I did it. bought a baler... little long..

An ad in the paper turned up 10 balers within 30 miles of the house. All about the same price, but different ages/models. Decided to look at 2 20+/- a year or so old ones. A JD 332 and a Welger AP45 (German made). Both were the same price so went today to see both. When I got to where the JD was, the place was kind of raggedy (equipment scattered wherever it could lay and not really maintained). Guy started pointing out used baler parts that he'd throw in w/ the baler before I even saw it. Had to go to a barn about a mile away that had more raggedy equipment and a baler. Not knowing anything about them, I just started looking at general appearance and obvious damage. Started looking and asking ???'s and the guy dropped the price 200 bucks and said he needed to get it out cause he needed the space. Said I'd tell him tomorrow cause I was looking at another machine next and he dropped another 100 and said he'd clean everything up and lube it for me. Told him he should have been doing it for himself the last 10 years.

Went to the other place and you knew when you pulled up that you'd find nice equipment. Everything tidy and in it's place, all dress right dress and nice to look at. Found my little baler setting in the corner ready to go to work. A little dusty but completely gone over and maintained. The 15 years the guy had it, he used it 1 day a year and baled 200-400 bales of straw and was cleaned, lubed, and all straw removed before it was parked for the season. Said he never cleaned his stuff with a water hose, only compressed air and a wet rag. Parts and owners manuals were like new and every compartment had a rag in it to wipe stuff down. Factory installed taillights for pulling on the road was a help also. Really nice people, had a beer and a little lunch with them and got a tour of the place and tasted a little wine (they have vineyards and a small winery). Bought it without haggling. Hope I did OK, but I think so. I'll post some pics when I pick it up in a few weeks.

Dave

Sounds like you did ok. Don't think I would have bought the raggedy and probably poorly maintained JD either.

Having the manuals will be a big help. James always gets the manuals that go with the equipment. Saves a lot of headaches.

Take the time now to read over the manuals and find out where the adjustments are and how they work. Much better to do it now than in the field trying to bale hay.

Congrats, hope it works out for you. Let us know.

Sounds like you did ok. Was there much difference in the price? Stan

Sounds like you did OK. Hope the thing doesn't turn out to be Germany's version of the Case 100!

I try to get manuals for everything, but I ALWAYS get them for balers. You won't be able to diagnose knotter problems without it, and if you don't do things right, you can get it "out of time" so the next time the knotter trips, the thing sort of bales itself into a bunch of bent and busted pieces.

The 300 bucks that the guy dropped the JD. But, I think it was 300 well spent.

Dave

Good for you Dave!!! Looks are not deceiving in this instance. How a person treats his or her equiptment says volume. If it's well maintained I dont haggle on the price either. Parts list is needed on everything now a days. Happy for you. Remember, God Provides.
LOU

Just have to get it home now. Prolly just take a day and go get it with the tractor (65 miles RT @ 12 mph) and save searching for and renting a trailer etc. Wifes going galavanting in TX for almost 2 weeks in a couple days, good time to take a ride I guess. I don't have a heater on my tractor like some of you guys though :roll:

Dave

Wined and dined plus a baler,what more can a man want?.[leaving aside the skillions of $$'s]
seems like a good day well spent.

Remember to take your camera along ... you will see lots of things to show us ....

Mark

(quoted from post at 20:07:07 10/13/09) Remember to take your camera along ... you will see lots of things to show us ....

Mark

Click to expand...

Real neat area, lot of old stone and timberframe houses. Grapevines as far as you can see and they are harvesting grapes for the next few weeks (makes for some interesting pics). If I tractor it, I'll take plenty. May even be able to swing a ferry ride.

Dave