ddivinia
Elite Member
I am looking at a JD 346 baler
Any comments one way or another on this model?
D.
Any comments one way or another on this model?
D.
OK I won the auction:
john deere 346 square hay baler - eBay (item 150443595220 end time May-20-10 20:35:19 PDT)
I wont be able to go get it until after Memorial Day weekend. My JD dealer has a very good tech for square balers. I am thinking of just dropping it off there and having him go thru it and give me a report.
john deere 346 square hay baler - eBay (item 150443595220 end time May-20-10 20:35:19 PDT)
D.
Congrats on your new baler. Looks real nice. Price is in line with what others have paid on eBay for similar balers in good condition like yours (I keep track of the eBay auctions for haying equipment so I have some idea of ballpark prices people are paying for this type of gear).
Also nice that it's located in TX so you don't have to journey too far to pick it up. I was fortunate in finding an MF124 baler two years ago that was only about 35 miles from my place. Towed it home via the back roads with the F150.
Old farmer in SD tells me that when you see a small square baler using sisal twine that the knotters are likely getting worn, billhook, etc. and can't use the poly. Slips the knots too easily and won't tie consistently. Not sure myself... AKfish
Back around 1980 I had one of these balers. It was a mixed bag at best.
It was new, well, tech used as it had a couple tons of hay through it. Here is the issues I had with it:
* Instruction manual was incorrect for timing the needles. Time the needles to the manual and you would be breaking them quickly. I went through a number of needles until I had a JD mech tell me the manual was wrong.
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Thanks for the info. I"ll have to make a note of that.
* Broke a knoter frame for no apparent reason. Replacement was a generic replacement. Came with instruction on what had to be modified depending upon which model baler it was going on.
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I may have a chance to get a 346 parts baler. Not sure I need a couple one laying around. If I get it, I may part it out.
* Had to replace the crank big-end bearing a couple times every season. It just wasn't up to the task when running heavy loads through the machine. Always carried a spare with me as you never knew when a bearing was going to go. This bearing came with a custom ID and not available anywhere other than a JD dealership. I came up with a workaround and bought bearing from a bearing supplier and paid something like a third of what the JD dealership was charging.
Which bearing is that? I don't know what you are talking about, but if I need some spare parts I want to have them on hand.
* Early models came with the tongue jack that was a real widow maker. Could have done some real damage when the handle came flying off and missed my head by a couple inches.
Mine has a jack back on the case.
If one is prepared for some of it's short comings, the baler could push a lot of hay through it.