JD 24t baler advice

[jshwhite]

I'm looking to get into doing a little hay. Nothing much - about 15 acres. Just want to make my own for horses and maybe sell a little. I found this JD 24t baler for $600. Seems a good deal to me but I have no idea about these balers. It's an hour and a half drive for me to get it, so I want to be sure about it before I go. The seller said that it bales well - "a good tight bale", but just needs a couple of the round pieces that go in between the teeth.

Has anyone had experience with these balers and could give any advice? Are they good balers? Easy enough to get parts for?
Is $600 a good price?
I've attached picture the seller sent me.
Thanks,
Josh

 

[zzvyb6]

The 14T and 24T are in my opinion, very good balers for a low volume hay producer such as yourself. The price is right on as far as condition and age in my neck of the woods. If you have a lower power tractor, this machine will easily perform. I first started out with one and a 22 hp Yanmar tractor, no problems. Drop the bales on the ground or feed them to a trailer or wagon on the back. The 'round pieces' are covers/spaces that keep the hay between the pickup teeth and moving into the auger. You can find them on eBay from folks parting out older balers etc. If you find other parts listed, there will usually be words to the extent of 'contact the seller if you need other parts'. These parts are so simple you could make them yourself from simple sheet metal using one of the originals as a pattern.

If the baler is really that good, ask the seller to hook it up and produce a few bales right there in front of you while you wait. You have plenty of time between now and June to get it up and working to your satisfaction. You'll need a rake and a mower to complete the hay production cycle, and some tools (tax deductable) to make it all happen.

With essentally the same equipment and land area, I paid for my baler, mower and rake with the profits from hay sales in just the first year. Don't forget to add up the cost of hay you are now no longer having to buy.

If you get itchy hands before June, buy a round bale or two and run the baler stationary while feeding in sections unwrapped from the rounds. That way you can play with length, weight, noises, storage, knotter timing, shear pins and flat tires before the actual launch. Start looking for a labor supply, too. I love everything about haying except loading elevators and stacking in a mow.

 

[jshwhite]

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.
Glad to hear they are good balers. Also good to know about the tractor power. That was another one of my questions. I'm running a 37 hp Kubota so it sounds like it won't be a problem for me if you ran it with a 22hp Yanmar.
I was thinking I might be able to just make those pieces. Glad you suggested it. I'm sure I can find some scrap and just make it.


I've found a little Rollabar rake, so now just trying to find a mower. I think I'd like to find a sickle bar.

One other question. Since it's quite a ways drive for me, how should I get it transport it? I have a 16 ft utility trailer that's about 6ft wide. How wide is the baler? Would I be able to get it on the trailer? Or maybe it would just be better to just hook the baler to the truck and take my time going home? Any thoughts on that?


Thanks again,
Josh

P.S. I had to laugh about hay in June. We have a bit of an earlier crop down here in KY

 

[zzvyb6]

I would NOT tow it home. You have no idea on the condition of the tires or bearings. Plus the spindles are not gonna survive any bumps or pot holes.

You may be able to put it on the trailer sideways and then remove the tongue and prop shaft to get road clearance. Renting or borrowing a car hauler may need some sideways thinking, too, because of the width.

 

[KubotaSam]

The farm I worked on years ago we bailed about 10.000 bails a year with one. It was a very good bailer. However that was 40 years ago.
If you are going to pull it home I would check the wheel bearings first. You would not want to seize a bearing 1/2 way home. Also as you said "take it slow"