JD 3320 and hay baling

[marshallbrew]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a JD 3320 to do some work around the farm. I have 10 acres, and about 7 of it I get hay off of. In the past, a "friend" has been cutting, raking and baling it for me. I'm looking to start doing it on my own. Would the 3320 be able to handle a baler, such as a 24T?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:
I suspect it would handle it ok, but may need some weights if you pull a bale wagon behind the baler.

Staying on top of haying 7 acres will be expensive per bale. But more fun to do it yourself, than having it done by someone else.

 

[marshallbrew]

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm just trying to figure out what's the best baler to purchase for the size of tractor that I have. If anyone has better suggestions, I'm open to them.

Matt

 

[sweettractors]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a JD 3320 to do some work around the farm. I have 10 acres, and about 7 of it I get hay off of. In the past, a "friend" has been cutting, raking and baling it for me. I'm looking to start doing it on my own. Would the 3320 be able to handle a baler, such as a 24T?

Thanks,
Matt

How many HP is that tractor? Ken Sweet

 

[marshallbrew]

It has 32.5 HP.

 

[sweettractors]

You have plenty of HP to pull the 24T baler, Just be careful about going down a hill and letting it push you. Some extra ballast on the tractor would be good. Ken Sweet

 

[Duffster]

I wouldn't bale with that tractor, but it may handle it. I sure the heck wouldn't pull a wagon behind the baler.

 

[zzvyb6]

I've baled with a 22 hp lightweight Yanmar, including pulling a 4 place snowmobile trailer behind the baler which eventually got 200+ hand stacked bales on it. I believe I have a Polaroid of it around here somewhere. And, definitely have a video cassete of it. Just because people wouldn't do it doesn't make it impossible. It just means they can't see it being done safely or quickly (Good, Fast, Cheap: Can only pick 2). I'd say that a heavy mower (like a 9' haybine) can be a problem going down a big hill if you don't have live power to disengage it.

I said I wouldn't do it without air conditioning, a compact refrigerator, a couple of drink holders and the neighbor's daughter in her ****** on the wagon, either, but she forced me.

Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter !

 

[pitt_md]

There is a guy that lives a couple miles from me and he bales with a 35 horse NH Boomer. The baler is a kicker and he is pulling a wagon. His ground is as flat as it can be. That tractor looks so small pulling all that!

 

[dmay]

Would the 3320 be able to handle a baler, such as a 24T?

Hi Matt,

Most recent model small square balers recommend a min of 35 PTO HP. Older models called for 30 PTO HP. Your JD3320 has 25 PTO HP. So you are underpowered if you strictly look at specs. However you only have 7 acres in hay to do. If I was you I'd certainly give it try. I'd suggest you borrow/rent a small baler and test. Really it all depends on the windrow size and ground speed as to whether your tractor will be over stressed. You can control both of these. I'm certain with only 7 acres you could make it work.

Darrell

 

[sweettractors]

I thought he said 32.5 HP? Ken Sweet

 

[dmay]

I thought he said 32.5 HP? Ken Sweet

Hi Ken

He stated Engine HP, not PTO HP. Here are the JD 3320 specs:

Engine HP (kW) - gross 32.8 (24.1) per ISO 97/68/EC
PTO HP (kW) - Gear transmission 25.5 (19.0) per SAE
PTO HP (kW) - Hydrostatic transmission 25.0 (18.6) per SAE

Darrell

 

[sweettractors]

Hi Ken

He stated Engine HP, not PTO HP. Here are the JD 3320 specs:

Engine HP (kW) - gross 32.8 (24.1) per ISO 97/68/EC
PTO HP (kW) - Gear transmission 25.5 (19.0) per SAE
PTO HP (kW) - Hydrostatic transmission 25.0 (18.6) per SAE

Darrell

ON a baler, I always go by engine HP. The flywheel on the baler can probably make a 20-25 HP engine do the job. Dont take much pto hp after you get the baler wound up. Ken Sweet

 

[AKfish]

ON a baler, I always go by engine HP. The flywheel on the baler can probably make a 20-25 HP engine do the job. Dont take much pto hp after you get the baler wound up. Ken Sweet

No mention made of transmission type and/or cab model or open station and if he's got a front-end loader. Reason being - the flywheel and especially the plunger motion will rock the smaller, lighter tractor back and forth pretty good... with potentially long-term consequences for the tranny and drive train. Best is reverser tranny, cab and loader mounted - IMO - more mass to counter the kinetic energy transfer from the baler.

He's on the low end of the pto hp spectrum but if the windrows are light and ground speed slow he should be OK. 'Course will need to dial back the bale tension to keep the bales on the light side - 30-35lbs or so.

When I researched efforts to bale with my ol' JD 970 (33hp and 30hp@pto) zzvyb6 and SPYDERLK were a great help with advice and recommendations.

It can be done with a measure of common sense and patience.

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[dmay]

I can only tell you my experience. I had a Massey 265 (65HP) and baled 80 acres with a Massey 124 small baler. Both 1973 units but in great shape. I agree it doesn't take much to spin up the flywheel. That's easy. Where PTO HP is needed is when you start picking up and packing a heavy windrow. On my Massey 265 I could easily hear and feel the engine change to power the flywheel and keep things spinning. When this happens I'd just reduce ground speed to lesson the burden on all the equipment. I'm guessing a tractor with half the power would have to really watch windrow size and ground speed very closey. But I still think Matt should give it a try and check his own results.

 

[Duffster]

I can only tell you my experience. I had a Massey 265 (65HP) and baled 80 acres with a Massey 124 small baler. Both 1973 units but in great shape. I agree it doesn't take much to spin up the flywheel. That's easy. Where PTO HP is needed is when you start picking up and packing a heavy windrow. On my Massey 265 I could easily hear and feel the engine change to power the flywheel and keep things spinning. When this happens I'd just reduce ground speed to lesson the burden on all the equipment. I'm guessing a tractor with half the power would have to really watch windrow size and ground speed very closey. But I still think Matt should give it a try and check his own results.

Now there is some equipment I know too. :thumbsup:

 

[sweettractors]

No mention made of transmission type and/or cab model or open station and if he's got a front-end loader. Reason being - the flywheel and especially the plunger motion will rock the smaller, lighter tractor back and forth pretty good... with potentially long-term consequences for the tranny and drive train. Best is reverser tranny, cab and loader mounted - IMO - more mass to counter the kinetic energy transfer from the baler.

He's on the low end of the pto hp spectrum but if the windrows are light and ground speed slow he should be OK. 'Course will need to dial back the bale tension to keep the bales on the light side - 30-35lbs or so.

When I researched efforts to bale with my ol' JD 970 (33hp and 30hp@pto) zzvyb6 and SPYDERLK were a great help with advice and recommendations.

It can be done with a measure of common sense and patience.

Best of luck.

AKfish

Like I said in a earlier post, More Ballast would be good, from a cab, loader, weights or tire ballast. Ken Sweet

 

[tessiers]

I bale with a JD 790 pulling a NH 67 baler, I think about the same PTO HP. It does an real good job even on a side hill I bale. I do not haul a bale wagon, but I think it may even handle that on reasonable slopes. I have a front end loader but I drop the bucket for better visability when I bale. I used to use a Farmall H which is even less HP but I like the 2 stage clutch on the JD much better when the windrows are heavy. I think you will be fine, good luck, most of all have fun. My hay has never been so expensive but oh the fun we have (LOL).

 

[marshallbrew]

The area I have to bale is rather flat, so I don't have to worry about hills. My 3320 has the eHydro transmission and 300CX loader and open cabin.

Thanks for all of your advice everyone. I think I'm going to borrow or rent a baler to see how it goes.

Matt

 

[VA Rebel]

Square balers rock any size tractor back forth. You shouldnt have any problem, especially if you are on flat ground like you said.