Hay Bale Stacker

Mike120 · Oct 20, 2007

Well, I think I got mine solved. I mentioned my problem at the feed store and got put in touch with a guy about 100 miles away that has a NH stacker wagon. He's got a Bale Band-it and doesn't need it any more. I'm going to go look at it next week as it's supposed to be in excellent condition. It's not a perfect solution but it gets them out of the field and next to the hay shed. Even the human stackers can deal with that. I'm starting to look forward to next year, I'm getting way too old to fight bales.

Grrrr · Oct 21, 2007

flusher said:
Thanks for the input. Points well taken.

However, my haying is strictly a one-man operation.

Don't want to schlep bales by hand myself. There has to be a better way that doesn't cost a fortune in equipment.

Don't want to get into CA workers compensation issues by hiring help.

Don't want to have to increase the liability insurance I carry now by hiring help or having neighbors participate.

Time is not really an issue (I'm retired) unless weather conditions cause a hurry-up situation during the hay harvest. Hope to be able to avoid this problem.

And, finally, I enjoy the challenge to figure out how to get my hay stacked using my existing equipment and a (hopefully) relatively inexpensive additional implement for stacking, like a miniature hay squeeze.

Something like a Hay Buddy might work

HAY BUDDY - Home

That Hay Buddy loooks a lot like something that was used a lot in the UK before acumulators, a bale slave.

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:dQb-tHcn8VgOzM:http://www.greenheyes.com/images/baleslave01.jpg

To use it you just bale the field as normal, then walk around and put the bales in stacks of six. Then you use something like what is in the picture to place them on the trailer and then you can use it to take them off again.

There very simple and work surprisingly well. I could get you more photos if you needed it. I think we still have one somewhere

The other thing you could make is a double spike to go on your loader

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:8l0KRg37CXL_kM:http://www.kenttractors.com/Album%25201/Bale%2520spike.JPG

It would be easier than a grab and faster to use. Just stab the bale and put it on the trailer. How all hay and straw that is not wrapped is usually moved.

Does your MF135 have multipower? Makes it a great baling tractor as you can speed up and slow down without clutching depending on the weight of the hay.

(The images don't seem to want to showup, it might be because they are from Google?)

Renze · Oct 21, 2007

Hmmm... I was checking back to see if you guys found the movie i posted yesterday, just as amusing as i did... But it seems the post failed.

Here again: a JF bale thrower. Super simple, easy to make your own, and very amusing to see in action

YouTube - Bale Thrower

The comments, loosely translated from German, says:
"This machine isnt widely known, however makes a great help on our farm. It's suited for use on slopes and requires minimal HP. It just requires careful operation"

First time i saw this, i thought it was photoshopped !!

tallyho8 · Oct 21, 2007

Yesterday I bought 100 bales of hay and my seller had a hay bale stacker for the first time. His hay was on a large flatbed trailer and he was able to easily move 100 bales from his trailer to mine without us touching the hay. Sure made it easier for me.

Rara Avis · Oct 24, 2007

Mike120 said:
Well, I think I got mine solved. I mentioned my problem at the feed store and got put in touch with a guy about 100 miles away that has a NH stacker wagon. He's got a Bale Band-it and doesn't need it any more. I'm going to go look at it next week as it's supposed to be in excellent condition. It's not a perfect solution but it gets them out of the field and next to the hay shed. Even the human stackers can deal with that. I'm starting to look forward to next year, I'm getting way too old to fight bales.

I've heard there have been some initial teething problems with the Bale Band-it...How many bales has this guy run thru it???

If it worked...that and a JD Telehandler would solve my problems...

flusher · Oct 24, 2007

Grrrr said:
That Hay Buddy loooks a lot like something that was used a lot in the UK before acumulators, a bale slave.

Does your MF135 have multipower? Makes it a great baling tractor as you can speed up and slow down without clutching depending on the weight of the hay.

(The images don't seem to want to showup, it might be because they are from Google?)

Yes, it has multipower.

Re: hay spears-point well taken.

But there's no challenge in buying a hay spear. Much more fun to design and build a home-brew hay clamp.

Mike120 · Oct 25, 2007

PaulChristenson said:
I've heard there have been some initial teething problems with the Bale Band-it...How many bales has this guy run thru it???

If it worked...that and a JD Telehandler would solve my problems...

Paul,

He bought it last year and has probably run about 6-7,000 bales through it. He's had some problems with it but figures he can get it all fixed this winter. It does make nice packages. He supplies a number of feed stores so it has really cut down on his handling effort.

I'm going up to look at the stacker wagon next week (before he changes his mind). I'll ask him about specific problems with the Bale Band-it and let you know.

slowzuki · Oct 25, 2007

The J-F thrower is painfully slow to watch! How would you ever get your fields cleaned up before rain?

Renze · Oct 25, 2007

Slowzuki, it may appear that it isnt quicker than manual labor, but have you ever loaded 500 bales with pitchforks ? Then after the first 100 bales, this thrower is definately quicker