Hesston RB5400 Rounder

tessiers · Nov 13, 2013

Let me start by saying I am small time, 2000 squares a year. Tight Budget, mostly feeding my own animals, try to sell enough to cover fuel, twine, etc. I tried hiring custom round baling but it is cost prohibitive, so I suck it up and do all squares and work a little harder. I run all old equipment that I can work on and tinker with, as much for a hobby as necessity. Pretty much gave up on finding a round baler I could afford under 3K, I just found a Hesston RB5400 Rounder for $400, looks to be able to bale with it. It seams extremely simple to work on. I found a report on baler testing and it sounds OK for my application (http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng3050/$FILE/97.pdf). I bought it and I am going to try her out next season. Anyone use one or know anything about them? Wondering what to look for problems, any tips or tricks, or advice.

Thanks!

merlynr · Nov 14, 2013

I have two friends with 5500's and they seem ok although the one had to put new bearings in the gearbox under the twine box. I know he let it run low on oil because of a small leak in front seal. Makes ok 5x5 bales. electric twine wrap,but you have to manually run it from switch on the tractor that reverses the polarity on the motor to make the arm go both ways.

rdbigfarmboy · Nov 16, 2013

Ive wanted a 5400.
It rolls the hay on the ground.
Check to see what new belts with the little hay grabber things on them cost.
Most of the older models any brand are only worth 400 to maby 800 if they work.

tessiers · Nov 17, 2013

The belts on it look serviceable to me, it has an extra belt as well along with a bucket of extra teeth, also came with owners and parts manuals. Looks so simple its kind of interesting to me. Very few moving parts and most of those are easy to get to and basic parts. Turns freely by hand, biggest problem I have seen is hydraulic couplers were laying in the dirt and are ruined, wont fit my remotes anyways.

merlynr · Nov 17, 2013

tessiers said:
The belts on it look serviceable to me, it has an extra belt as well along with a bucket of extra teeth, also came with owners and parts manuals. Looks so simple its kind of interesting to me. Very few moving parts and most of those are easy to get to and basic parts. Turns freely by hand, biggest problem I have seen is hydraulic couplers were laying in the dirt and are ruined, wont fit my remotes anyways.

Sorry about my response as I didn't know the 5400 was that style of brb.

tessiers · Nov 17, 2013

merlynr said:
Sorry about my response as I didn't know the 5400 was that style of brb.

Don't be sorry, not many people are familiar with this style, I didn't even know they existed until 10 minutes before I bought it. The two models are the same vintage and share some things. The twine mechanism is similar as far as the reverse polarity switch is concerned. I plan to get it working and pass along my experience and hope others can benefit from my experience, good or bad. I am surprised at the lack of knowledge about them, must not have made too many of them.