need advice on tractor to run a small baler

baldwinkw · Dec 8, 2009

Hi all. I recently looked at a 2008 Case IH JX 1060c. I am told that this machine has 45 hp PTO. Does anyone have any experience with this machine and will 45 hp PTO be sufficent to run a small baler. Thanks in advance

flusher · Dec 8, 2009

baldwinkw said:
Hi all. I recently looked at a 2008 Case IH JX 1060c. I am told that this machine has 45 hp PTO. Does anyone have any experience with this machine and will 45 hp PTO be sufficent to run a small baler. Thanks in advance

That CIH has similar pto hp spec to my Mahindra 5525 (it's about 1000 lb heavier that the 5525). I run a Massey Ferguson 124 square baler (14"x18", 36"-50"L bales) with no problem. MF recommends 35 pto hp for the 124.

baldwinkw · Dec 9, 2009

Thanks for your input Flusher. I am still considering the JX 1060 but also looking at the larger JX95.

zzvyb6 · Dec 9, 2009

I've run a "small baler" with a Yanmar 226D (20? hp) and without live power. Power is not that important unless you are pulling wagons behind it and/or running up and down hills. Self powered balers had only about 16hp on board. Weight is a better measure, with driveline and hitch tighntess being there too.

Tongy · Dec 9, 2009

I have been using a Ford Jubilee (about 30hp) for about 6-7 years now. I try to keep the windrows fairly small so it doesn't clog up. That Ford is pretty light, so it rocks you back and forth pretty good. When I stop in the row, I try to run all the hay through so I am not starting up with the pickup full of hay.

The Ford is for sale and this year will be using the new (used) MF 1540 which is a lot heavier and more power, so will see how that works.

scrapironford · Dec 9, 2009

Most any 45 pto hp tractor will run a 3x4,4x4 and some 4x5 round balers and all except the high capacity square balers (NH 575 ect). I square baled this year using a Ford 2000 diesel ,32 pto hp,with an old NH baler and it done a good job. I can see no good reason to use my 100+ hp tractors on a small baler,round or square. scrapironford

Aqualize · Dec 10, 2009

The JX 1060c will be enough. It will not run every small square baler on the market but there are a lot (most?) both used and new that it will run with ease.
The JX95 (80 PTO HP) is overkill for this job.

John Deere, Massey Ferguson, New Holland (only the smallest model) all specifies 35 PTO HP for there small square balers.
I've an old Welger AP41 (don't know if they ever been marketed in the USA so you perhaps not know of them) that requires "30-40 hp".

DanD78 · Dec 10, 2009

Like said earlier you will have the horse power but you need he weight and traction if working on any hills. We pull a rack wagon behind the baler. It can raise your pucker point when the outfit starts pushing you down a hill and you have the brakes locked up. We use a 606 IH utility with loaed ag tires and have to watch what we are doing. We have never spun out going up hill just pushed going down.

Dan

JoeinTX · Dec 10, 2009

True, Dan, but you seem to running a pretty old and rather small baler. What model is it?

So many of the "small" square balers available today are a little beafier and heavier than that. Most all of the current makers in the small square biz suggest no less than 35 PTO, which means around 45 engine HP, to operate their rigs.

A baler, round or square, is not an implement I want to put too little tractor in front of since operating them is not necessarily about HP or speed.......but the ability to sustain the forces of the baler back toward the tractor.

flusher · Dec 10, 2009

JoeinTX said:
True, Dan, but you seem to running a pretty old and rather small baler. What model is it?

So many of the "small" square balers available today are a little beafier and heavier than that. Most all of the current makers in the small square biz suggest no less than 35 PTO, which means around 45 engine HP, to operate their rigs.

A baler, round or square, is not an implement I want to put too little tractor in front of since operating them is not necessarily about HP or speed.......but the ability to sustain the forces of the baler back toward the tractor.

Amen to that. My Mahindra 5525 weighs well over 5000 lb and, when that MF124 plunger is cranking, I know from what my butt cheeks are telling me that the baler is back there trying to tear itself apart.

baldwinkw · Dec 11, 2009

Thanks to all for the input. All has been helpful. I am still stewing over which tractor to buy.

DanD78 · Dec 12, 2009

The baler pictured is a Mcormic Deering #37 twine tie. The darn thingis good as new and works perfect. It does make normal sized bales. The worst thing is the pick up is very narrow so you wind rows have to be pretty neat.

The lady I got it from was cleaning out a building and had called the junkers to pick up two balers and a rake. I had a kitten she wanted so we traded.

Dan

JoeinTX · Dec 12, 2009

"The lady I got it from was cleaning out a building and had called the junkers to pick up two balers and a rake. I had a kitten she wanted so we traded....."

That was one heck of a trade, Dan

Did the cat work out for her as well as the baler has for you?

Aqualize · Dec 12, 2009

baldwinkw said:
Thanks to all for the input. All has been helpful. I am still stewing over which tractor to buy.

Apart from the power requirement the weight of the tractor matters. The plunger in these high density balers makes it move back and forth a bit. One can trick a 2400-2600 lbs 28-30 PTO HP CUT to power the baler, but as Tongy noted it rocks you back and forth quite a lot.

But then one can compare the operating weights of the JX1060C and the JX95 to see if it will be any advantage there:
JX1060C: 6,065 lbs [2751 kg] (2WD) / 6,590 lbs [2989 kg] (4WD)
JX95: 6,790 lbs [3079 kg] (2WD cab) / 7,615 lbs [3454 kg] (4WD cab)
(from www.tractordata.com)

The JX95 is ruffly 12% (2WD against 2WD) and 15% (4WD against 4WD) heavier so I don't think you will "feel" that the JX95 is a bigger tractor.

The specific tractors you have been looking on, are they 2WD or 4WD, cab or only ROPS?

kenstrac · Dec 12, 2009

baldwinkw said:
Hi all. I recently looked at a 2008 Case IH JX 1060c. I am told that this machine has 45 hp PTO. Does anyone have any experience with this machine and will 45 hp PTO be sufficent to run a small baler. Thanks in advance

If you stay with that baler and do not plan on doing allot of hay it should be fine I was running a MF12 with a MF 150 I had a problem with the 150 and I used a Farmall super C to bale with.
As I picked up more fields to do I bought a Heston 4600 in line baler the problem was I also needed a tractor with high ground clearance to straddle the windrow.
If you think that you might get more hay to do you might want to look at baler options and what you would need to power it with.

sequoyah101 · Dec 17, 2009

I'd post a picture but don't know how. A guy in our valley does all his custom baling with a pair of JD 790 tractors and a big NH square baler. Says he burns about 6 gallons a day in one and less that that in the other. Cuts, rakes and bales. Baler tractor is FWD with a loader the other is a new 2WD.

I watched in amazement and the little tractor didn't miss a lick or bog down any. Not the fastest in the west but steady and not exactly slow either.

WilliamBos · Dec 19, 2009

sequoyah101 said:
I'd post a picture but don't know how. A guy in our valley does all his custom baling with a pair of JD 790 tractors and a big NH square baler. Says he burns about 6 gallons a day in one and less that that in the other. Cuts, rakes and bales. Baler tractor is FWD with a loader the other is a new 2WD.

I watched in amazement and the little tractor didn't miss a lick or bog down any. Not the fastest in the west but steady and not exactly slow either.

email me the pic, and I will gladly post it for you...
wmjbos@gmail.com