Need to get a bale spear

PROFarms · Nov 16, 2015

Hi guys. So the time if year is coming when we will need to start putting out bales for the animals. This year is the first year we have had rounds done so I done actually have a bale spear to move them from the stack our contractor made out to the feed pens.
Having had an initial look it looks like it's going to be cheaper to make one myself - as most things seem to be!! Anyway I've been looking at buying one of the spikes to put on it and there seems to be so many different sized ones from 800mm up to 1500mm. We will e moving mostly 4' bales but one or two 5' bales. What sized spike would be best? Would about 1000mm be ok or could I get away with 800mm?

japody · Nov 16, 2015

I have a 42 inch (1067mm) on my 3 point hay spear. Works fine on 5' rolls. Same on the spear on the FEL.

Paul N · Nov 16, 2015

The most common length around here is 48" plus or minus 2. Doing the math, 48" = 1219 mm. I wouldn't even consider the 800mm spear.

Farmer495 · Nov 16, 2015

Bought a brand new 3pt spear (42" plus 2 anti rotatation tines) for less than $300 new a few years back.

Could have bought the spear for $120 and built the rest...but doubt I could have done it as nice and as cheap....

Wagtail · Nov 16, 2015

When working with rounds it's better to have at least two (2) spears. It doesn't matter if they're FEL or 3PH mounted, two will give you more control of the round & prevent them rotating when picking them up and moving them.

PROfarms, you mentioned that your rounds have been stacked. Are you going to be using a FEL to move them?

drizler · Nov 16, 2015

We got a 4' one, no name special , probably speaks Chinese with SSQD last year from local farm dealer $500. How we managed to roll those damned things prior I have to just wonder. I was going to make one but figured up it would be a major PITA and not save all that much in the end. The only thing it lacks is that the spear is part of it being all one piece. I can live with that because I can weld. I did make a crude 3 pointer up years back and the rod bent all too easily. By the time you get one buying the spear it's hardly worth making up the whole rig as long as you can find one for a decent price.

Wagtail · Nov 17, 2015

drizler said:
We got a 4' one, no name special , probably speaks Chinese with SSQD last year from local farm dealer $500. How we managed to roll those damned things prior I have to just wonder. I was going to make one but figured up it would be a major PITA and not save all that much in the end. The only thing it lacks is that the spear is part of it being all one piece. I can live with that because I can weld. I did make a crude 3 pointer up years back and the rod bent all too easily. By the time you get one buying the spear it's hardly worth making up the whole rig as long as you can find one for a decent price.

WOW. Personally I wouldn't get a spear that wasn't bolted on.

Not for the weight of the rounds but for those stupid decisions of "It's too much trouble to put the forks on... I'll use the spears. What could go wrong?" :duh:

Disclaimer: Didn't happen to me but to a friend, however it was a lesson learnt.

PROFarms · Nov 17, 2015

Wagtail said:
When working with rounds it's better to have at least two (2) spears. It doesn't matter if they're FEL or 3PH mounted, two will give you more control of the round & prevent them rotating when picking them up and moving them. PROfarms, you mentioned that your rounds have been stacked. Are you going to be using a FEL to move them?

Yes I will be using a FEL to move them. Contractor stacked them back in the summer for me though

PROFarms · Nov 17, 2015

Farmer495 said:
Bought a brand new 3pt spear (42" plus 2 anti rotatation tines) for less than $300 new a few years back. Could have bought the spear for $120 and built the rest...but doubt I could have done it as nice and as cheap....

I can get a 42" spear with all the fittings then a 24" anti rotation tine with the fittings. Can get the two of them together for $68 plus a few $$ on the metal. Probably have to make one in the end because we have custom loader brackets so would need to adapt anyway!!
Otherwise I could buy one with no anti rotation spear for $275

Farmer495 · Nov 17, 2015

If for loader, get a chain on spear. No messing with brackets and if you are only moving a few bales, it will work great. I moved many bales over the years with one. Not as nice as a true quick connect but no tools needed to mount and on and off in a minute,