super55
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 920
- Location
- Great North of Michigan
- Tractor
- Oliver Super55, John Deere 4310, John Deere 4400, Kubota L2500 (had),
I am operating on almost identical equipment just on a some slightly smaller equipment. I use an Oliver super 55, JD 4310 and a JD 4400 all running about at 30 hp at the PTO. I have a Sitrex 4 wheel rake, Tar River 165 Drum mower, a MF 25 hay rake and one of those China made MRB870 mini round balers.
My thoughts on the hay equipment is very similar. The drum mower works incredibly well. I've never came close to having the tractor bog down from it and you can mow fast. The only thing I don't like about it is how it cuts so close to the ground. I probably leaves only about 2" after the mower went through. The wheel rake does an adequate job on hay that isn't too long. On one cutting I did it was way too long and wouldn't clean from the rake at all. It ended up wanting to just wind around the wheels and clog up. Lighter cuttings the rake does well on gently windowing. The MF 25 rake is pto operated and 3 point and it really does a nice job of making clean narrow windrows for the mini baler.
Initially I bought the mini round baler for several reasons. First it's compact size. I spend no time turning around. End of row lift up turn around and go back down the row right next to it. Easy to store and extremely maneuverable. Another reason was because we were doing mulch hay in our gardens before getting horses and these bales were easier to spread out then square bales. Lastly I didn't want to have to get a larger tractor just to run a baler. That being said though there are some disadvantages to it. One is you need very small windrows as the pickup is only 30" and second it is not nearly as fast as running a square baler because you have to stop moving when it is tying. It is simple design though and requires next to nothing for PTO Hp. Eventually I will probably upgrade to a Hesston 530 or an older small square baler.
My thoughts on the hay equipment is very similar. The drum mower works incredibly well. I've never came close to having the tractor bog down from it and you can mow fast. The only thing I don't like about it is how it cuts so close to the ground. I probably leaves only about 2" after the mower went through. The wheel rake does an adequate job on hay that isn't too long. On one cutting I did it was way too long and wouldn't clean from the rake at all. It ended up wanting to just wind around the wheels and clog up. Lighter cuttings the rake does well on gently windowing. The MF 25 rake is pto operated and 3 point and it really does a nice job of making clean narrow windrows for the mini baler.
Initially I bought the mini round baler for several reasons. First it's compact size. I spend no time turning around. End of row lift up turn around and go back down the row right next to it. Easy to store and extremely maneuverable. Another reason was because we were doing mulch hay in our gardens before getting horses and these bales were easier to spread out then square bales. Lastly I didn't want to have to get a larger tractor just to run a baler. That being said though there are some disadvantages to it. One is you need very small windrows as the pickup is only 30" and second it is not nearly as fast as running a square baler because you have to stop moving when it is tying. It is simple design though and requires next to nothing for PTO Hp. Eventually I will probably upgrade to a Hesston 530 or an older small square baler.
