SMALL SQUARE BALER

greener1

HI IM THINKING OF BUYING A SMALL SQUARE BALER, CHEEP, CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHICH MAKE IS THE BEST FOR GETTING PARTS AND FOR BALING

leitrim lad

plenty of old new hollands lying in the corner of meadows scattered around the country, would i be right in saying 375 and so on, i would know of a few internationals aswell but the new hollands are probably the most common

greener1

used to have international but found it hard to get parts, what about bamford?

MrFoxman360

Go either Newholland or Welger. Nearly all their models were good balers and they are the easiest ones to get parts for, and you will need parts. There is a good few of them around for sale secondhand, and broken by baler specialists so stuff is readily available for them and cheap. plenty of people who know a lot about them too.

Haven't heard great things about internationals but I don't know much about them so thats all I'm saying on the matter. I had a Bamford myself and it was a superb baler, but again getting parts is a nightmare as they weren't too popular when new compared to newholland or welger. New parts are more or less non existant and balers that are broken for parts usually have all the good stuff gone. Break a needle on a bamford and you have a serious issue:eek:

John deere still make the odd square baler and they seem like good machines, but again they aren't that popular and parts are dear.

All depends on how much you are planning on bailing and what you are driving it with. Newholland 370 is a nice handy baler or anything from the welgar AP series or the smaller models in the 30 series.

leitrim lad

agreed ,i forgot about welger, but in saying that i know now where there are about 10 of each broken for parts

greener1

What's a new holland 376 like? can needles be got for it? or class markent 45?

leitrim lad

i wouldnt have much faith in a class baler,

but the new holland 376 would be a good baler , i know of a few broken , in sligo leitrim, cavan area

MrFoxman360

376 is a good baler alright, and as with all of the 300 series new hollands, loads of them have been broken for parts so stuff is easy to get, even new bits from dealers are still available, and they aren't too expensive.

the baler after the 376, the 377 was an absolute ledgend of a machine, as it had all the faults of the 376 ironed out, not that there was much wrong with it, I think modifactions were made to the feeder system if I can remember correctly along with a few other minor things. Want around 90 hp to get full production from one of these, you will run it on less, but it won't be as fast, but it all depends how much you have to do.

Class balers aren't just as common as newhollands, but anyone I know that has one, swear by them, so I think they are good enough, and I would imagine they are well made machines. I do recall some one telling me that they have steel needles, not cast ones, which is good news, but I'm not sure of that. Markent 45 is a smaller machine than the 376, would be on par with a 370, but still ideal for farm work.

A friend of mine uses this Markent 55, never lets him down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cq4h_qU3yg

greener1

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

376 is a good baler alright, and as with all of the 300 series new hollands, loads of them have been broken for parts so stuff is easy to get, even new bits from dealers are still available, and they aren't too expensive.

the baler after the 376, the 377 was an absolute ledgend of a machine, as it had all the faults of the 376 ironed out, not that there was much wrong with it, I think modifactions were made to the feeder system if I can remember correctly along with a few other minor things. Want around 90 hp to get full production from one of these, you will run it on less, but it won't be as fast, but it all depends how much you have to do.

Class balers aren't just as common as newhollands, but anyone I know that has one, swear by them, so I think they are good enough, and I would imagine they are well made machines. I do recall some one telling me that they have steel needles, not cast ones, which is good news, but I'm not sure of that. Markent 45 is a smaller machine than the 376, would be on par with a 370, but still ideal for farm work.

A friend of mine uses this Markent 55, never lets him down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cq4h_qU3yg

Would be driving it with fiat 90 90 so power wouldn't be a problem.
Are theses machines able to bale haylage or would that be asking to much?

MrFoxman360

Well haylage is a slightly tougher crop, so I would be buying a bigger baler such as the 376 or 377, as they were designed to be used by contractors and larger scale operations and so are built tougher. You'll need all of the 90 hp with haylage, as a heavier crop will need more power to push it through the baler. If you are going with a newholland, having a spare set of feeder arms in the tool box would be a good idea, cos they're aluminium, and do break from time to time.

Square balers will bale haylage no problem but it is harder on the baler, so buy a good one. I would imagine you might need a good few shear bolts too, as haylage tends to be more lumpy than hay or straw and lumps are what blocks a baler. Make sure the knife on the plunger is sharp too, as it will make it easier on your tractor.

greener1

what sort of money would a fella have to pay for a half decent one. Don't mind fixing one up as I have plenty of time on my hands now thanks to the ecomomic down turn but at the same time dont want scrap.

MrFoxman360

greener1 wrote: »

what sort of money would a fella have to pay for a half decent one.

How long is a piece of string Balers range in price from the redicusly low to astronomical. I sold my bamford a few months ago for 250, although it needed work. Super clean 05 and 06 welger 630's and 730's imported from england are making anywhere up to 8000 :eek: well thats what they were advertised for anyway.

see what I mean:
http://www.farmandplant.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=1920577

personally id pay about 1500 to 2000 or there abouts for a good 376, bit more for a 377. you want to get the best one you can, and well minded shed stored examples are still out there. These machines will be old so give them a good looking over, as they may have done a good bit of work, but in general high output machines are better minded than others.

You will get one for less, and if you think its good and your handy with spanners, go for it. Odd ball makes and ancient wrecks will be cheaper, but you get what you pay for. Get one that has been used recently, if possible as they can be tempremental.

http://www.farmandplant.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=1724669

http://www.farmandplant.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=1948830

http://www.farmandplant.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=840754

greener1

Going to look at a new nolland 376, what do I need look out for? the needles are broke on this machine tho. I was told that a chain slipped and broke the needles the last time it baled in 07. I'm afraid that there might be a problem with it and that its breaking needles. what do you think?

MrFoxman360

well that can happen, as the needles have to be perfectly sychronisied with the plunger so if the timing is off, the needles can get broken. There is supposed to be a little stop dog that flicks into the bale chamber while the needles are in action, so if anything was to happen, the plunger would be stopped from breaking them by driving material into them while they are up. check thats its there and that it works.

Needles also get broken if sticks, haybob tines etc.. get stuck in the plunger's needle slots, as well as slipped or incorrect timing. It will have to be timed back up correctly, so if a manual was available it would be a big help.

oh and make sure that the needle carrier frame wasn't twisted, when the needles got broken, you'll be able to judge it by eye. Judge the baler on overall impression, have a good look inside the bale chamber and at the plunger. The amount of paint still left on the intake will be a good indication of how much work it has done. Have a look for fresh looking grease around the nipples, can say alot about how well a machine is maintained :rolleyes:

greener1

Went to see the 376 baler wasn't as good as I was led to belive but that happens. needles got broke when the timing slipped, cos the stop at the plunger arm was seized (no greese). Had to hit it with a lump hammer to get it to move. Some welds on different parts of the baler.
The baler was "in a shed" with the rain blowing through so rust all over but not too bad no holes or anything, nothing that a good wire brush and a respray wouldn't cure.
Baler didn't do big work but the tyres were bet from old age. seemed ok other than that, the big question is what is it wort?
He wanted 700 and was going to put welded needles in it and time it. I offer 350 as it is. (new needles 280 + re spray 200 + tyres???)
All opinions very welcom.

MrFoxman360

doesn't seem too bad, and it isn't too expensive. Welded needles will work but if new ones are available I'd get them as a welded one might break and in turn snap the other one.

You would be amazed what you can get away with as regards tyres, if they're holding air they are probably ok, although for piece of mind......

If you think you'll get it 'as is' for 350 I'd go for it, you wont go wrong at that price if it is in anyway decent shape, but you are getting what your paying for so I'd be expecting a few little problems. Had you got it running on a tractor or anything

greener1

No didn't put it on a tractor but could have, all we did was turn it by hand every thing was moving and geased, bar the stop.
the best he was willing to do was 700 with 2 welded needles and retimed. but then i would still have to get 2 new needles anyway to have cos i wouldn't depend on the welded one's.
he let it slip that he paid 500 for it 3 or 4 year's ago "as is" and left it in that mans open shed till the other day.
might have gone a bit more if he had been willing to deal.

MrFoxman360

I reckon, tell him you'll take it as is, forget him doing anything with it first, even if you had to pay 500 or a little more for it, it still would be a good deal. A 376 is a good baler, so a bit of work and a few new parts would more than likely turn out a bit of a bargin for you :cool:

greener1

Cheers foxman thanks for the advice, might just do that I'll let you konw how i get on. going to see a mf baler there soon a 20 model i think

greener1

Does anyone konw if a mf 20 bailer is capable of bailing haylag?

cormywormy

would you know are needles hard to get for a new holland 376 baler.

greener1

Needles can be got in england think they were £225 + vat. Is it for a baler in offaly?

cormywormy

Jasus there fairly pricy. I dont know if its in offley, i was just flicking through the buyandsell website, i forget.At that price you wouldnt want to be breaking them.

cormywormy

yep had a look again and its in offaly, suppose you were looking at it too.

greener1

Ya thats the one i went to see. did you see it?

cormywormy

No didnt see it, suppose it was in rough cond. Not really looking to buy a baler but if i see one cheap that i can sell im there.

donkey do's

baler parts in sligo leitrim? do you know anyone with welgers broke for parts?

adne

greener1 wrote: »

Are theses machines able to bale haylage or would that be asking to much?

Have a good few shear bolts handy :D:D