What did you do with your Allis Today?

I got to run my seriesIII today, baled grass hay. The 7000 was on the other baler. We lucked out with conditions, there are several fires around us so it doesn't matter which way the wind blows we have smoke. Had enough wind to hold the dew off and not quite blow the windrows away. We had the rakes, two balers and the harobed all going at the same time. Sixty acres raked, baled and stacked before the weather got bad.

Ted

I drained the water out of the radiator and block and replaced with 50/50 anti freeze. I thought I should do it while I’m thinking of it before I forget and it freezes in the middle of December.

nice rig hows the fishing

I ran my 7030 pulling a baler, first time I have run it since I baled with it last month. I learned a few things about it. The right rear tire had a leak and was nearly flat. I decided to change the water valve, found that the one I took out had a disintegrated oring, so I may have fixed the leak. I had changed the air filters and considered doing the fuel filter but was short on time and didn't want to reprime the fuel system, but I found that sitting a month it lets a little air in so I had to reprime it anyway. I think I need to come up with some more things for that tractor to do so it gets used a little more.
Now the exciting part, saw a meteor a little before 1:00am pacific time. It lit up the sky bright blue like a giant arc welder and lasted about ten seconds. I have seen meteors before but never have seen one that bright. It was East and North of us, but impossible to tell how far.
Edit to add - What I have read about the meteor is that it broke up over Sims Corner, about sixty miles north of where I was baling and was probably only ten miles east when I first spotted it. I had just stopped and was getting out of the cab to check twine when the sky lit up. I expected to hear a sonic boom but didn't, I must have been just outside the cone. It was bright enough to be seen from Vancouver Island to Spokane, WA and probably beyond.

Ted

Edited by TedN - 15 Aug 2026 at 8:36pm

Got it stuck in the creek! The 185 I was bush-hogging with that is. Had to walk back to the shed and get the 856 to pull myself out.

I finally had opportunity to bale at night with my seriesIII. It has been over a year since I updated my lights, and this was the first time I used them. My brother has used it a couple times at night, and I have baled grass hay in the daylight but I was starting to wonder why I had put them on. I have them wired to the original light switch and set up so I can turn it back one click and shut off the light bar in the front if I happen to be aimed at the other tractor. I also got to try out my camera at night, it is nice to be able to see what is on the other side of the dust coming from the baler. I was concerned the display might be too bright and I would have to figure out how to dim it, but it wasn't a problem at all. The downside to all this is now I know what it is like to have lights and camera, so I need to get the rest of them upgraded.

Ted

Small squares, 16 x 18. From what I understand we are one of the few areas of the US to use that size, and not many that still do. We are in a desert climate and don't get the humidity. With the small bales we don't use anything, but almost everyone that does big bales does. Our market is bale sales, so we try to get to 90# bales in alfalfa, a bit less in grass. If we were selling on a per ton basis they would be heavier.

Ted

TedN wrote: Small squares, 16 x 18. From what I understand we are one of the few areas of the US to use that size, and not many that still do. We are in a desert climate and don't get the humidity. With the small bales we don't use anything, but almost everyone that does big bales does. Our market is bale sales, so we try to get to 90# bales in alfalfa, a bit less in grass. If we were selling on a per ton basis they would be heavier. Ted

I’ve read Ted’s post 3 times. Am I understanding that your bale weight is 90-107 pounds in a small square?

TedN wrote: Yes, that is correct. 16"x18"x46"-48" length, our climate allows drydown to about 12% moisture then we need a little dew to bale. We have had fourth cut average over 120# a bale. We usually get four cuttings per year on alfalfa, three on the grass hay. If you forget to back the tension off between grass and alfalfa you will get bales so tight you can barely get your fingers between the strings and bale, but you will notice that when you are replacing your shear bolt. On the Allis topic I have started getting a few things ordered for my D14. We have some alfalfa to plant soon, and it seems to be well suited to the drill. Probably be winter before I pull the sides off to change out the gauges and rework the wiring though. Ted

Interesting how things are done in different parts of the country. We make 37” long bales and strive to produce 37-38 pound square bales for our customers. Several customers are women and they request lighter bales. Years ago we normally baled 42-45 pound bales. More women are involved now with horses or cattle. Man I wouldn’t want to load those 100 lb bales lol! We still hand stack our wagons.

I forgot that this thread took a turn, I meant to try to get some pictures and start a thread on the hay loading. My brother still has a boom loader and loads occasionally, but usually hires it done. Big bales and squeeze blocks have made loading small bales a thing of the past.
Back to what I did with my Allis today - I decided the D14 could use a little bit of attention, so I ordered a seat shock and bushings, and new gauges for it. I bought a three rib front for it so it will have matching fronts, maybe this weekend I can start working on it.

Ted

Remember that post in july when the rotobaler ate hay like no ones business. Today i brought out a project rotobaler and i knew it was going to be an unproductive process but two hours, 8 bales and only three with string. What in heavens name made me think i need two working rotobalers is beyond me.