I have a Ford 2000 (31 PTO hp) without external hydraulics. I have a 7 acre pasture I'd like to make square bales from. Can I get equipment that does not require hydraulic connection from my tractor? If so, what brand(s), and where should I look? I live in Alabama.
Are external hydraulics necessary for hay baling?
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rambler
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Most mower/conditioners need a hyd. You would need to cut with a simpler sickle mower, like the 501 or 451 Ford models that are 3pt.
A simple side rake will work fine for making and turning windrows.
Most older balers to fit that tractor don't need hyd.
So, your big issue will be cutting the hay. Certainly easy to do 7 acres with a sickle mower, but takes a little longer to dry out without a crimper of some sort. Several of the drum or disc mowers don't need hyd, but most of them do.
It is not too hard to put a hyd remote on a Ford either, just bolt on a platte under the seat and run the 2 hoses to the back, costs a little but makes the tractor more valuable and useful. It would be a little small of a tractor for a full size more conditioner tho....
--->Paul
--->Paul
A simple side rake will work fine for making and turning windrows.
Most older balers to fit that tractor don't need hyd.
So, your big issue will be cutting the hay. Certainly easy to do 7 acres with a sickle mower, but takes a little longer to dry out without a crimper of some sort. Several of the drum or disc mowers don't need hyd, but most of them do.
It is not too hard to put a hyd remote on a Ford either, just bolt on a platte under the seat and run the 2 hoses to the back, costs a little but makes the tractor more valuable and useful. It would be a little small of a tractor for a full size more conditioner tho....
--->Paul
--->Paul
If you are a bit clever and handy, you can make a 'master/slave' cylinder combo using your 3pt lift links. This could give you header height control on a mower conditioner. THe links pull up on a cylinder rod which passes the fluid to the cylinder on the mower.
You need to keep things out of the way of the pto shaft, though....
You need to keep things out of the way of the pto shaft, though....
flusher
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My Massey Ferguson 124 baler (small squares, two-twine) doesn't need hydraulics normally. However, the previous owner installed an hydraulic ram (cylinder) to raise and lower the pickup from the tractor seat.
Villengineer
Gold Member
As stated before you can get sickle bar mowers that don't require aux hyd functions. Same with rakes, tedders, and balers. For only 7 acres I would be looking for small 3 point versions of the rake and tedder. The one thing I don't know is how easy it will be to find a baler small enough to work safely with that small a tractor. We always used 70hp+ tractors on the baler. Also, does the 2000 have live pto? I've never operated a baler w/out live or independent pto. Not sure how that would work.
sweettractors
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We have the mower, rake and square baler that would do the hay with no problems. We can make you a package deal on all 3 pieces delivered, if you are not too many states away from Ky? Ken Sweet
Briana03
Elite Member
I moved your thread to the new Haying forum!