Tedder selection help

Southtowns27 · Mar 26, 2010

Hi all, I have a small square baling operation, usually about 1000 bales. I currently don"t have a tedder and there are 2 up for auction locally tomorrow. I"ve never run a tedder so I need some help. The 2 machines are a NH 254 2 star and a Hesston 3717 4 star. I cut with an 8" haybine. I don"t want something too big or too small so what would you all recommend? Any idea what a fair price to pay would be? Both machines look well maintained and seem reasonably tight. Both appear to have been kept indoors.

Southtowns27 · Mar 26, 2010

8' haybine, not 8" haybine

MikeinKy · Mar 26, 2010

The new holland 254 don't seem to be very well liked. I haven't had one, but i have heard a lot of complaints abouit them. The last one I saw sell at auction brought $75. I don't know about the other one.

Southtowns27 · Mar 26, 2010

Yikes, that's good to know. Anyone have any more insight on these?

Is the 3717 too big for what I'm doing?

Erik Ks farmer · Mar 26, 2010

I you can pick up the NH for the right price, with no more acerage than you"re covering it should do the job fine.

Negligence · Mar 26, 2010

I'd go for the Hesston. I have a four-star Deutz (KH 2.52) and it is the perfect size for a 9' haybine. Anything smaller like the NH and you might be wasting your time.

showcrop · Mar 26, 2010

The four star would certainly be better to use since it will save so much time. but because of that the 2 star should sell for a whole lot less so it comes down to time or money.

randallk · Mar 26, 2010

Definitely get the 4 star tedder.

Southtowns27 · Mar 26, 2010

Thanks for the replies

What's a fair price for one of these things. I realize it's hard to spit out a number sight unseen, but generally speaking, what are they worth?

cd1 · Mar 26, 2010

I have one, I haven't gotten to use it too much yet but I will this season, so far it does a super job IMHO, i've heard some don't hold up but I really won't know until I get a chance to use mine. However if you set it to aggressive tedding it should hold up fine, most peoples problem is light tedding and raking wearing out the cam roller things.

charlie n · Mar 26, 2010

We use this on 12 acres.This tractor works really well with the hydro trans.You don't have to run the pto real fast and you can adjust your ground speed easily to the density of the hay.

RodinNS · Mar 27, 2010

For all you're doing the 254 is a great idea... except that it's a piece of junk. You might get one in great shape and for that amount of work it will never give you trouble. On the other hand... at an auction you're likely to get one that's worn out and destroyed... which is why it's at the auction.
They weigh about 800#. Call your local scrap yard and ask what they're paying for unprepared scrap and multiply/divide appropriately.

An older 'Haybob' is probably as good as any tedder/rake for what you're wanting. They can be bought for a few hundred bucks quite often, have few moving parts other than their tines and are fairly cheap to repair/maintain.
A 4 basket tedder is nice too but really it's much more than you need.
It's one of those things where if the price was right...

Rod

Tedder selection help

Southtowns27

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MikeinKy

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Southtowns27

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Erik Ks farmer

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