in ND.
 
If the chain and bar baler is what you want, go for it. Personally you couldn't give me one of em. Unless it would be too haul to the scrap yard. Belt balers are so much better. I have a Deere 535 with net and a 567 with net and have had a 530 and 566. Wouldn't even think about owning any other baler but a Deere. I know nothing about the New Holland belt balers but have had a Massey 1560 or 605F Vermeer and it in my opinion would be a equal to the chain/bar balers.
 
Okay,

I'm going over to my neighbor's now to give him a piece of my mind.

He had me come over a few weeks ago to help him adjust his NH-688.

I don't think I'll ever be the same again. Ya talk about a Cadallic machine!

And then! He's got the nerve to bale up some hay right next to the road. The nerve of the guy; he's got a few choice words coming for sure!!!!!!!!!! :>)

Allan
 
M-nut is right Allen if you want a belt baler your going to get one that 855 will run one more year the way it is don't put any money in it sell or trade that little baler for a mid range 6 to 8 year old belt bale keep that 855 as your back up.
 

Oh, I didn't know you were trying to make money. You wanna spoil a hobby, try to make money at it.
 
As long as you keep it and dont sell it, then you get to keep all the investment you made and you have a baler that you know more about and fixed more of, so I'd say, go for it if you plan to keep it. If you sell it you wont get out of it what you put in it, but as long as you keep it, it is an investment that works.
 
Not having run a NH round baler, I would look into a 530 or 535 JD. Parts are still redily available and a good 535 can be had for 7500-10000 here in Nebraska. If you want the fancy net wrap tack on anoher 2K. There are some decent 530s around for cheaper yet. I havent heard very many complaints about either model. Just my 2cents
 
Allan

Your post reads like you are trying to talk yourself into a new (to you) belt baler. You are scared about price. Check out a NH 660 or 664. No net wrap, and a little bit older than the neighbor's 668, and so substantially cheaper than a 688. A quick check on Iron search will show you what the dealers want. I saw an add today for a 660 that had been kept in a shed and had a granular applicator for $6000 CDN.

John
 
So far its cost you $3.00 a bale to run. I'd keep running it that way until it fails then find another $1500 baler.

With only 120 acres to bale it would probably still outlast you in its current condition.
 
It"s real dilema, Allan;the devil you know or the devil you don"t. You"ve got $1538 into it and you baled 500 bales with it.You work for cheap so another $3500, a total of $5038 + your labor at $0.50/hr(Grin!) and you"ll have it like new and you can do how many bales? You figure a replacement will cost you near $16,000 so if you really figure your labor to rebuild it is worth $10,962 or more, seems to me you ought to get the new machine. But what are you gonna" do when the snow flies, between feedin"s? Polish your new baler? I doubt it!

I"ve been readin" your posts for about five years now and I figure you have to be twins to do all the stuff you do. You"ll find some other piece of equipment you can fix up and spend the time between polishin" the new baler and feedin" to fix up something or another. Heck, If you"re gonna" do that, might as well just fix that ol" hoss and run another 5,000 bales through it. The money you save can be spent on diesl fuel that"s gonna" cost $6.50 a gallon next year!

Just some of my twisted logic.
 
Allan even after you repair the one you have you have only spent $10 a bale to date (not accounting for labour). Repair it and get another 500 bales and she has only cost $5 a bale. You can buy a new anything any day of the week, even I can do that. Not everyone can keep something old running well for a long time.

Mitch
 
Since you have a back-up baler it wouldn't be a huge problem if this one broke down. You could just fix what's really necessary for a lot less than $3500 and keep using it (I know that's not your style).

The real question is whether you just plain want the newer style machine. Is there anything else you could do with the money that would make you happier?
 
Allen, is the reality that you almost have the Gleaner done, and are making sure you have something to work on?
 
I am with TomH. SInce you have a backup fix the minimum and keep running it. Strike up a deal with the neighbor to have him custom bale your hay when your baler wont start a bale.
I know those old chainers are on dealers lots for 3k-4k but I personally never see them move for that much. If you drop 3K in your baler you better plan on selling it at your estate sale....
 
You're missing the point.

No, I DON'T WANT A NEWER BELT BALER; just seems as though that is the way everyone is going and I'm trying to figure out why.

Problem is, ya don't repair one of these things "part way". When it's time for repairs, it's time for all repairs to be done and you don't do it with used parts out of another old carcus machine.

When that chain decides to let go, it pretty much takes everything else with it, totalling the whole machine. When it happens, it goes so darned fast ya can't get your hand on that PTO handle fast enough to save anything.

That's what I DON'T want to happen neither. :>(

Allan
 
Myself, for what it is worth says fix yours, know what you have. Besides, I thought last week you had your heart set on that IH windrower. By the way, is your rake DOA or can it be saved too :)

JoshuaGA
 
Parts are all here, it is torn down/strung all over the yard and tomorrow at the crack of dawn, we're gonna repair that old rake. :>)

Allan
 
I would say fix it. That would make your investment $5000.00 and a long way from $16K. You may be able to depreciate it on your taxes.
It's a nice looking baler and you would get many years of use from it. Hal
 
Alan,
Whew! I glad I not the only one that gets a little twisted in the squash once in a while.Always easy to give someone advice when your're spending their money so I'm reserving my thought's on this one..How's the gleaner coming?
 
Don't know about the newer ones but I have two 605C's. I went from a NH851 to one of these. One great thing about is for the most part it only has two bearings, and if you take the number out of the vermeer book to a napa or industrial bearing place you are good to go for less than a cup of coffe at most dealers. I like the vermeers alot, just an added bonus I guess be'n able to get parts cheaper. Also the bit about the chain break'n and take'n every thing with it, with a belt baler, you can get a lacer from Shoup for about $100 and once you have done a few you can pull under a shade tree and be going half an hour or less.

Dave
 
My useless opinion would be to trade in one of you balers on a newer model. Do you have to run a 5' or can you go 4'? Check out http://www.external_link and you will find some 688's for 12k. Not sure of the shape they are in but might just find one there.
 
I know you know this: Old chain stretches as it wears. This wears the sprocket teeth because the pitch is not correct, and the last teeth to touch the chain on the pull side, making a saw out of it. A new chain, on reversed sprockets may last a long time. A new chain on the old sprockets will be stressed if run the same way. I say make it work for you with prudent replacement. It has a good look and field presence that deserve a second chance. If it were faded or a cobbled pile, I would say replace it.
JimN
 
if it was me, i would fix it up and make it last the rest of your life...if if works fine why bother with a new one. my neighbor has got an old chain baler like that, he said the only problem with it is the gear box is out otherwise it was a good baler.
personally i would put the money into and as long as you have that back-up baler you are prepared for break-downs.
DF in WI
 
I don't know about western NE but the sand here in the north central part of the state just ate up the chains when we used to have the old 855s. About 2500 bales and it was time for new chains. We upgraded to the NH belt bales several years back and the transition went well. They aren't as forgiving as a chainer but I'm sure you'd get along fine. We've had a 660, 664, 688 and now a BR780A. They've all been good balers. I didn't like the pickup on the 660 but the 664 and 688 have a better pickup. $16,000 for a 688 is on the high end unless it's a real cream puff. You can get into a used BR780 for about that.
 
Hi Ya Tim,

Not tryin' to be a smart azz, really, really not.

However, I don't understand where the sand is coming from. Wheel rakes maybe?

Allan
 
Allan I have sand on my hills here. Gopher piles are the biggest source of sand here.

The mower will put some in the hay, the rake will grab a little and the pickup on the baler grabs the most when you go over those piles.

A wheel rake may grab a little more than a bar rake,but the pickup on the baler is the worst.

Do praire dogs cause any humps in your hay field?

Gary
 
Allan: Are you sure that $3,500. in parts will cover everything you need? If its like many of my projects, the cost will end up being double what I initially budgeted for....plus take twice as long as what I originallly thought!! Will your decision still make sense if you end up w/ $6,000 in parts?
 
Oh yeah, that makes sense.

Got some gophers and a family of badgers. I leave 'em alone and they leave me alone. :>)

Allan
 
Boy, I dunno.

I don't like to do things halfway. The chains are gonna run an easy $1300, then add all the sprokets, bearings and rollers.

The odd card are those bars. Think there are what? 68 of 'em? Don't know if I should re-use the things or not because the boltholes are getting wobbled out on the stinkers. Ya have to use new bolts too.

I'll have to put a pencil to it and it's not gonna be cheap that's for darned sure. This is the reason I'm in such a quandry over this question.

Plus, that's not really a fun job to start with, so if it is gonna tally up in the $6K area, yep, it's belt baler time! :>(

Allan
 
(quoted from post at 03:50:13 07/08/08) Hi Ya Tim,

Not tryin' to be a smart azz, really, really not.

However, I don't understand where the sand is coming from. Wheel rakes maybe?

Allan
Click to expand...

I think the chains would have lasted longer if we were always baling on the sub-irrigated meadows. On ground that is a little higher we're always fighting the gopher mounds. Pickup on the baler probably picked some up, rakes probably threw a little on the windrow, etc. On another note, by the time you buy the chains, sprokets, idlers, bearings, bars, hardware, plus other misc things it's going to get spendy. Might be worth looking at a newer belt baler. You'd probably like it better for alfalfa too.
 
fix it I am fixing my 850 and 852 but I am a tightwad to. thought about getting into a used vermeer but then seen the prices and then priced belts no thanks chains are cheaper and stronger. Just my opinion.
Don
 
Just priced the chains "with a set of new tubes" and it comes to something like $2300.

Wonder if I can buy all the sprokets, bearings and rollers for another $1200?

Yeah, it's starting to add up. :>(

Allan
 
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