Looking at balers

new2baling · Mar 4, 2015

Been baling squares for several years, while paying someone to bale around 200 rounds. Now thinking of buying a round baler. I will be baling with a 85HP tractor, 75PTO HP. Around here, about 15 miles NW of Coyote Flats, TX. the slightly used choices seem to be John Deere or Vermeer. The Vermeer (4x5) balers seem to need a lot less HP. I should have enough for most 4x6 balers, but don't want to put unnecessary strain on the tractor. Is the Vermeer more efficient, does the JD need the same horsepower with a 4x5 bale? Which is more idiot proof? What are pre cut knives? Thanks.

draftx · Mar 4, 2015

There is no such thing as an idiot proof baler. JD and Vermeer are both good.

new2baling · Mar 4, 2015

I was asking if one was simpler. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

smoking Minnie · Mar 4, 2015

I would recommend a claas 66 Bullet proof and as close to idiot proof as you can get.

Dick2 · Mar 4, 2015

My nephew use his Vermeer for 23 years; it still worked good but he thought that it was time to get a new Vermeer.

johnpop1 · Mar 4, 2015

We have had 3 John Deeres: 335, 446, and 449. They have all been excellent balers. They were all 4 x 4 but this size suits us for baleage.

wvfarmboy · Mar 4, 2015

have pulled a 535 jd thats 5x6 bales with a 6610 fordin good hay it worked it hard. then pulled it with a 6300 jd it ran it great. now i love my jd balers but looking really hard ar new holland lioke the bearings betterand shorter belts

Jim Myers · Mar 4, 2015

I baled around 600 4x5 round bales with a JD 435 and pulled it with a JD 2950 (85hp) and I had hills and good heavy hay and it worked excellent.

donjr · Mar 4, 2015

Don't rule out a New Holland- About a 644 or equivalent.....

Tx Jim · Mar 5, 2015

new2baling
I've been custom baling in N Texas with JD rd balers since '87. I think all later models balers are good for the most part. One reason Vermeer advertises less hp required is because the speed of rotation is slowed down. In this area one will mostly see JD rd balers in the field with a few NH & Vermeers baling. I would advise not to buy a JD 466 mega-wide pickup as they had poor designed feeder fingers. Cutter knives are designed to re-cut hay inside baler mostly for haylage/baleage. 85 hp tractor should handle a 4X6 baler as I once baled with a 80 hp tractor. Type & width of windrow plus operator driving habits contributes to a level bale of hay. Dealer support is important and I think one can get good support on either brand in N Texas.

Farmallhal · Mar 5, 2015

I'm not into round balers but one of the first things to consider is your servicing dealer. We have a New Holland dealership that keeps the doors open all night along with the service shop and field service personnel if need be during hay season. He has almost any part that is known to have issues in stock for immediate availability. The local John Deere dealership seems to be more interested in lawn equipment but they do sell larger equipment but aren't known for service - their parts department is a catalog and UPS unless you need a riding lawn mower blade. I am unaware of any Vermeer dealership in the area. In this area New Holland is close to 70-80% of all balers (round and small square), John Deere probably about one in six if that and the rest are various makes like IH, Massey Ferguson, Allis Chalmers and others that have been in the family for years as we had those dealerships in this area in years past.
I'm a small square baler person and yes, I have a New Holland 311 because of the NH dealership up the road about 20 miles, Hal.

MikeJM · Mar 5, 2015

We have an older JD 430, we've been happy with it. We run it with Ford 7600 that believe it or not only has 60hp on the dyno and it runs it just fine.

Texasmark1 · Mar 5, 2015

4x6 JD would be my pick for that tractor or even a 5x6. Around Coyote Flats where TX. Jim resides is slow rolling terrain (isn't it Jim?) and you should do just fine. Would grunt a little on the 5x6 on the last foot of the roll, but so what......tractors are built to grunt.

Been running older JD balers for at least 20 years; good solid, reliable balers and parts are either at the store or next day out of Dallas warehouse, even on a 25 year old baler and other JD implements that age and older. That's 99% of what you see around here. A slight few yellow and seldom if ever a red one.

Mark

Jeff M NY · Mar 5, 2015

I also have an older John Deere. Mine is a 330. Has been a pretty good baler since I have had it. I have run it with an International 856 diesel and an International 666 gas. Either one runs it fine. I like the bigger tractor on the hillsides though. They really only run hard when they are close to full. That must be a pretty sick 7600. Last one I ran was right at 103 hp. We ran a two row chopper with it.

MikeJM · Mar 5, 2015

The 7600 has a non turbo BSD268 replacement engine in it, it's very snappy, I don't think anyone turned the pump up or checked the HP when they put it in.

ztrmower · Mar 8, 2015

what he charging to bale for you. i did alot small squares also and always had first cut rolled. for what i paid per bale i did nothing. he furnished baler tractor fuel and labor i could not afford to own one. good luck

hoosierhog · Mar 20, 2015

i think your 7600 is sick. every ford 7600 I have seen is a strong 84
to 90 pto hp

Looking at balers

new2baling

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draftx

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new2baling

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smoking Minnie

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Dick2

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johnpop1

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wvfarmboy

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Jim Myers

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donjr

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Tx Jim

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Farmallhal

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MikeJM

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Jeff M NY

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