Looking for advice on square hay balers
- Thread starter vtlpluyr
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flusher
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- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
Go with the MF124. I bought a 124 about 8 years ago from a local hay farmer for $2K. He had used it the previous day to bale a section of his 35 acres so I was confident that the baler was in good shape. It was shedded all its life so there was wear but no rust on the moving parts.
I used it for three seasons on my 10 acre place until the drought hit (no irrigation on my place; no rain, no crop).
The SureTie knotters are quite a bit simpler (lower parts count) than the JD or NH knotters. I had to replace the worn plates in the slip clutch (less than $100 for parts, easy repair job). Also fabricated several pairs of wedges for the baling chamber (also an easy cut/weld job).
If you buy a 124 right out of the field, you'll do fine.
Good luck
I used it for three seasons on my 10 acre place until the drought hit (no irrigation on my place; no rain, no crop).
The SureTie knotters are quite a bit simpler (lower parts count) than the JD or NH knotters. I had to replace the worn plates in the slip clutch (less than $100 for parts, easy repair job). Also fabricated several pairs of wedges for the baling chamber (also an easy cut/weld job).
If you buy a 124 right out of the field, you'll do fine.
Good luck
blueriver
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I vote for a good used baler, accumulator and grapple. The bale thrower, kicker can be more headache than worth, Just my opinion.
powerscol
Veteran Member
I did not ask this before, but how tight are your gates and field conditions. An inline has much more maneuverability, will not produce banana bales, is simpler to run and more efficient on power usage - less fuel costs. Equip it with an accumulator and grapple Kuhns Mfg LLC | Innovation in small square bale handling. you can move a lot of hay quickly. I have one of their small 4 bale grapples and can pick the hay out of the field an stack it on my goose neck trailer at about 200 bales an hour - this includes loading and unloading twice. If you have the headroom at your store front you can also use a small grapple to load. My customers love it. All they do is adjust the stack on their trailers as I load.
My 4550 Hesston is a 2003 model (I think?), has had about 100,000 bales through it and in was in running shape when I got it 4 years ago. I had a major service done last year, new knives, etc, and the only issue discovered was guide rail wear, which were adjusted. Should be good for another 50,000 before they need replacing. Being a Hesston, parts AGRO, are readily available and some are interchangeable with the new MF line. In buying all my used equipment, the advice I got from the ranchers, is spend your dollars on a good baler. Most farmers/Ranchers only sell used equipment when it is worn out, so buyer beware. Mine was a trade on on a new MF inline 1839 - now 1840.
Massey Ferguson | 1800 Series Small Square Balers With the new 1840 standard bale size model, folks are trading up and there are some deals out there in the $10k range, but it will be worth it.
Hope this helps
My 4550 Hesston is a 2003 model (I think?), has had about 100,000 bales through it and in was in running shape when I got it 4 years ago. I had a major service done last year, new knives, etc, and the only issue discovered was guide rail wear, which were adjusted. Should be good for another 50,000 before they need replacing. Being a Hesston, parts AGRO, are readily available and some are interchangeable with the new MF line. In buying all my used equipment, the advice I got from the ranchers, is spend your dollars on a good baler. Most farmers/Ranchers only sell used equipment when it is worn out, so buyer beware. Mine was a trade on on a new MF inline 1839 - now 1840.
Massey Ferguson | 1800 Series Small Square Balers With the new 1840 standard bale size model, folks are trading up and there are some deals out there in the $10k range, but it will be worth it.
Hope this helps
farmerwanttobe
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Hello,
I enjoy this thread. I'm looking for a square baler in SW Missouri. I have been told John Deere 336 is a workhorse. We currently only do round bales but some of our customers would like some squares also. So looking to do 1000 or so bales a year. Hoping to be in the $3000 price range. I would appreciate any advice!
I enjoy this thread. I'm looking for a square baler in SW Missouri. I have been told John Deere 336 is a workhorse. We currently only do round bales but some of our customers would like some squares also. So looking to do 1000 or so bales a year. Hoping to be in the $3000 price range. I would appreciate any advice!
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Great advice here that's for sure. Its going to be more about what becomes available in your area rather than having a specific model in mind. In your place I would find something that looks good in your price range, then post what you found on this forum, and let all of these helpful people provide comments.
Another thing you may want to consider is going to south western Ontario. Look up deals on Kijiji, or Agdealer.com for that area, borrow a flatbed trailer, and make the drive. It would be about 4 hours. There are tons and tons of used farm machinery in that area. Despite listings, things sell there for about the same dollars, except your dollar is worth $1.41 per Canadian dollar. You could get a $4000+ baler for that money. We are in Ottawa and the dealers are starting to put used stuff on tractor trailers and shipping them down to Michigan and Ohio. They used to only ship to Pennsylvania and New York but now they go way down that way.
sweettractors
Advertiser
Here is a link to 4 square balers that would serve you well for doing what you describe. Ken Sweet
Hay Equipment, New Disc Mower Parts items in square store on eBay!
