Bailing hay with a compact

[slowzuki]

I basically find it to be a weight issue, at 2 to one the baler rocks the tractor a good amount, at 3 to one the baler doesn't seem to even be back there.

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( No bypass.. and probably not worth the effort to take it off. I crank the thrower setting to the lowest speed.. and just let'em fly. The good ones stay tied.
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Wouldn't it be funny if someone tried to catch /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif those flying bales in a FEL? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The D-17 is a 46pto hp machine and weighed over 4600 pounds.

 

[MikePA]

With compact tractors the issue is not how much horsepower the tractor has, it's the weight of the tractor. Depending upon the type of ground (hilly or flat) you have, you can get into a 'tail wagging the dog' situation. And, as others have said, whether you are also trying to pull a wagon.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

A quick thought on the centerline baler.... I demo-ed one last summer. (Hesston) I liked the basic concept of a centerline baler. 2 problems immediately came to the forefront. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I bale mostly with one of my pair of JD 2440s. (60 HP, 16.9X30"s, basically, a BIG utility tractor.) Most of the newer generation of centerline balers are "high volume" balers. You need big winrows, and you need to keep your speed up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The big winrows are a problem with utility tractors. I ended up pulling it with my 4440 (20.8X38"s About 8" more clearance underneath...And still not enough) /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

And due to the fact that the baler is BIGGER, and high volume, it took a fair amount of power, as compared to my Deere 336 baler. 60 HP was just barely enough. The 2440 struggled with it in heavy hay crop. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The 4440 didn't even know it was back there! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif (It's 130 "stock" HP is now about 160!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif)

I also own a Vermeer 5400 Rebel round baler. I use it with the 2440's mostely. I run into the winrow "problem" with that set-up too at times. With a big crop, and a double wing rake, I end up dragging a lot of hay around under the tractor. That might rear it's ugly head when baling with a compact tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[RickB]

Ever try fastening a short length of wide belting in front of the drawbar support to keep hay from snagging it? Works very well for many of my customers. Just fasten it in front and let it hang.

 

[OrangeGuy]

Allis Chalmers D17 was/is 55 HP and weighs 4500 to 5500 lbs depending how it was weighted (fluid in rear tires,etc). That said it would handle a small square baler quite well on fairly level land. Add a bale thrower and some hills and it rapidly became undersized.

OrangeGuy

 

[kensfarm]

"Wouldn't it be funny if someone tried to catch those flying bales in a FEL?"

I know some young farmers who hay.. they put a guy in the back of the towed hay wagon to stack the bales as they shoot into the wagon so it will hold more bales.

 

[sab5948]

> With compact tractors the issue is not how much horsepower the tractor has, it's the weight of the tractor.

Isn't there a minimum HP requirement? I've been debating trying to use my JD4410 for baling, but I was under the impression that there were several issues: 1 weight, 2. too little HP, and 3. compact tractor components aren't as heavy duty as those used in full size ag tractors. What does everyone here think?

-Scott

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If I was going to try with a compact I would have one of the largest compacts they have. Even then I would not like it. If you really want to try it, try to find someone in your area with a small baler and ask him if he would allow you to try baling hay for him to see how your machine would handle it. I know there are a lot of farmers around here that use small JD and NH balers still but they also have a lot of old equipment also and I am sure they would enjoy having someone else there to help them for a few hours or a day.

What I know is that if I wanted to bale hay and needed to buy equipment I would look for something along the lines of at least a NH TL100A. Even the TN and JD 5020's are on the small side for some of these newer balers. They can do the job though but I would not want to try it with anything less then them.