Bale spears, 1 or 2?

[dmay]

I'm looking at buying a FEL/3pt bale spear. What do you think is the best all around choice for number of bale spears when moving 800-1000 lb round bales:

1) One spear w. two small stabilizers

2) Two spears

Has anyone found the two spear to also work well (enough) as a pallet mover?

Darrell

 

[keyser soze]

I've always had much better luck with 1 long center spear with two stabilizer prongs, than the ones with 2 spikes.

As far as a pallet mover... I don't think it would work very well.

 

[sweettractors]

We use a similar 2 prong setup made by Buhler on our 285 MF and, and in a pinch, we have used them as pallet forks, however, the spacing on the 2 forks are not adjustable and will not fit all pallets. Ken Sweet

 

[RickB]

For my money, it's the single long spear with stabilizers, hands down. Two long spears must be perfectly parallel not to bind either entering or leaving the bale. It's quite annoying to be stacking bales and having to fight every bale off the spear(s).

Bale spears make better pallet forks than none at all, but not by much.

 

[keyser soze]

For my money, it's the single long spear with stabilizers, hands down. Two long spears must be perfectly parallel not to bind either entering or leaving the bale. It's quite annoying to be stacking bales and having to fight every bale off the spear(s).

Bale spears make better pallet forks than none at all, but not by much.

I couldn't have said it any better. I agree.

 

[jdavis7399]

For a counterpoint, with two spears a round bale will not spin. A single spear in a loose bale will sometimes not provide enough support and the bale will sag and the short stabilizers will not provide enough grip and the bale will spin. These problems go away with two spears. I use the Washburn spears.

 

[keyser soze]

For a counterpoint, with two spears a round bale will not spin. A single spear in a loose bale will sometimes not provide enough support and the bale will sag and the short stabilizers will not provide enough grip and the bale will spin. These problems go away with two spears. I use the Washburn spears.

Yes... if there is only a single spear and not two stabilizer bars or points about 16 inches long on both the left and right side of the bale stabber. But how often do you see a bale stabber with a single point and no stabilizers anymore...?

 

[sweettractors]

If anyone out there still uses the older New Holland chain rollers (850-851-853 etc.) or any baler that leaves a soft center core, then you definitly would use the 2 prong. Tight centered bales, use the 1 prong. Ken Sweet

 

[rambler]

Around here, the single spear is for round bales; the 2 spear deal is for large square bales (the 3x3 or 3x4 by 8 foot big rectangular bales).

Of course anything gets used is a pinch.....

--->Paul

 

[weldingisfun]

Have used both types. Both do the job with hay bales. The two spear has the added advantage of being able to move some pallets and, when necessary, to hold stacks of logs or lumber.
That's my $.02 worth.