tractor tire running over hay windrow

markct · May 29, 2003

i have a ford 8000 and i am going to be using a NH 268 baler with it,the one thing i have noticed is that when hooked to the baler my right rear tire will be running over part of the windrow,the tire could be moved in another 5 inches,but i want to keep them out for stability with the hills we got around here. will it be a big problem to run over the hay,or should i just not worry about it. i was thinking of getting a tounge for a NH 269 which is a bit longer,but even then it will not completly keep the tire off the windrow

Anonymous Poster · May 30, 2003

Since you mentioned over on ytmag that you are not baling alfalfa, it won't be a big deal. I run over a little bit with my IH 300, but would run over more with my 7700.... You might skip some hay, esp a short second cutting.

Should you go ahead with modifying the baler hitch, read my ytmag thoughts on the off-set baler hitch vs the offset wagon hitch & how going too far will make the baler want to jack-knife.

--->Paul

markct · May 30, 2003

the 268 baler and the 269 baler are the same baler just that they used a different length tounge and pto driveline, so i dont think that making a tounge the same length as a 269 would hurt anything, since the 269 dont seem to have anymore of a jacknifing problem than any other baler. i am probably gona try it with the short tounge first, but hopefully before second cutting i can make the longer one

Anonymous Poster · May 30, 2003

Hello--How about trying to move your tractor drawbar to the right a little? I think this would pick up several inches with a lot less effort? Another option would be to use a Cat 2 cross drawbar and you could offset with it at 2 inch increments (be sure to stabilize the crossbar)--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Hay Specialists*

markct · May 30, 2003

yea i may try moving the drawbar over, i just wasnt sure how the pto driveline would handle that

cowboydoc · May 30, 2003

I agree with Ken. Use your tongue or move your tires in some. It IS going to hurt your hay by not being able to pick it up. I don't know about you but lost hay is like leaving money on the ground to me. Plus it's not the best for the hay to be run over either even if it is grass.

markct · May 30, 2003

yea well my tires only go in another 5 inches, and with some of the hills i will be haying i realy dont want to move them in, i moved them out cause the tractor seemed awfully topheavy on sidehills

RichZ · May 30, 2003

Moving the tongue should be the solution. I wouldn't move the tires in. Tractors need to be as stable as possible with a baler on hills.

cowboydoc · May 30, 2003

Most balers are made with an offset hitch. You can put the hitch at a variety of locations. I will take a picture of mine tonight. You should be able to move that tongue around to get the tractor off the windrows.

Anonymous Poster · May 30, 2003

<font color="red">i just wasnt sure how the pto driveline would
handle that </font>
Hello--Just keep turning to the right while baling and you should be ok--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Hay Specialists*

Anonymous Poster · Jun 2, 2003

Ok, the 270 has the short hitch, while the 271 has the longer hitch with the extra universal in the pto. Sounds like the 268/269 is the same deal. You do want that, the extra universal will allow you to offset the hitch a little better.

I'm thinking with the pto offset to the right, the driveline will corner to the left better, but I could be wrong on that?

The longer hitch will be fine - I saw a 270 on an auction one time with the hitch severly modified - they cut it & welded in an offset of 10-12 inches. I think that would work fine if you drop on the ground, but would cause some jacknifing with a wagon.

A 270 has only 2 positions, transport & working. Some models of balers have more hitch positions, but I suspect yours is much like the 270 - 1 working position.

--->Paul