I need to automate my bale handling, too

[gf5205]

With apologies to Robert for stealing his thread title!

My wife and I bale about 4500 small squares on 30 acres. Currently we stack on hay wagons pulled behind the baler. We sell about 3000 off of the wagons and put about 1500 up an elevator into our barn.

We've always relied on friends and family for help stacking on the wagons and in the barn. We're in our late 50s, and I know I can't go all day the way I used to, especially in hot and humid weather. What's worse is that my youngest nephew graduates from high school this spring. He and his older sister have been great crew members for years, but I have to find an alternative.

I always figured that we'd end up with a kicker and kicker wagons, but wasn't looking forwards to it. I find it a pain to unload them and the bales don't always hold their shape. Then I heard about bale baskets, accumulators and bale wagons on this board, and started investigating.

Bale baskets would be good for our own hay, but not very good to sell out of.

I don't make heavy and consistent enough bales for a balewagon, and my customers don't want 60 pound bales.

That leaves the accumulators. I don't want one that drags the hay over the ground. Our bale length can vary quite a bit and I think that the Kuhns will handle them the best.

In any event, I ordered a 15 bale accumulator, grabber and 2 9x20 foot wagons. I also ordered the WR Long 3rd function kit and a skid steer carrier for my loader. Wish me luck.
Greg

[flusher]

With apologies to Robert for stealing his thread title!

My wife and I bale about 4500 small squares on 30 acres. Currently we stack on hay wagons pulled behind the baler. We sell about 3000 off of the wagons and put about 1500 up an elevator into our barn.

We've always relied on friends and family for help stacking on the wagons and in the barn. We're in our late 50s, and I know I can't go all day the way I used to, especially in hot and humid weather. What's worse is that my youngest nephew graduates from high school this spring. He and his older sister have been great crew members for years, but I have to find an alternative.

I always figured that we'd end up with a kicker and kicker wagons, but wasn't looking forwards to it. I find it a pain to unload them and the bales don't always hold their shape. Then I heard about bale baskets, accumulators and bale wagons on this board, and started investigating.

Bale baskets would be good for our own hay, but not very good to sell out of.

I don't make heavy and consistent enough bales for a balewagon, and my customers don't want 60 pound bales.

That leaves the accumulators. I don't want one that drags the hay over the ground. Our bale length can vary quite a bit and I think that the Kuhns will handle them the best.

In any event, I ordered a 15 bale accumulator, grabber and 2 9x20 foot wagons. I also ordered the WR Long 3rd function kit and a skid steer carrier for my loader. Wish me luck.
Greg

Good luck. If I had your acreage instead of only 10 acres, I'd probably go with the Kuhns accumulator and grabber.

[Robert_in_NY]

Congrats on the Kuhns. That is what I was and am leaning to still. I delayed my decision though as I asked the Mexicans that trimmed our vineyard and orchard if they would be interested in stacking hay this summer. They were and are good workers and only charge $8/hour so I will go that route for now and see how it works out.

[gf5205]

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm kind of anxious as there are a few unknowns. How well will my 50 hp JD5205 handle the 15 bale grabber with a 9 foot long load in front? How high will I be able to stack the wagons? What kind of problems will I have installing the WR Long kit. How long will it take to be able to load a wagon in a reasonable amount of time?

I'm also adding a Farmex moisture tester on the baler, since I won't be on the wagon testing each bale.
Greg

[Robert_in_NY]

The moisture tester has a learning curve as it can deceive you so you will want to double check it on a regular basis and never truely trust it. It is nice to keep an eye on moisture levels across the field but as I said, it can deceive you if you start to trust it too much

[AKfish]

That leaves the accumulators. I don't want one that drags the hay over the ground. Our bale length can vary quite a bit and I think that the Kuhns will handle them the best.

In any event, I ordered a 15 bale accumulator, grabber and 2 9x20 foot wagons. I also ordered the WR Long 3rd function kit and a skid steer carrier for my loader. Wish me luck.
Greg

So, you bought the Kuhn accumulator and grabber? Did Kuhn make the wagons too?

I looked at Steffen and another system made in Kansas - starts with an H - info posted hereabouts... Steffen was around $16K for the accumulator (~$13K) and grabber (~$3K); for the 10 bale model.

How does that compare with the Kuhn prices? Thanks.

AKfish

[flusher]

So, you bought the Kuhn accumulator and grabber? Did Kuhn make the wagons too?

I looked at Steffen and another system made in Kansas - starts with an H - info posted hereabouts... Steffen was around $16K for the accumulator (~$13K) and grabber (~$3K); for the 10 bale model.

How does that compare with the Kuhn prices? Thanks.

AKfish

Kuhns conveniently posts its prices on their website

Kuhns Mfg Pricing

Wish all tractor and implement mfgs would do likewise.

[flusher]

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm kind of anxious as there are a few unknowns. How well will my 50 hp JD5205 handle the 15 bale grabber with a 9 foot long load in front? How high will I be able to stack the wagons? What kind of problems will I have installing the WR Long kit. How long will it take to be able to load a wagon in a reasonable amount of time?

I'm also adding a Farmex moisture tester on the baler, since I won't be on the wagon testing each bale.
Greg

Which of your tractors will pull the baler and accumulator?

That 15-bale accumulator lays bales down in a 5 long by 3 wide pattern and the accumulator picks it up in the 5x3 arrangement. So, assuming 50 lb bales, that's 750 lb of hay and the weight of the grabber, say 500 lb. The center of gravity is about 45" +22.5"=67.5" (5ft -7.5in)from the lifting pins on your FEL, assuming 45" bale length. The ML250 FEL on my 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto) can lift 2980 lb at the bucket pins. Your FEL probably has similar specs, so I don't think you have a lifting problem. Just carry enough ballast on the 3pt to balance the tractor.

My winter project is to build a hay squeeze/accumulator to handle eight 14"x18"x45" bales (about 50 lb each). I plan to stack two bales high (16 total bales) and lift this 800 lb load of hay with the squeeze to at least 6-ft height (the loader can reach about 10 ft high). I carry a heavy double bottom plow on the 3pt for ballast. I have a few more weeks of work and then I'll post photos.

[gf5205]

So, you bought the Kuhn accumulator and grabber? Did Kuhn make the wagons too?

I looked at Steffen and another system made in Kansas - starts with an H - info posted hereabouts... Steffen was around $16K for the accumulator (~$13K) and grabber (~$3K); for the 10 bale model.

How does that compare with the Kuhn prices? Thanks.

AKfish

The wagon gears are EZ Trail with Kuhns bodies. I ordered the 8 ton gear with the 9x20 bodies and the stepped upright. If I can stack 4 high I should be able to get 180 on a load and probably 120 on my current 8x16 wagons with a little modification. I'll nedd to bring them to 9' wide and get rid of the angle brace that supports the upright. I'll have to stabilise it another way.
Greg

[gf5205]

The moisture tester has a learning curve as it can deceive you so you will want to double check it on a regular basis and never truely trust it. It is nice to keep an eye on moisture levels across the field but as I said, it can deceive you if you start to trust it too much

I think it will be most useful, not as a direct reading, but as an indicator of change as dew falls. I already have the bale probe model, and you can get lots of differnet readings from the same bale.
Greg