Can I cut & bale hay with a TC45DA?

Soundguy · Oct 26, 2004

( plan on spending 15 to 20 hours each mowing cycle. If you want seat time, you'll be thrilled. )

Wow.. that'd be a major incentive into finding a larger tractor / mower. Perhaps an old ford 8000 or case 1xxx series and a 15' mower lod and cheap... then as a side use.. one of those oldies could easilly run a bailer or moco...

Soundguy

Wannafish · Oct 26, 2004

"Hobby hay vs comercial hay will also make a difference."

"Hobby hay"...I think Soundguy just coined a new phrase!

With all the talk that goes on about haying that would help define "real" haying - for dollars to pay the bills -vs- "hobby" haying - for fun and profit (yeah, right! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

I am in the hobby for fun and profit /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gifcategory.
Let's see now...
$7500 1967 4020 John Deere Tractor
$1500 24T J.D. Baler with Kicker
$ 800 2 wagons
$3500 International Round Baler (cause I had more hay and less help than I thought /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)
$1000 8 wheeled V-rake
$ 350 Ford 501 sickle bar mower (wanted to start out cheap, um, I mean inexpensively)
$2500 New Holland 12' hay-bine (cause cheap don't cut it - pun intended).

Equipment Cost: $17,150
Misc. Cost:...........2,750 (including twine, fuel, oil, hyd. fluid, grease, filters, repairs, paying for help, and the cost of all the beer... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif)
Total Expense $19,900

Income
$4000 = 2000 square bales @ $2.00 each
$0000 = 650 sq. bales that got rained on, and rained on, and rained on.
$4500 = 300 round bales @ $15.00 each

Total Income $8500 - $2750 Misc. cost = $5750
Breakeven should be ~ 5 years considering the loss of income I could have made on my $17K investment.
Of course then there is depreciation on my equipment, maintenance, replacements, and of course all the experience I get...'cause that's all I get. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kind of costly but it sure beats sittin' in the house and watchin' the boob tube!

Phred · Oct 26, 2004

Sounds like the other guys have talked some sense in to you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif....

But, for others that might be reading I would like to add that I agree with Robert. A TN is the minimum IMHO, particularly if you have "hilly ground", and a TL is ideal.
Maybe the reason why will become clear if you look at a typical round baler spec sheet:
http://www.vermeerag.com/dimform.html?LINKID=1038

You need a minium of 40 hp, and the TC45DA is just under 38.
In addition, I own this baler and I would say that 40 hp assumes ideal conditions. Hilly ground or very thick hay and you will have a problem.
The gear version of the TC45 would be a little better but still not good enough.
Weight is another issue. The TN is at least 1000 lbs heavier, and keep in mind that the baler will be 4000 lbs empty plus another 1000 lbs of hay for a full bale. So the baler will out weight the tractor in some cases. Not good.
One time I tried to pull my rebel with a SUV. Bad idea, even though the SUV was rated to 5000 lbs, the single axel of the baler puts a lot of tongue weight on the tow vehicle. I now use a full size pickup.

The cutting and raking are a different story, the 45 would be fine for these tasks provide you pick a small mower. Just about any rake would be ok, since this is the least demanding of the hay tasks.

Fred

kensfarm · Oct 27, 2004

"$0000 = 650 sq. bales that got rained on, and rained on, and rained on."

Some hay farmers sell the bad stuff as mulch hay.. construction companies & such use it for errosion control, etc.

MarkR · Oct 28, 2004

Another thanks for all the help. A little more backround. I got rid of my 6` King Kutter and bought a 6` land pride(rotary cutters). I have been using an old,1978 or so,International 250A loader. I dont know how much H.P. it has, but it has been plenty for mowing and 7' snowblower with dual augers. I bought it at a state auction a few year back to do my 1/2 mile long driveway at my old place in the winter. It has a heated cab and a HUGE non-detach bucket. The hydro trans is getting weak.It was not built to mow hills. I think the state used it for loading dumptrucks with salt. The pto was not used before I got it.
After getting it stuck a few times at my new place, I decided I need a 4WD.
My new question:
There is an auction coming up on Sat. listing a NH 2120 MFWD with cab,loader w/quicktatch,pallet forks,2 way 7 ? plow. I have read a lot of good things about these on this site. I dont know the year, hours, or trans.
When did NH start building the 2120? What would be a good price if it has decent hours? Actually, What are decent hours?

Sorry for the long post. Saturday is coming up fast.I had decided to buy new for the warranty and 0% 48mo. financing, but a lot of you guys seem to like the 2120. We are in the excavation procces of a 60X216 horse barn and arena and I dont think there will be much $ left when were done.

Thanks again to all!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DocHeb · Oct 28, 2004

( There is an auction coming up on Sat. listing a NH 2120 MFWD with cab,loader w/quicktatch,pallet forks,2 way 7 ? plow. I have read a lot of good things about these on this site. I dont know the year, hours, or trans.
When did NH start building the 2120? What would be a good price if it has decent hours? Actually, What are decent hours? )

You will have better results starting a new thread in the New Holland Buying Forum. This is too far off topic for this thread to get sufficient exposure.

Soundguy · Oct 29, 2004

Yep... start a new thread... a NH 2120 is an awesome machine.. somewhere int he tc 40/45 range.

Hours for diesels that have been taken care of can easilly range in the single digit high thousands before needing overhaul. Use, and care will dictate how the hours should be considered. For instance.. -0- maintenance on a machine used in a dusty dirty salt mine for 600 hours may be a junkered in a few years while a 2000 hour machine that was barn kept and serviced but mowed it's whole life may be a cherry.

Soundguy

Tryno · Oct 31, 2004

Like others have said, haying takes time, lots of work, and lots of knowledge. Start checking early for custom balers in your area. Some will work on shares.

zipp669 · Oct 31, 2004

( "$0000 = 650 sq. bales that got rained on, and rained on, and rained on."

Some hay farmers sell the bad stuff as mulch hay.. construction companies & such use it for errosion control, etc. )

If it got rained on in the bales and they were wet, I wont use them. Too wet to go thru the machine. Most State Spec Books call for dry cereal straw & wet does not work although I have run across some wet bales, they again wont go thru the machine.
We have used some wet hay that was wet befor it was baled and worked ok but again spec book call for cereal straw, oat, wheat or rye and sometimes switchgrass bales.

zipp

Soundguy · Nov 1, 2004

Wet bales can be used to set op top of drainage grates to hold down filter fabric during job prep. We do it all the time down here in 'sunny/rainy' florida.

Soundguy