In-line small square balers

[Wildcat Ranch]

I have been looking at the small in-line balers made by Hesston, Massey Ferguson and Challenger. Has anyone ran one of these?
In my area, most people are running JD and NH. I seen mostly Hesston and Challenger if they are doing the 3x3's or 3x4's.

We run a JD 468 which, is a 16x18 but we are only packing them at 55lb. We sell mostly to horse owners. Maybe switch to a 14x18 and keep them at 55lb? I can fit more 14x16's on my bale wagon and they also stack better. I would like everybody's $.02!

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The one advantage I see with an inline baler is it is easier to stay on the windrow. You just drive over it. I have never operated one so this is all from reading and thinking and is just my thoughts so take them however you want.

From what I read the strings are on the jagged edges of the bale so if you handle the bales you will get jabbed more often. Some customers do not care for this.

Also, you do not see the bales as easily like you would a NH or Deere baler. The bales are directly behind you and you do not see them until the next pass where as the NH and Deere balers you can easily see each bale as it comes off. If there is a problem with the baler you see it immediately and easily.

Also, you do not drive over the hay (kind of goes against the advantage but stay with me here), by not driving over the hay you do not have any hay getting caught up on the tractor, hitch and possibly the PTO (if you have a heavy windrow), also, you are limited on how big a windrow you can bale as your baling tractor has to be able clear the windrow and a smaller tractor like the TN does not have as much clearance.

 

[zzvyb6]

You can run an offset baler inline if you adapt the pto to constant velocity, convert to hydraulic drive (drive by hose [DBH] ) or use a separate power system. Old JDs can with a pony engine. About 16hp as I recall. You will still run throught the windrow, which can be a problem if you double or triple rake.

A cv joint can be made from a FWD car driveshaft or pretty much close to one can be made from two standard yokes.

Almost inline ! More easy to get someone to run the system who can't backup a train of tractor, baler and wagon.

 

[mark.r]

I never thought much about his until looking at the MF/Hesston PDF from their site. What about the advantage/disadvantage as far as road transport go. Wouldn't an inline be easier/more accomodating to driving to and from you baling site and then back to your homebase? Especially if you have to pull a kicker or a accumulator.

 

[Wildcat Ranch]

I didn't think about clearing the windrow. They are sometimes above the axle on the JD 5425 that we use. I was also looking at the road travel. Seems like they would trail real well. Would be nice not have to worry about mail boxes, or cars for that matter.
Just to triple check, we shouldn't have a problem making 55lb 14x18x41" hay bales right?

Dan

 

[mark.r]

Transport is my main concern as well. I can see where combining two windrows could be an issue. I could also see myself not doing that because my tractor is a lower horspower unit so perhaps windrow height would not be such an issue. I would absolutely love to find a good condition used MF1835 baler.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Yes, you can easily make a 55 pound 14x18 bale.

As for road transport, a inline baler will be easier to transport. I do not worry about that as much as I am use to hauling the discbine around which is the same width (close to it I should say) as my baler.

 

[jimg]

I rather like the inline design. Clearing the windrow is an issue which you also have when round baling and that can be controlled during raking. Moving the inlines along the road is far easier than an offset. Also hauling them doesnt require an over size permit. The problem of not seeing your bales until well after the fact can be significant. However, if you look at the big picture I think inlines look better than offsets.

 

[mark.r]

Moving the inlines along the road is far easier than an offset. Also hauling them doesnt require an over size permit.

I did not think of this but this is a good point. One that is potentially very important to me if ai ever want to haul to my grandparents property in Tidewater VA.

Using a NH565 vs. a MF1835 for comparison on a typical 102" wide gooseneck trailer . . .

The NH565 is 108" wide I am assuming from the outside of each wheel to each wheel.

The MF1835 is 93" wide again assuming from wheel to wheel.

That is a fairly significant difference . . . one I could live with having to deal with the other disadvantages of working with an inline baler.

 

[jimg]

Well, it never dawned on me either until I started looking for a sq baler out of my 'tow it home' area. Mine (NH326) is coming from E NC and even w/ the oversize permit will need a wheel removed for transport. How much an oversize permit costs I dont know but I have the impression its not inexpensive.

 

[mark.r]

Well, it never dawned on me either until I started looking for a sq baler out of my 'tow it home' area. Mine (NH326) is coming from E NC and even w/ the oversize permit will need a wheel removed for transport. How much an oversize permit costs I dont know but I have the impression its not inexpensive.

Yeah, that sucks. Money and availability is obviously going to be the deciding factor for me . . . keeping in mind I am still 18 - 24months off from purchasing, but I would like find a MF1835 for my baler. There is only one listed on tractorhouse and it is a 9k for a 2006 model.

 

[jimg]

Mark
Youd have a bigger selection if you also looked at the Hesston 4500 and 4600 series + the Case 8500 series. It seems like there might be another brand that has inlines but I cant recall it right off. Bottom line is all are really Hesston design and mfg.

I almost bought a Hesston 4570 locally which was an outstanding find for $5500. In fact just finding one locally was noteworthy in itself. The knotters needed to be rebuilt and I asked to see the machine run so the salesman put in the shop ticket to have the work done. When I called back at the appted time to see it run he told me another salesman already sold it. Oh well...

ETA: The 9K price seems pretty reasonable considering what these cost new.

 

[mark.r]

Mark
Youd have a bigger selection if you also looked at the Hesston 4500 and 4600 series + the Case 8500 series. It seems like there might be another brand that has inlines but I cant recall it right off. Bottom line is all are really Hesston design and mfg.

I almost bought a Hesston 4570 locally which was an outstanding find for $5500. In fact just finding one locally was noteworthy in itself. The knotters needed to be rebuilt and I asked to see the machine run so the salesman put in the shop ticket to have the work done. When I called back at the appted time to see it run he told me another salesman already sold it. Oh well...

ETA: The 9K price seems pretty reasonable considering what these cost new.

That is a good call Jim, in fact I looked on Tractorhouse last night at the Hesstons and there were a lot more to choose from than the MF's. I don't know a lot about them in terms of model numbers and what the horsepower ratings are so I didn't spend alot of time browsing. There were lots of late 199X models that looked to be in great shape. I'd be willing to snatch one of those up. I guess my best bet is to start researching those, its just so easy with the current models being that the PDF's are readily available on the manufact. sites. Do the MF dealerships service/stock parts for the older Hesston balers? I need to find the Hesston model that is the equivalent to the MF1835/1837/1839 as those are all rated at 35pto hp and relatively smaller bale size.

 

[jimg]

Since you have time Id look in the winter when most come on the market. This past winter there were several in MD, PA, OH and IN.

ETA: There are PLENTY in the area where the original poster lives.

 

[chh]

Ditto on the shopping in the winter. The best time to hay equipemnt is after the season is over. Dealers will have a flurry of business just before Jan 1 for the guys who need a tax deduction. That leaves trade ins and left over new equipment sitting on the lot. Some dealers will really make deals to move this inventory instead of sitting on it until May or so. Hay equipment here usually brings less in fall and winter auctions that in spring or summer auctions also.

I have never run a square baler myself, but as far as running over the windrow that is generally not a problem with a round baler. I don't see that it would be much different. I did have a hitch on one baler that I kept a flap of old belting bolted to the tractor drawbar on because the hitch had a wide opening and was prone to picking up hay in tall windrows. That was about a $2 fix for a annoying problem.

Agco credit had an inline close to me over the winter that was a repo. It sure didn't stay listed very long. Somebody may have gotten a deal on it.

 

[Wildcat Ranch]

ETA: There are PLENTY in the area where the original poster lives.

By zip code, its showing that the closest baler is 136 miles from me. By now, I'm used to the idea of having to travel to get something.

A backup camera and monitor would solve the issue of not being to see the bales coming out the back.

With the slice forming chamber (I'm sure that is not what its called) would it eliminate banana bales? Sometimes we get bales that need to be carried gently or they bust out from the center. If we packed our bales tighter, would they be less likely to curve?

 

[jimg]

Well, theres a LOT more land area in your neck of the woods too. I lived briefly in WA and nothing was a short ride. To me though 134mi doesnt seem far.

Right the prepacker is supposed to facilitate better bale consistency. The way I understand it the prepacker acts as a buffer of sorts which the packer draws from. As long as the operator is paying attention the packer can always draw a charge of generally the same amt each time. Since the hay is moving in a straight line and assuming a roughly even windrow each charge should be identical making nice neat bales. Im not sure what part windrow shape plays but it seems to me it might be significant.

 

[Wildcat Ranch]

From what I was able to find, Hesston made small inline balers for CaseIH. There models 8520, 8530, 8545 and 8555. I was searching (gooogling ) for someone who had some experience with the small balers and I posted below what one guy had to say.

Dan

"I know a farmer nearby who has a Hesston machine. It has a phenomenally high plunger speed, something near 110 strokes per minute, which is apparently how it makes such a consistent bale size and density. Strange thing is, the cut side of the bale is under the strings, not on the side like on other balers. I think the knife needs to be mounted differently because of the straight-through arrangement. He puts 5000 bales a year through it, and has had few complaints about it. You do, however, need a tractor with some underclearance if you're working in straw in combine windrows or in extremely heavy hay."

 

[mark.r]

Strange thing is, the cut side of the bale is under the strings, not on the side like on other balers. I think the knife needs to be mounted differently because of the straight-through arrangement.

Is this what Robert was referring too? I am trying picture this in my head. Can someone explain to me what the complaint from customers is?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Is this what Robert was referring too? I am trying picture this in my head. Can someone explain to me what the complaint from customers is?

When you grab the strings to pick up the bale you have all the cut ends of the bale jabbing your hand