Re: 638 newholland round baler any good?

Posted by John_PA on July 26, 2013 at 20:17:58 from (72.95.159.156):

In Reply to: 638 newholland round baler any good? posted by rickinohio on July 26, 2013 at 07:00:54:

I have a 648, which is a 4x5 baler, turned down to make 4x4 bales. The one you are looking at has a few options...

Bale Command was optional. That is the monitor system for your cab. Otherwise, you get a full bale alarm that just has a beep when the auto-tie starts. Then, before the twine cuts, it will beep again, to let you know the tying cycle is almost over.

Without Bale Command, you can still get an idea of bale shape, because the baler has 2 big yellow needles on the front that will line up with each other when the bale is even. They are not 100% fool proof, but, they do work.

Net wrap was also an option. It is nice to have, but the twine tie on those balers works great if you keep everything lubed up and adjusted right.

Extra wide sweep is another option. It does great on big windrows and if you have wind blown windrows. It is probably one of my favorite options for these balers. I have had one of the side augers plug up once in really heavy windrows. I doubled the windrows on a field that was making nearly 3 1/2 tons per acre. Wasn't a good idea... The pickup tines move fast, and I have baled pretty quickly. The most important thing is to get the core started correctly. The best way is to swerve back and forth across the windrow violently until you get a core started, and keep the hay from making a big slug at any one point on the stripper roll. That is when bad things happen, especially in slippery over dry hay, or straw. When I worked for New Holland, I went to a customers place where he was ready to take a match to the baler when doing straw. I showed him how to start a bale (it's even outlined in the owners manual) and he never had another problem.

The only other things I can tell you about what to look at when looking to buy are to check the sledge frame for deep grooves worn in one side more than the other. That will indicate that the tracking is out. Also, There are a series of open gears that run the starter roll, pivot roll, middle roll, and stripper roll. Those gears tend to wear out if not given a dose of open gear lube before each day. Some of the roll gears are over $450 each and the idler gears between them are over $150 each. They are a nightmare to change, also. Best thing to do is climb up and take a good look at those gears for worn teeth.

putting the pickup down too low and making very sharp turns will bend the pickup wheels, also.

Can't think of anything else offhand, but, aside from that, I give the baler 2 thumbs up.

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