What's the smallest practical HP/Tractor you'd consider?

[Soundguy]

Around here we have the large 1500# compressed alfalfa bales.. ( and 750# 'half bales' ) that are as hard as a rock.. no bale spears thru them unless you shoot the spear from a cannon.. though forks do work nicely on them.

soundguy

Large squares can be worked with a sufficiently large tractor with a FEL mounted bale spike (intended for big round bales) with sufficiently robust and lengthy "helper spikes" either side and lower than main spike. The helper spikes are there on the round bale handler to prevent spinning of the bale and to let you spear the bale much lower without it rotating but will "work" a square bale.

A few years ago I wanted to get a new rear axle assembly for my air cooled VW based dune buggy and when I went to a VW junk yard the owner fired up a big JD tractor with a hay spike on it and went up on the hill, speared a bug, and brought it down to the shop and suspended it for disassembly. Unfortunately it was the wrong style axle so he took it back and speared another (correct type) and brought it down to remove the desired parts. Yet another creative use of a round bale spike. Oh, he didn't spear through metal parts, just stuck the spike through the open windows and picked it up.

Lets not assume the OP is retarded. He is probably aware of what bales he would be handling.

Pat

 

[CCWKen]

Just thinking, my how we have changed our view of necessities. My granddad worked a 40+ac lot with two mules and a horse.

 

[Egon]

Shucks, guess these folks have no market for their larger rectangular bale spears!

Worksaver Loader Handling Attachments for Rectangular Bales

 

[JGY]

Yanmar Ke140 (14HP)

 

[Soundguy]

Just thinking, my how we have changed our view of necessities. My granddad worked a 40+ac lot with two mules and a horse.

If the mule I own is any thing like mules in the past... I'd 'sell myself' before trying to make a living using one of them stubborn beasts!

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Them worksaver units look like they operate more like a ford.. or a grapple, if you have the expensive one.. vs a normal spear that spears thru the center of a rounder..

soundguy

 

[Egon]

[QUOTE]Loader Bale Spear rated at 3,000 lbs. Unit has three tapered spears spaced 26-1/2" apart with a useable length of 26". For Large-Size Square bales. Designed for use on tractor front loaders. Features an all welded frame, cast steel weld-on [/QUOTE]

Sure sounds like spears to me. Didn't recall seeing a grapple either. Even says they are for square bales! Pictures looked like spears too! Spear that looks like a spear!

Of course in Central Florida appearances may be different???

 

[Soundguy]

Look at the spacing and location of the spears.. they are at the lower portion o fthe box frame.. they 'look' like they would be ideal as forks .. also.. the lowest pic on the link YOU posted has HD 4k# the unit with optional side panels that will handle 2 bales.. etc..

soundguy

 

[Egon]

Kinda short for forks ain't they. Look like spears, fella says they are spears maybe they are spears!

Look at all them upper spears. They don't go in the bale them bottom spears don't go under it. Gotta look at the whole picture or whole design parameters. etc. etc.etc.

 

[Soundguy]

It wouldn't be spearing any compressed alfalfa bales here. Maybee in the great frozen north they have square grass bales that a spear would go into.. IE.. soft like a round bale..but the square alfalfa bales sold here are as hard as plywood.. literally.. Like you could drive a nail into it.. no spears.. just forks for those.

Again.. I'm refering to the 1500# and 700# hard compressed bales sold here in my home state.. if yours are different.. i'm not refering to them.

soundguy