Small Square Baler

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   What is a good cheap small square baler?
I have experience with AC 302 I remember the knotter worked good, would
use a shear bolt every now and then. I have been offered cheap use of local land.
a 19 acre, 8 acre, and 47 acre plot. All within 1/4 mile on back roads. But also a 34 acre
plot 2 miles away with people driving fast. Are there balers that transport (still towed by the tractor) as compact (narrow/not offset) as possible?

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BrianC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 16 Jun 2011 Location: New York Points: 1619	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrianC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Small Square Baler Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 2:44pm
	What is a good cheap small square baler? I have experience with AC 302 I remember the knotter worked good, would use a shear bolt every now and then. I have been offered cheap use of local land. a 19 acre, 8 acre, and 47 acre plot. All within 1/4 mile on back roads. But also a 34 acre plot 2 miles away with people driving fast. Are there balers that transport (still towed by the tractor) as compact (narrow/not offset) as possible?

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DiyDave Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Gambrills, MD Points: 52530	Post Options Post Reply Quote DiyDave Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 5:51pm
	New holland 66, 68, 269 273, all are pretty good small balers. All have a tongue that shifts to the left, for transport, but still take up most of a lane...

thendrix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 04 Feb 2013 Location: Fairmount GA Points: 4959	Post Options Post Reply Quote thendrix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 7:08pm
	I've run a 273 for the last couple of years and am pleased with it. If I made enough hay to afford one I would look for an inline baler. I know Massey/Hesston and Case made/make them. A bit more expensive then the older NH but the inline's run in the upper 90's in strokes per minute where the 273 runs at 71 (or 73) strokes per minute. Also they tow right behind the tractor. No offset and no swingout tongue once in the field.
	"Farming is a business that makes a Las Vegas craps table look like a regular paycheck" Ronald Reagan

jjwo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Wapak, Ohio Points: 85	Post Options Post Reply Quote jjwo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 7:10pm
	I know, wrong color, but I sure had good luck wit a JD 14T, not a 24T. If it missed a bale it was the twine caused it.

Gary Burnett Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Points: 2963	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gary Burnett Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 8:16pm
	I bought an Oliver 62-T at an auction awhile back for $200 and it puts up a real nice bale even had 4 balls of twine in the box.It'll also bale with the poly twine which a lot of older balers won't do.You wouldn't go wrong with a JD 24T or 336.

BrianC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 16 Jun 2011 Location: New York Points: 1619	Post Options Post Reply Quote BrianC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 7:38am
	Thanks guys for the good info. I will start looking.

Rick143 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 13 Dec 2015 Location: Lomira, WI Points: 247	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rick143 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:16pm
	My dad had both the JD 24th and the 336 both good bales. If you find one in good shape I prefer the 24th.

Dan73 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Location: United States Points: 6054	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dan73 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:29pm
	Look up parts prices and availability in your area first. I have a NH 565 baler myself. My neighbor had a nh 273 I have had him bale about 600 bales after mine broke down this summer. My fault on my baler I didn't realize that the knotter to cam drive gear having a little play was a bad thing I need to fix on an old baler. So check that they are tight or you will end up buying knotters. I grew up with jd balers. My uncles and grandfather couldn't keep them tying knots for anything. Always having it stuck in the bill hook. I did alot of research before buying and best I could find JD or NH is ford or chevy. Some people like both. What I can tell you is if you plug up the feed head on a nh it is alot easier to clean out then the JD auger is to clean out. I can also tell you I like the design if the nh bill hook slightly better. The knotters are almost the same on both but I there are a few things nh did different that seem to limit the stuck on bill hook issues. The only ones I have had where when a knot at ye twine change over gets stuck. The big problem I have had with the nh is the dog springs getting weak and needing to be replace cheap easy fix. Anyway for me ordering parts and having them shipped Messicks is quick and the price is right so I am glad I got the NH. I have a JD mower and everytime I order anything for that I wish I hadn't bought it.

albatros_3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 16 Apr 2012 Location: SE Michigan Points: 450	Post Options Post Reply Quote albatros_3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:36pm
	With that many acres, you might want to worry about capacity of the baler depending on your availability. Transportability, an inline baler is hard to beat. I'm currently using a New Holland 269 and it's a good little machine, but the narrow pickup is challenge sometimes. I wish the pickup was at least 6" wider and had more tines. I had a chance at a good CIH 8520 and NH 570 for good prices and still regret passing on them. Cost wise, NH 273s and JD 336s are fairly cheap around me. Every now and then a NH 315 will pop up cheap or a JD 337.

Dan73 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Location: United States Points: 6054	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dan73 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 12:37pm
	I will add an accumulator is priceless. I have the one below and love it best money I have spent. It puts them on their side. I wasn't sure I wanted bales on their side when I bought it. But you can leave them in the field over night that way without the baled getting nearly as wet they are fine the next morning. A blessing for me working alone. And they load ok on a trailer you just have to strap them down. I think the other style that lays them flat would load better but everyone here who tried those around me gave up on them because the gates to sort the bales gave too much trouble in the accumulator. The one I have is very simple two hydraulic cylinders one to kick the bales over one to dump the load. http://www.hoelscherinc.com/prod_acc.htm

Don (Utah) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Location: Hooper Utah Points: 50	Post Options Post Reply Quote Don (Utah) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 2016 at 9:01pm
	I had a NH 276 and was a great baler. Then a good deal on a 4570 heston that I got as is and rebuilt the pick up. I was good baler, liked it so well I traded for a new 4590 in 2002 and still don't miss any bales.