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Quebec Red
12-22-2005 14:27:09
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Re: next question in reply to old fashioned farmer, 12-22-2005 13:33:07
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A 336 JD and a kicker came to this red farm when IH sold out their balers one summer in the mid seventies. A very good baler and bale thrower. However these bales must still be manhandled. When labor became undependable, we looked for a better way. Went to round bales in a tie stall dairy barn. Yes with small doors, etc. Marvelous inventions those chainsaws.... Rather than small square bales, look at a New Holland or JD 4x4 round baler. The 4x4 bales can be rolled and fed by one person. The summer days are much more fun when hydraulics are doing the job. Total investment is less considering that you would need at least 6 wagons for an afternoon's work. Plus you do not have to load the bales today. Bale a bunch and then draw in. Really check this out-a lot of farmers said no way around here, but a hell of a lot copied my system around here after seeing me do hay in 8-10 days instead of half the summer. Usually cut 50 acres at a time with two 9 foot CIH (NHs painted red and black); with the new 5 bat reels, these girls really cut hay compared to the 4 bat units. Traded a 1 and a 2 year old haybines just to get the 5 bar reels. Discbines cost too much, take too much power, have expensive repairs, and are extremely dangerous. When a knife breaks and goes flying, cab glass does not stop them. Been there and brought home the red (as in blood) ribbon. As to rakes, have used conventional bar rakes, rotary rakes and now use the big wheel rakes. These definately the best way to go- almost no parts eg gearboxes, u joints, etc. and they are hydraucically controled as to clearence and width. They do an excellent job at HIGH speed-10 to 12 MPH. Have a Case IH 12 wheel. Very satisfied compared to NH 258 and a 260 unit or any combination of a Kuhn. Made 28 foot bale wagons at my local welding shop to haul bales. Were stronger and cheaper than store boughts. Six wagons 3 bales high (2high, 2 wide and the 3rd row in the middle as a tie) with a Hydrostatic drive loader tractor would bring in a bunch of bales in a short time. Would usually place the bales 2 at a time side by side. Really sped up loading, or send the loader tractor to the field and group each wagon load (half on either side and bring the wagon in the middle) to load super fast. Good luck. QR
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