sweettractors
Advertiser
I thought he said 32.5 HP? Ken Sweet
I thought he said 32.5 HP? Ken Sweet
Hi Ken
He stated Engine HP, not PTO HP. Here are the JD 3320 specs:
Engine HP (kW) - gross 32.8 (24.1) per ISO 97/68/EC
PTO HP (kW) - Gear transmission 25.5 (19.0) per SAE
PTO HP (kW) - Hydrostatic transmission 25.0 (18.6) per SAE
Darrell
ON a baler, I always go by engine HP. The flywheel on the baler can probably make a 20-25 HP engine do the job. Dont take much pto hp after you get the baler wound up. Ken Sweet
I can only tell you my experience. I had a Massey 265 (65HP) and baled 80 acres with a Massey 124 small baler. Both 1973 units but in great shape. I agree it doesn't take much to spin up the flywheel. That's easy. Where PTO HP is needed is when you start picking up and packing a heavy windrow. On my Massey 265 I could easily hear and feel the engine change to power the flywheel and keep things spinning. When this happens I'd just reduce ground speed to lesson the burden on all the equipment. I'm guessing a tractor with half the power would have to really watch windrow size and ground speed very closey. But I still think Matt should give it a try and check his own results.![]()
No mention made of transmission type and/or cab model or open station and if he's got a front-end loader. Reason being - the flywheel and especially the plunger motion will rock the smaller, lighter tractor back and forth pretty good... with potentially long-term consequences for the tranny and drive train. Best is reverser tranny, cab and loader mounted - IMO - more mass to counter the kinetic energy transfer from the baler.
He's on the low end of the pto hp spectrum but if the windrows are light and ground speed slow he should be OK. 'Course will need to dial back the bale tension to keep the bales on the light side - 30-35lbs or so.
When I researched efforts to bale with my ol' JD 970 (33hp and 30hp@pto) zzvyb6 and SPYDERLK were a great help with advice and recommendations.
It can be done with a measure of common sense and patience.
Best of luck.
AKfish