Best sqaure balers?

[jimg]

Honestly Ive never seen an inline baler in NH before. They all seem to be of the offset type that are pulled into line and locked for road transport. Thats why I was surprised and interested. As for HP/weight I hadnt really investigated the specs on the inline and just assumed it was lighter than a comarable offset baler.

I can see where an offset type might be more for a large CUT to handle but it just *seems* that the inline wouldnt. Instead of having a big heavy thrashing thing to the side youd have it directly behind. jimg

 

[dancce]

Another thing to consider with inline balers,is that the tractor must staddle the windrows---the tractor needs enough clearance to prevent dragging and piling up the hay under it--most CUTS are pretty low to the ground.

dancce

 

[yellowsocks93]

I remember looking at the sales literature for our 328 baler and JD tells the advantages of the offset baler. I can't remember them though. In my opinion I would only buy an offset baler because it makes it a lot easier to pick up the windrows. And you can get a hydraulic piviot so you can switch between bailing and roading faster than by doing it manually. Like I have said before we used our JD 1070 (35 PTO) to bail hay and it worked good. We do have a few hills. I feel better on the 5320 since it weighs more and has a cab.

 

[DelawareDale]

For what my opinion is worth I like the New Holland line of Hay equipment. I have always aspired to own one currently I have Massey 124 that doesn't owe me a thing. I don't know how many hundreds of thousand she has baled. I also can't tell you how many she has had to rebale because of a knotter problem that has since been fixed. I'm in the market for a good used NH if any one has a lead. I also have a NH 467 Haybine that is 2 years older than me and a 256 rollabar rake

 

[art]

If you look at the round baling literature from Jd they talk about the lower leaf loss on afalfa and that it takes less moving parts for an inline baler as you only have to feed the chamber from below not from the side. There is one thing people have said from the inlines and that is the end the cut ends are on which is now up and down not on the side. This could be rough on the hands! Tractors have been driving over windrows for years. I do see some interesting devices on lower tractors to help with driving over the windrows.

 

[MFMan]

I found it hard to buy your stance on the offset baler having more capacity than an inline. First off, the inline operates at 100 strokes per minute. Secondly, the hay travels less distance and alos make fewer changes in direction, further improvingf capacity. Also, by changing directions less, the chance of leaf loss is minimized. After all, isn't the protein in haycontained mostly in the leaves and not the stems? As far as under tractor clearance, I would assume most operators will put two 7-9 foot windrows together and that windrow can easily be accomodated by most large chasis compacts and utility tractors. The in-line design, in my opinion, is by far the most efficient method of putting up 14"x18" (or any size) square bales.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The inline design is a good idea, however, Hesston has not done a good enough job of selling it and improving it. If they would continue to put their money into the design then it will take some shares away from JD and NH. But till then they will play the role of an alternative to the big two.

Why don't you fill out your profile? Are you associated with MF/Agco or are you just a fan? MF has and still does make some great tractors (just a little too expensive unless you need the extra gadgets /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) Take care.

 

[higgy]

Well, we have a lot of both offset and inline bailers in this area as we have a large dary indusry. I have used both and both have there place.

I just bought a NH 283 offset, it is a cream puff. The gear box was rebilt the chamber is great, no rust, set for plastic twine and has the optional side tip and hydraulic tension adjustment.

Got it for $1000.00. The 283 is a high capacity (high stroke rate machine). In line or offset, when you can buy great used machines for little $ the argument is moot. Get the best you can for the money. There are a few here that may bail enough to have new or expensive bailers, but I bet most can have great success with good older NH, JD or MF square bailers.

 

[MFMan]

I'm just a fan/owner and just joined the board, so pardon my tardiness in filling out my profile. As far as putting money back into the inline design, what do you propose? As far as shares go, I would agree that NH and JD have a larger presence in the East, but out West (where most of the square balers are sold) Hesston definitely has a strong position. Now MF will offer this same great baler.

With regard to Massey Ferguson tractors (my favorite!), you should check out the newer "V" Series. They utilize the same basis design of the full featured models, but with fewer "gadgets".

Check them out here on MF's new website - http://www.masseyferguson.agcocorp.com//default.cfm?pid=1.7.29

 

[hayman1]

Just found this thread while surfing. We offer a small tractor square hay baler that produces a small square bale, cross section 12.5" x 16.5" and only requires a 13 HP tractor, tho I'm not sure I'd want to use that small a tractor.

It has "Deering type" knotters and adjusts just like a JD or NH.

See it at www.agriquip.com and click on the pic of the square baler for specs.

-Don