looking at new balers

[dan28040]

I currently run a New Holland 565 square baler. looking to buy a new square baler in the next year or so. would appreciate any and all advice on a good baler. I have been looking at the Massey Ferguson inline square balers. not sure as to what would be the best baler to buy, i bale around 100 acres a year.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Back in the late 80's I had a neighbor that had a new high production NH baler and it broke down. I had just finished working on an old NH baler that I had I had paid $200 for when he called and asked if I could bale some hay for him. I baled about 350 or 400 bales to finish up for him and he said You only had 2 bales that did not tie, my new baler won't do that. He gave me $2500 for the baler and parked his new high production baler. Said it baled faster than his new one. That said are you sure you want to spend LARGE $$$$$ for a new baler that does the same thing as the old one does? :2cents:

 

[dan28040]

Well the only problem is that my current baler has given me some problems ive spent several hundred on it just to get it to run like it does now, i lost 20 acres of hay last fall because it wouldn't even bale it broke about 3 shear pins to every 2 acres, so far this year no problems.

 

[MFRED]

I'm partial to the in-line balers myself. We have small fields around here and it's nice & compact for transport. I can easily trailer it to the farther fields. All the bales are nice & square no matter the size of the windrow. It takes some time to get used to driving over the windrow if you don't round bale or anything now. But it's easier to teach a new driver than a side pull. I have a MF1839 and love it. Had a New Idea 7210 in-line before it.

I would take a new baler with a dealer that can support it over a lucky old clunker any day. I turn my hay equipment every 8-10 years to keep it out of the breakdowns. Maybe early but I really hate breakdowns and don't have time for it. My real job pays too much. I know how to fix balers and it's a skill I don't care to excersize all that often. Especially when it's 100 degrees out & rain's coming. 100 acres isn't that much and a good new baler will keep you happy for a long time. Send it to get tuned every other year and sell it to Ed of all trades neighbor in thirty years.

 

[dan28040]

Yea i have a regular job as well, i hate working on machinery. Just trying to get rid of the old junk, just bought a new vermeer disc mower, cut 8 acres in about 2 and half hours today, the weather is killing my hay production this year

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am not trying to talk you out of your current baler but have you considered buying a cheap used unit as a backup now that your 565 is running well again? I have a 575 and other than a couple issues my first year (operator error) and a problem with the thrower that took a while to figure out it has been trouble free. I keep looking for another 575 cheap for a backup or even a 326 as their good balers for a little money but just haven't needed a backup yet. I have plenty of spare parts for the common items (springs, shear pins and such) and I have not had to use any of them in a few years. I bale around 100 acres a year as well.

If you do go with an inline I would like to hear back from you about how you like it compared to the 565.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Not trying to be a ______ just wanted to give you something to think about. I like the idea Robert has about a backup. Even new balers can let you down.

 

[dan28040]

Yea i understand, i thought about a back up baler, just not sure

 

[bglz42]

When I started looking for a used baler all I found was used-up junk. Went with a new JD 328. Started dropping perfect bales right away. Bought an old cutter and rake, don't mind working on them. But the baler has to be right...