John 348 Square Baler - no go with a 4720?

[ddivinia]

I am not planning on buying a new JD baler - they are really expensive. I just missed a JD 336 baler for $2900. I will keep looking. I am looking at small round balers like the vermeer rebel 5400 - it looks like a really nice unit.


I am hooked on the HST trans. When I bought the 4720, I was seriously looking at the 5525, but for my overall use the HST is much nicer. I have been looking at perhaps a much larger used tractor like a 4440 or something I just really would like to live with 1 tractor.

Thanks,
D.

 

[cowboydoc]

If you don't already have a baler then yes look for a smaller baler. But if you find a bigger one just don't put too much through it at one time. Just do one windrow and keep it slow.

 

[slowzuki]

We use a 42 pto hp Kubota on a JD336. The kubota is an L5030 and weighs around 6500 lb or so. I hauled some haywagons without baler down our hills that are steeper than 10% and was really impressed, it didn't notice them at all and the 4wd was available for extra braking vs the 2wd tractor we use too.

Attached is a pic from last night taking second cut off a neighbours field.

 

[cowboydoc]

I agree that just hauling the wagons with hay won't be a problem. It's when you have the baler throwing the tractor around on a side hill pulling a couple ton of hay that it gets interesting. Even with the 6415 or 4020 it still rocks the tractor with the plunger action.

 

[slowzuki]

I agree cowboydoc, with a wagon on back of the baler things can get out of hand very quick in hilly terrain.

I was trying to explain to our neighbour who is newish to haying why she shouldn't use her pickup to run loads down the steep part of our property, and if she really wanted too why she should load the bejumpins out of the truck and keep the front of the wagon loaded evenly not all to the rear.

She may have got the idea better when I adjusted the rack on a wagon with the loader while she tried to hold the wagon with the truck. I could effortlessly slide the truck without noticing the resistance.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

And Doc, when did you get 'converted" on hydros..?!!

 

[cowboydoc]

Oh I'm not converted Mike. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I still wouldn't own one but I do feel they would be nice for baling hay especially with a smaller tractor. If they ever make that 4720 in a power reverser I will have one of the first ones. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ddivinia]

They make the 4520 in a power reverser.

Thanks for the input. I am going too keep an eye out for a late model used 3x7 or 3x8 unit.

D.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I have heard of this dilemma for quite a number of years. For example, an 18 HP JD M can pull a 14T baler, but a 35 HP 1050 couldn't? I mentioned this to several dealers over the years and the answer I got was allong the lines of, "well, the horsepower is there, but it's not really heavy enough" or, "it's not really made for that kind of PTO work".

Honestly, it would probably run that baler OK, but I don't think I would try it. I would stick to the rule of thumb that you really need a full-sized utility tractor for farm chores.

Run it by your dealer. He/she will set you straight one way or the other.

One last thing: I have never seen the baler brochures with pictures of them being driven by anything smaller than a full-sized utility tractor.

There was a guy on TBN here a couple of years ago that tried running a round baler on his 5030. The Kubota brochure actually showed a picture of the 5030 running a Hesston. The guy's 5030 ended up swallowing the PTO and if I remember right, Kubota really balked at fixing it under warranty.

Good luck. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ddivinia]

Cool deal. I talked to my dealer today and they say it won't be a problem at all. They have not steered me wrong before.

Now I need to find a good deal on a baler.

D.