Best hay baler for an 8N

[rankrank1]

...The only worse thing I can think of someone doing with an 8n is putting a front loader on one... You may love your 8n now, but you will loose some of that love if you put it on a baler or a loader.

Well, I both agree and yet disagree with you. I actually hate the non-live hydraulics of an 8N more than I hate the non-live PTO. Luckliy, the non-live hydraulics does not come into play with either a baler or a loader (assuming it has a live front mounted pump for the loader).

Back a few years ago I always felt 8N's were very overpriced - you could get a Ford 2000 or 3000 for similar money so I did not see the value back then. However, since the economy collapse 8N's have drastically fallen in price and can sometimes be found for cheap and for a cheap price they are better than nothing and a good value at a cheap price. If my choice is no tractor and obviously no loader as compared to an 8N with a loader then sign me up. For occasional use they are actually not too bad - assuming loader is powered with live front pump and is of modern step-thru design (i.e. not the old cage trip bucket Dearborn loader). Dad had one when I was a kid in the early 1980's and really all we used it for was as a loader tractor. Certainly did not use it every day or use it hard but it was handy when we did use it and unfortunately it was only the old crappy caged dearborn loader.

As a baler tractor: While admittingly not the ideal choice, The 8n will be very limited, but it can be made to work with proper baler selection, and very careful raking and careful planning ahead - especially considering we are only talking a few acres. If you want to daydream while raking or daydream while baling with an 8N then forget even attempting it as it will not work well at all.

FWIW: All New Holland balers of the vintage from my earlier list will have an over-running clutch built into the baler. That said, I would still put one on the tractor too.

Here are a couple of videos of possible interest - neither video is mine. One is an 8N - I would not recommend pulling a wagon but it seems to be working at least on flat ground. The other is a Jubilee and a NH 66 and yes I know a Jube has about 6 more hp but still no live PTO and the same fast 1st gear just like the 8N so there is at least some indirect comparison.

http://www.the-farm.lone-wolfs-den.com/video/NH66.mpg

YouTube - Baling Hay with the 1950 Ford 8N & NH Hayliner 68 Baler

 

[pavol]

Hi, I'm new here on the forum. I live in Slovakia in Europe. I do not know English very well, so I'm sorry. This year in August, virtually in the season I bought a New Holland 68 baler. He was in very bad condition. Was not timed. Knotters did not work. I got to him he made before I put it together. Previous owner presses really understand. Bill Hook. was the sisal twine and he used plastic twine. At a press spring hay missing dog. Knife frame was completely bent. Knotters I rebuilt the plastic twine. I used parts rasspe. Press has a new clutch plates. I still need to make wooden gliders on the plunger and set it in the compression chamber. I need to deal with the placement of the fingers cross inserter. What is the distance from the first finger gripping the pin? It was set incorrectly, because the press did Packages C. I set it by eye. Now press works great and already I am looking forward to next season. Here you have some photos after the correction press.