Author	[Modern View]
genenix 10-06-2012 10:56:22 74.176.64.252 Report to Moderator	Does anyone know if these balers are a good choice? looking at one but don't know anything about these belt balers, looking for feedback or advice, been using a older krone kr151 [Reply]   [No Email]
davida 10-08-2012 10:14:11 66.116.62.134 Report to Moderator	Re: hesston 530 in reply to genenix, 10-06-2012 10:56:22   I would look at a Hesston 5540. They seam to cost less and I know they work better. It is almost impossible not get a bale started. Make up to 4x6 bale. I have ran one with a 35 pto hp tractor for several years but only made a 4x4 or a 4x5 roll. I bought a second one a few months ago for $2500.00. Pulled all the belts, cut and relaced all of them, did a little other work and took it to the field and rolled up 100 4x6 rolls without any issues. [Reply]  [No Email]
Diydave 10-07-2012 06:31:07 96.244.160.195 Report to Moderator	Re: hesston 530 in reply to genenix, 10-06-2012 10:56:22   I have a 5530, which is the older version. Same a 530, and same as IH 8420 (? Might not have the # right, but IH was half owner of the production line, till court ordered divestment), same as New idea baler beilg built today, IIRR. If it is still being made, it must still have some marketability. It is a small bale, 39"X 48- 52", that is easy to handle with small loaders, and easy to market. Mine has had some problems, but none too major, and I have put at least 100 bales through a year, for the last 10 years. What to look for: check the belts for dry rot, look at the laces for rip-out. Open the tailgate up, and look in at the bale chamber, check the blade-like starting bar, it is on a hinge, and needs to be able to move. Look at all the roller bearings that the belt rollers ride on, particularly those where a direction change takes place (corner rollers). Look at the pickup teeth, get off to the side, and see if the teeth line up, if they don't that means that the pickup bars are bent. Inspect chains and adjuster blocks for wear, and lack of lubrication. Look at the front gear box, for boogered up shafts, loose connectors, leaks. That is all I can think of for now, others may add more. Remember that you need dual hydraulics, to operate the tailgate door, and about 35 HP, to run this baler. I operate mine, with an Allis Chalmers D-10 (II). [Reply]  [No Email]
Ron-MO 10-07-2012 06:23:23 174.131.238.189 Report to Moderator	Re: hesston 530 in reply to genenix, 10-06-2012 10:56:22   I owned a 530 for one season, and was not happy at all with it. Issues I had were very narrow pickup allowed hay to spill out sides if windrow was very big at all. Very easy to plug-watch carefully when starting a bale, or you will find yourself underneath it unplugging. Small bales, while they sound like they are handy were hard to sell, and difficult to stab with a spike without "pushing" them all over the field. Also, if you have much hay at all to bale, you will be constantly stopped tying making for a lot of additional time spent baling, and moving all those little bales. Just my opinion, but I sold mine, and went back to my old NH. [Reply]  [No Email]
Diydave 10-07-2012 06:36:29 96.244.160.195 Report to Moderator	Re: hesston 530 in reply to Ron-MO, 10-07-2012 06:23:23   The plugging part happens mostly in green hay, and can be minimized by starting bales, by going across a windrow, and picking up the hay like the manual describes, the direction you feed the hay in (stalk in first, or head in first) makes a big difference, in starting a bale. With experience, I can get mine started in either direction, mostly I bale so the dust don't get in my eyes! [Reply]  [No Email]