Who’s getting hay equipment prepped?

[WinterDeere]

How bad did it slip, as the number of drive belts reduced? At least in shop machinery, the reason for 3 belts has everything to do with power transfer (a given belt can only handle so much torque and horsepower), and very little to do with redundancy.

I'd guess on equipment used out in the field, redundancy may be more of a consideration in the minds of the designers, as you're not operating in the same room as a handy tool chest and spare belts.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

You are right about belts. Sometimes they’ll hang on by a thread.

Thanks on the shop …. Not really organized yet but nice to be inside and dry.

Seems like I always end up working on something right in the dirt LOL.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Seems like I always end up working on something right in the dirt LOL.

I can relate to that!

Been trying to be more aggressive with my preventive maintenance. Like the tires on that haybine -- both hold air and might run for another 10 years. BUT the sidewalls are cracked bad and while airing them up I was leaning way back, off to the side, and squinting at the gauge with my head turned . . . Normally I'd just run them till they give out, but yesterday I ordered a couple of tires online that should arrive Monday.

It's getting harder all the time to roll around in the dirt and gravel to fix breakdowns -- and to scramble for parts and repairs on weekends and late afternoons. Plus everything's just going to be more expensive later. Well worth it if it prevents one tire change out in the field!

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t mess with bad tires. Probably because I’ve seen what happens when they blow out. Cracked sidewalls is a non starter for me as we are pulling equipment down the road.

 

[CliffordK]

Well, diving into the haying prep a little bit late.

Mom has had a neighbor cutting her hay for many years. And what he charges her is almost the entire value of the hay.

Anyway, the guy apparently decided to burn some old hay next to his barn last week and didn't manage to get the fire all the way out before he headed off to the next project, only to return to a pile of ashes where there once was a barn. He had his round bale equipment out in the field, but lost the square bale equipment. And the insurance company is claiming they insured the structure, and not the equipment. I don't know what will happen with that, but there will be a looming battle to get reimbursed. I think he has been wanting out of the square bale business for quite some time, I and decided to drop them.

I still don't know why he would be burning old hay but if they were round bales, it could have been quite a bit of burning.

So I now have about a week to go from not much to fully operational haying.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

I think the core will be about 25 acres. I may pick up some odd jobs once I am comfortable. A new thread soon. The plan is to do it in 3 pretty much separate batches to not get too far ahead of myself.

 

[Hay Dude]

I am getting concerned my balers CV joint on the main driveshaft is starting to go. It’s wobbling a bit more than I like, despite regular greasing. This will be the 2nd or 3rd time.
I’m suspicious that the previous owner might have thrown a smaller/or the wrong CV joint on it just to sell it and I’ve been replacing the wrong CV joint. I only seem to get a few thousand bales off of it and it starts wobbling.
And no, I don’t do a lot of tight turning. At least it doesn’t seem like a lot….

 

[repete]

Equipment coming out today for cutting this weekend.

 

[5030]

Did that last fall prior to storing it for the winter. I opreate under the philosophy.. It don't break in the barn To insure of that, it all gets serviced prior to putting it.

Just hook up the hydraulics, plug in the computer, attach the PTO and go to work.

 

[5030]

I am getting concerned my balers CV joint on the main driveshaft is starting to go. It’s wobbling a bit more than I like, despite regular greasing. This will be the 2nd or 3rd time.
I’m suspicious that the previous owner might have thrown a smaller/or the wrong CV joint on it just to sell it and I’ve been replacing the wrong CV joint. I only seem to get a few thousand bales off of it and it starts wobbling.
And no, I don’t do a lot of tight turning. At least it doesn’t seem like a lot….

Learned long ago that buying used equipment is buying someone elses's problems most times... Especially complex equipment. Now you can make your usual disparaging comments...

 

[Tx Jim]

I think the difference between purchasing new or used equipment is the persons ability to repair or supervise repairs vs having to have dealer repair. IMHO New equipment built today is not near as reliable as equipment built several yrs ago. The metal doesn't seem tom be as good. I only purchased very few pieces of farm equipment in the 35yrs of custom farming. I've never purchased a new tractor. My main tractor is a '91 4255 I purchased used in Feb '93 with 2847 hrs on speed/hr meter & it now has 12,000 hrs on speed/hr meter. I wouldn't be afraid to put my 4255 in the field beside a new 120 hp tractor.