Towing a square baler

[jwcinpk]

Just wondering what's the farthest anyone ever towed a square baler. One would guess that the bearing assemblies and definately the tires were not meant for long pulls.

 

[Bigfoot62]

You are partially correct. It's not the length of the pull, but the speed. Baler tires and wheel bearings were made for off-road use at tractor speeds. Anything faster than a farm tractor, and you run the risk of over-heating (and seizing) the bearings, or blowing a tire, especially with the temperatures we're having here right now. (100+ every day)

Having said that, depending on the brand, we have to pull a baler a long ways to have it serviced. From here, it's 20+ miles to a NH dealer, and 40+ miles to a JD dealer.

Just put on the flashers and go SLOW!

Just my :2cents: worth.

 

[AKfish]

You are partially correct. It's not the length of the pull, but the speed. Baler tires and wheel bearings were made for off-road use at tractor speeds. Anything faster than a farm tractor, and you run the risk of over-heating (and seizing) the bearings, or blowing a tire, especially with the temperatures we're having here right now. (100+ every day)

Having said that, depending on the brand, we have to pull a baler a long ways to have it serviced. From here, it's 20+ miles to a NH dealer, and 40+ miles to a JD dealer.

Just put on the flashers and go SLOW!

Just my :2cents: worth.

There ya go! Slow...

After my brother got bored with 25mph and decided to kick it up a bit to 40mph on a 40 mile tow - all that time he saved - was lost after the baler blew a tire and ended up parked along side the road!

When we changed the tire - it stated on the sidewall - do not exceed 25mph!

AKfish

 

[flusher]

Just wondering what's the farthest anyone ever towed a square baler. One would guess that the bearing assemblies and definately the tires were not meant for long pulls.

I towed my MF124 baler (two-twine, small squares) about 25 miles from the seller's place to mine. Used the F150, back roads, 25 mph max.

 

[lhfarm]

Many years ago (20?), I towed an IH-46 baler behind my CJ7 60+ miles. I remember doing 45 max and stopping at several pull-overs to check the heat coming off the bearings. There wasn't much, but it was probably too fast and too far. I wouldn't have the nerve to do it today. I think I was just lucky.

Most of the trip was on a two lane state highway, with lots of hills and only a couple of passing zones. I picked the baler up at first light on a Sunday morning and didn't have much traffic. I didn't encounter any police officers, but I doubt they would have stopped me. Indiana is still a farm state and equipment on the road is a normal event.

I don't think I'd want to do more than 20 miles and I wouldn't go over 25MPH.

 

[art]

You sre more likely to have a tire failure then a bearing failure as they use the same bearings that might be on the front of a car! I should say that on modern machines! Some older machines used different bearings that are not meant for speeds over 20 as they are the older needle style bearings.

I've towed farm equipment for many miles and if the bearings are good I've never had a issue with an axle or a bearing. Can't wait till tommorrow!

I know that many of the tires have a 25mph rating but I normally tow at normal road speeds as long as the truck has enough weight to manage it properly. I will stop and check after the first ten miles or so to check the wheel bearing temp as well as the tires.

We are often towing machines one hundred plus miles to deliver them although 50 miles is a day to day event.

I can tell some exciting tales from being pushed down hills at speeds that would have given me a speding ticket from a machine far heavier then the truck pulling it to blowing four tires off the wagon I was pulling but not all at once.

 

[jwcinpk]

When you start getting into todays modern balers the width makes it difficult to trailer too. My dad is supposed to be picking up a 105 inch wide baler today (NH 570) and putting it on a 102 inch wide trailer. It's tedious, but no way I'd want to tow one 300 miles.

 

[Barry Bowen]

Speed is the issue. Keep it down mostly, especially on rough roads. Since there is no suspension on the baler, so roads you may only be able to do 15 or so. On really smooth roads 25-30 usually is okay, but stop to check everything as you go.

 

[civesnedfield]

When you start getting into todays modern balers the width makes it difficult to trailer too. My dad is supposed to be picking up a 105 inch wide baler today (NH 570) and putting it on a 102 inch wide trailer. It's tedious, but no way I'd want to tow one 300 miles.

Not sure on the 570 but I know on the 315 you can actually remove the axle spindles and get it down to 102" wide or less. 300 miles is a bit far. I just towed a NH 311 discbine 40 miles. No problems with tires or bearings. Only issue is the monster is 11'-3" wide. Not too bad on main roads but a little hairy when I got close to the house.

 

[captjack]

I bought a used nh 570 - could not find a trailer to put it on so I dropped a pin in the hitch and towed it 75 miles or so back home - it towed like a trailer ! 45 -50 mph the entire time and the hubs didnt even feel hot.

 

[D7E]

Moving any machine a considerable amount of miles tyres would be my biggest concern...whenever we drag home auction buys always go armed with tyres and rims of many stud patterns

 

[civesnedfield]

Actually your best bet if you are going to tow for any great distance would be to put a set of car/truck tires on it.

 

[tessiers]

I'll bet my old new holland has thousands of miles on it, at about 2 MPH. Slow is the key, mine has had light truck type tires on it for as long as I can remember, so the bearings would be the key, I would bring the tools nessisary to check and grease them just before a long pull and go for it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Moving any machine a considerable amount of miles tyres would be my biggest concern...whenever we drag home auction buys always go armed with tyres and rims of many stud patterns

I tow gravity wagons and hay wagons and auction buys all over the place (longest trip was 40 miles). Like you I make sure I have all my tools I would take to the field to do a repair. I keep an 8 ton bottle jack in the truck all the time. My hay wagons and gravity wagon all take the same rim so I always have one new tire mounted up and one used car tire mounted up so if there is a problem I just replace the tire or if its something more severe I have the tools to tear it down and make a field repair. Also there is an air compressor always in the truck just in case. Occasionally I even carry a generator.

I also always have some blocking (2x10, 6x6 and 4x4 assortments as you can never have enough blocking.

When I bought my NH 575 from a dealer 35 miles away I couldn't haul it home myself because the dealer needed to remove the applicator system off of it first. When they never delivered it after a couple months I finally complained online as complaining to them in person did no good. Well, after the post on New AgTalk was spotted by the owner of the dealership they delivered the baler the next day. A friend of mine saw them pulling it 55mph down the back roads. When they dropped it off they gave me the manual with it and inside the front cover was a copy of my complaint online stapled to it. So they did upset me with how they handled the entire process but I did get the baler for a great price and there was no damage to the baler, wheels or bearings on that haul. It was the only item I have bought that I didn't bring home myself (well, other then a combine that came on a lowboy). I enjoy the long slow drives pulling equipment and if you have a friend with you it can be a lot of fun.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I pulled a 20' IH 470 wheel disc (11' with wings in transport position) over 100 miles just this past fall. I repacked the wheel bearings before starting towards home, had several spare tires/wheels in the truck, and enough tools to overhaul the disc AND the truck. Took secondary roads the entire way. We left out at sunrise on a Sunday morning. We got the single finger salute a few times, but no real problems. I averaged just shy of 25mph, but at one stretch of road, we were rolling along close to 35mph.

Ya do what ya gotta do.....

 

[AKfish]

I pulled a 20' IH 470 wheel disc (11' with wings in transport position) over 100 miles just this past fall. I repacked the wheel bearings before starting towards home, had several spare tires/wheels in the truck, and enough tools to overhaul the disc AND the truck. Took secondary roads the entire way. We left out at sunrise on a Sunday morning. We got the single finger salute a few times, but no real problems. I averaged just shy of 25mph, but at one stretch of road, we were rolling along close to 35mph.

Ya do what ya gotta do.....

YeeeeHaaaa!! That disc weigh darn near what your truck weighs? Any curves or downhills - or better yet... downhill curves?

AKfish

 

[art]

I pulled a 20' IH 470 wheel disc (11' with wings in transport position) over 100 miles just this past fall. I repacked the wheel bearings before starting towards home, had several spare tires/wheels in the truck, and enough tools to overhaul the disc AND the truck. Took secondary roads the entire way. We left out at sunrise on a Sunday morning. We got the single finger salute a few times, but no real problems. I averaged just shy of 25mph, but at one stretch of road, we were rolling along close to 35mph.

Ya do what ya gotta do.....

The old IH discs could only be towed about 35 miles per hour tops or they would start whipping!!!

To put a set of back scratchers on and it drops to about 20 for top speed. Some of the new models like the 490 they have better balance and although heavy they can be pulled at 45 to 50 with out issue with pick-up but will hold faster with a larger vehicle.

 

[sweep]

Back in the early 70's my uncle had his 67 new holland baler at the dealer for repairs and he needed it back to right away and the dealer could not deliver it that day so he had my 16 year old brother and I who was 13 at the time go pick it up with the truck.

We drove back easily up to 40-50 mph the whole way-8-10 miles. We just kept up with the traffic. Didn't think anything about it. Turns out there are no bearings but bushings in the 67 axles. They were literally RED HOT and there was sparks flying by the time we got back. When you stood next to the baler you could hear sizzling and metal popping/pinging. I'm not kidding. 5-6 feet away from the baler you could feel the heat radiating.


My uncle went into a rage I have never seen before and he had to replace both axles/HUBS and the axle housing. He himself never knew about those balers having bushings and never told us to go slow-he said it was common sense to go slow when pulling a baler. My brother and I did not know we lived in the city and just helped out on the farm on weekends.

He said he was going to take it out of our pay but never did. My uncle was pretty poor and my dad was properous and I found out years later my dad paid for the new parts.

My uncle laughed about it though 15 years later.

 

[dieselscout80]

When I worked for a IH / New Holland / Heston dealer back in the 80's in Montana we towed balers all over the place (lots of time +60 miles). We checked the bearings before leaving and then we towed them the speed limit 55 back then. We had one guy who was +75 yrs old who towed them at 70 MPH.

If the bearings are in good shape and the tires are too I would never hesitate to tow a baler at 45 - 55 MPH. The bad thing is no brakes on the baler.

 

[dmay]

For hauls over 25 miles I would put the equipment on a trailer. Then you are safely towing at highway speeds and not incurring wear on your ag equipment. If you dont have a trailer just check around to see who rents in your area. Car hauler flat deck trailer rentals usually run under $100 for a one day rental.