Bale Spear v Bale Carrier

[Slippy]

Looking for a 3pt set up to move round bales. TSC has bale spears and bale carrier. The carrier has two arms at the sides and the bale is carried by the arms rather than spearing it. Anyone had any experience using and comparing?

 

[tkcomer]

Get the spears. The arm type will dig in the ground and the bale is not as secure on it. Plus, the spear can handle any size bale. My uncle had the arm type years ago where we had the spear. It didn’t take long for him to ditch it. If these are 1400 pound bales or larger, and your tractor is 50 horse or less, you may need weights in the front. If you have enough tractor, you can get a scissors type and set the bale on a wagon.

 

[Slippy]

Thanks. Will put a bucket spear on front and have 60hp tractor. Thought the carrier looked nice becasue could double as pallet forks.

 

[gabby]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks. Thought the carrier looked nice becasue could double as pallet forks. )</font>

The best setup is double spears set up like pallet forks. You can spear the hay with both forks and you can lift pallets too. Be sure the spear forks are close enough together to fit inside a regular pallet. Most 3ph pallet forks are way too wide for this.
gabby

 

[poorboy]

At least for smaller bales get the carrier. We use both and a spear for the loader. The problem we have on the 3 pt. spear is that if it is a tightly wound roll and the angle is wrong it will tip the bale over instead of penetrating. The the pallet forks types we just scoop them up. We also used to use them to push and lift things before we had a loader. The spear works alright on hay later in the winter after it has loosened up a bit and it will allow you to raise it a little higher. If I had to choose one I would go with the carrier.

Poorboy

 

[FL_Cracker]

Depending on how much hay you will be moving could change my openion. I use a fork lift attachment on my FEL and it does a great job. Hold the bale very secure and with the forks set right you can slide it under the hay without touching the ground.

In my situation I'm moving 1-3 bales at a time and then no more for several months so it's not worth have a spear when forks to a good job.

 

[Luremaker]

I really like my home made 3ph spear. I am using it all the time. I can move round bales and pallets with ease. I have never had a problem spearing a bale or picking up a pallet.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The problem we have on the 3 pt. spear is that if it is a tightly wound roll and the angle is wrong it will tip the bale over instead of penetrating )</font>

Ditto.. got to hit it just right. i went round and round with that. i finally started putting my bales up against trees or fence.. or barn to keep them in place whie i -tried- to spear them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[hudr]

I assume since you are getting it at TSC you are looking at a 3PT bale spear and not an FEL attachment. We have both in 3PT and it really doesn't make much difference to me(Although I guess I lean toward the spear). I do like the carrier for my FEL since I can move pallets with it. I don't like to move pallets with the 3PT since as you pick it up, it tilts towards the tractor (unless you have a hyd top link). Normally I use the spear on the 3pt and the scoop goes on Dad's old 2cyl JD.

 

[dixiedrifter]

Definately go with the spear.

There is usually a brace on the bottom of the main spear.

If it doesn't have very much angle to it, increase the angle with a cutting torch.

Then take an angle grinder to it and sharpen it, it will make the bales much easier to "stick".

In fact, I have to be careful when I hook it on, lest I slice my hand wide open.

 

[jinman]

I have both a 3ph spear and forks. I think I actually like the forks better on the 3ph, but I have an adapter for my FEL that lets me put 3ph implements onto the quick-attach. This last weekend, we had 10 big round bales delivered on a flatbed trailer. I groaned when the truck came into sight and I realized the hay was stacked in two rows of four and two bales on top. That put the center of the top bales almost 9' from the ground.

I was sure I couldn't unload those top bales with my NH TC45, but with the spear on the FEL, I was able to lift those bales and carefully lower them to within a foot of the ground for transfer to the hay stack. I even was able to reach across the trailer to the second row of bales and lift them with ease.

If you can get a set of forks for your 3PH and a spear for your FEL, I think you will have the very best setup for any situation of handling round bales with your tractor.

 

[Charolais]

Been working with round bales since 86. Tried a bunch of different kinds of spears. With tight rolls fresh baled I had lots of problem spearing the hay in the field. The last spears I bought were forged tapered spears. They are worth every penny too. It's now very rare to not spear the bale the first time. I wouldn't use anything else now. Saves me from a lot of cussing. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Slippy]

Just did a count, I have about 800 round bales to move. Will have to move them to different staging areas then onto trailer. I did pick up the HD 3pt bale spear at TSC and the bucket spear as well. I don't have a QA on front end and my guess is that it's about 800 bucks to change everything over and get spear. The bucket spear was $168.00. Problem is I'm not real keen on the way it goes on. I have to take my tooth bar off, then put the spear on, and drill a hole through my bucket to secure it to bucket. Seems like a lot of pressure at that point. Some of the bales are kinda broken down and I can see where the carrier would be a big advantage for moving those. By the way, what does a 1000 lb bale sell for?

 

[Charolais]

I've seen buckets collapse with the bucket spears. Those were the types that use chains on the top of the bucket. If you have to move over any rough ground just slow down so the loader doesn't start that bouncing motion.

Hay is dirt cheap in my area. Can't hardly give it away now. So I have no idea what hay would be selling for in your area.

 

[Soundguy]

35$-50$ for barn stored coastal here in florida.

Soundguy