Baler ?

jaxs

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Jun 22, 2023
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Fair warning , balers are finicky to keep operating,don't buy a fixer upper unless you btdt before. Since rounds have become so popular there's an abundance of used square balers for cheap. To answer your question, most require a lot more power but you can fab a gear reduction and just reduce ground speed to use your tractor. They built balers powered by 2 cylinder engines but it has been decades since I saw one still operational.
 

D2Cat

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You'd find it much less cost to buy an older round baler and old tractor to power it then to buy haying equipment for a small tractor. But the most reasonable answer would be lo buy hay from a nearby farmer, or have him bale yours. ;)
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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Simple answer, NO
You can't even run the balers that @skeets noted as you only have 17.7 HP to the PTO.

Unsimple answer, you could if you could find a self propelled baler.

But @D2Cat 's advice the best, find someone that will contract to do it.
 

Kubota Newbie

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M4500, New Idea Cut-Ditioner, JD 14T Baler, IH "Plow Chief" plows, Oliver Rake
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You might run something like a old Deere 14T. They're on the lighter side of full size square balers. The weight of the baler vs the weight of the tractor is probably going to be a issue even with something as light as a 14. You have that big flywheel hanging out in front of the axle and it adds quite a bit of tongue weight. That being said I've moved my 14T around with my 1650 cadet. The spacing between the hitch and PTO might also be a bit of a issue. On flat ground in light hay and with a sharp plunger knife it doesn't take much HP to operate the old balers. However, as noted you need to be a pretty good wrench to own an old baler as there are a lot of things that can cause them to malfunction.
 

rc51stierhoff

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Are you planning to use at your place? I am not sure the acreage you want to bale but you could probably find someone to come bale it and leave you some depending on what you are needing.

I agree with D2CAT it would be much simpler/cost effective to buy the hay.

i think I would also offer that if you were going to do yourself anyway, offer to help the farmer and you can probably work out some sort of work share. I am sure they appreciate an extra hand and you will find out a lot about what owning a baler is like. If really serious about buying one, I’d recommend to go use one / help first before shelling out the cash. YMMV. ☕
 

Tx Jim

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Many yrs ago just for kicks I baled some hay with my '45 JD BO(14 HP) pulling a JD 214 sq baler
 

Tim Horton

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Mar 22, 2018
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Lake Superior
There was a time I was pretty serious about a ...package... of hay equipment consisting of a mower, rake, baler package for a bit under $10,000 at the time... Then I wanted a string tie bailer, not net wrap.. They kept pushing the net wrap option pretty much ignoring my preference of string wrap.. So it never went any further..
My 5 cents of experience..

 

skeets

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Hey Timmy next time your in here dont forget the doughnuts,,, and I want a double double too :)
Sorry I couldnt stop my self !!