I moved to a new place and got a tractor and some implements . There was a Massey Ferguson 124 baler in the back of the yard. I aired up the tires, checked the fluids and greased up as many fittings that I could find. The moment of truth!!! I hooked up the PTO and the baler seemed to function I have a feeling it needs some work before use. I only have almost 4 acres to cut and bail so I would rather pay to have some one do the work than to buy a rake and what ever kind of hay cutter and crimper. Do people buy Balers then fix then up? All I know about balers is I used to keep my cousin company when he cut and baled the fields on his ranch. Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
Hay baler?
- Thread starter CT8
- Start date
- Status
They can be tricky.
The timing is absolutely essential & if it's timed properly,
take *careful* notes on how to time it again if the chain breaks.
If the needles are in good shape, good for you!
If they break - good luck finding replacements!
The device that ties the knots is an engineering marvel - if/when it works.
If the knotter won't tie the string.... you don't get "bales" - you get miniature haystacks.
The timing is absolutely essential & if it's timed properly,
take *careful* notes on how to time it again if the chain breaks.
If the needles are in good shape, good for you!
If they break - good luck finding replacements!
The device that ties the knots is an engineering marvel - if/when it works.
If the knotter won't tie the string.... you don't get "bales" - you get miniature haystacks.
Bailers take off people's arms.
Bailer
Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
Bailer
Hay baler.
Unless you are yelling at the person getting you out of jail, such as... "Hey, bailer!"
Or someone who jumps ship early.
Bailer
Hay baler.
Unless you are yelling at the person getting you out of jail, such as... "Hey, bailer!"
Or someone who jumps ship early.
We bought couple off auction and repaired. The smaller idiot cubes our family calls them are what the demand is for hobby farmers usually for a couple nags. The big rounds are easier to work on and easy to unroll to feed. If New Holland or other big name the parts are around and manuals are pretty detailed.
Originally Posted By: CT8
Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
Ha, ha. Not quite the same....
I grew up on a dairy farm and probably baled several hundred thousand bales with a New Holland 269 baler, the brand being one of the best in it's day. There's nothing quite like riding a bale trailer behind the baler and stacking a precision load of hay (straw, alfalfa, whatever) all while trying not to get bucked off because of rough terrain. It's also interesting if a snake gets packed into a bale and tries to take it out on the guy behind the baler doing the stacking.
Is your knotter twine or wire? Most every small twine baler has a very similar design of their knotter. (the part that ties knots in the twine to keep the bale together) It's just that everybody changes the parts just a little bit so that parts do not interchange.
People who can troubleshoot those small baler knotters are getting to be few and far between, as most people who now bale use large bales. Still, people who have hobby horses or goats like the small bales for convenience. We have never farmed with Massey Ferguson equipment, but a stop into your local MF dealer might give you a hint if parts are available for your baler brand new or if that machine has been long discontinued and new replacement parts are non-existent.
What problems does your baler have?
Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
Ha, ha. Not quite the same....
I grew up on a dairy farm and probably baled several hundred thousand bales with a New Holland 269 baler, the brand being one of the best in it's day. There's nothing quite like riding a bale trailer behind the baler and stacking a precision load of hay (straw, alfalfa, whatever) all while trying not to get bucked off because of rough terrain. It's also interesting if a snake gets packed into a bale and tries to take it out on the guy behind the baler doing the stacking.
Is your knotter twine or wire? Most every small twine baler has a very similar design of their knotter. (the part that ties knots in the twine to keep the bale together) It's just that everybody changes the parts just a little bit so that parts do not interchange.
People who can troubleshoot those small baler knotters are getting to be few and far between, as most people who now bale use large bales. Still, people who have hobby horses or goats like the small bales for convenience. We have never farmed with Massey Ferguson equipment, but a stop into your local MF dealer might give you a hint if parts are available for your baler brand new or if that machine has been long discontinued and new replacement parts are non-existent.
What problems does your baler have?
Originally Posted By: bioburner
The smaller square bales are what the demand is for hobby farmers usually for a couple nags.
Same here.
Big Round bales are for REAL farmers/ranchers...
Square bales are still in very high demand because of all the hobby farmers.
The smaller square bales are what the demand is for hobby farmers usually for a couple nags.
Same here.
Big Round bales are for REAL farmers/ranchers...
Square bales are still in very high demand because of all the hobby farmers.
You may have some trouble getting someone to come do 4 acres for you, but if you've got a close neighbor, they may be able to zip over and get it done when they do their hay.
As for the your baler, someone will buy it, maybe not for a lot, but more than scrap since it seems not to be all seized up atleast. Got an old farmer neighbor nearby?, they might be able to tell you exactly why it was parked back there!
If you are looking for a reason to play farmer, get the baler working, and pick up a haybine and rake. I like running my buddies hay set behind my tractor, and figuring out when to cut and rake and bale is a challenge. We do rounds which makes it easier as once you bale you don't have to worry about getting the bales off the field. Squares pay alot more and some horse people like mostly grass hay, so it kind of makes messing around we a few acres pay a few bucks.
As for the your baler, someone will buy it, maybe not for a lot, but more than scrap since it seems not to be all seized up atleast. Got an old farmer neighbor nearby?, they might be able to tell you exactly why it was parked back there!
If you are looking for a reason to play farmer, get the baler working, and pick up a haybine and rake. I like running my buddies hay set behind my tractor, and figuring out when to cut and rake and bale is a challenge. We do rounds which makes it easier as once you bale you don't have to worry about getting the bales off the field. Squares pay alot more and some horse people like mostly grass hay, so it kind of makes messing around we a few acres pay a few bucks.
Originally Posted By: CT8
I moved to a new place and got a tractor and some implements . There was a Massey Ferguson 124 baler in the back of the yard. I aired up the tires, checked the fluids and greased up as many fittings that I could find. The moment of truth!!! I hooked up the PTO and the baler seemed to function I have a feeling it needs some work before use. I only have almost 4 acres to cut and bail so I would rather pay to have some one do the work than to buy a rake and what ever kind of hay cutter and crimper. Do people buy Balers then fix then up? All I know about balers is I used to keep my cousin company when he cut and baled the fields on his ranch. Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
You don't necessarily need a mower/conditioner- plenty of people use a sickle bar mower, then rake it to fluff it up and encourage drying (when and how often you do depends on heat and humidity)
Originally Posted By: Linctex
They can be tricky.
The timing is absolutely essential & if it's timed properly,
take *careful* notes on how to time it again if the chain breaks.
If the needles are in good shape, good for you!
If they break - good luck finding replacements!
The device that ties the knots is an engineering marvel - if/when it works.
If the knotter won't tie the string.... you don't get "bales" - you get miniature haystacks.
This man speaks the truth! I'd be suspicious that an old machine like yours is in proper working order.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: CT8
Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
Ha, ha. Not quite the same....
I grew up on a dairy farm and probably baled several hundred thousand bales with a New Holland 269 baler, the brand being one of the best in it's day. There's nothing quite like riding a bale trailer behind the baler and stacking a precision load of hay (straw, alfalfa, whatever) all while trying not to get bucked off because of rough terrain. It's also interesting if a snake gets packed into a bale and tries to take it out on the guy behind the baler doing the stacking.
Is your knotter twine or wire? Most every small twine baler has a very similar design of their knotter. (the part that ties knots in the twine to keep the bale together) It's just that everybody changes the parts just a little bit so that parts do not interchange.
People who can troubleshoot those small baler knotters are getting to be few and far between, as most people who now bale use large bales. Still, people who have hobby horses or goats like the small bales for convenience. We have never farmed with Massey Ferguson equipment, but a stop into your local MF dealer might give you a hint if parts are available for your baler brand new or if that machine has been long discontinued and new replacement parts are non-existent.
What problems does your baler have?
Baled more hay than I care to count behind a Farmall Super MTA and a Holland 273... neither one of those machines ever missed a beat. Well, on occasion the baler when it was switching from one roll of twine to another.
You're right about the feeling of satisfaction you get when you fill up a rack and you set a plumb line off of it. It's also kinda fun to torment the kids who want to help, but aren't used to the exertion- I've tried to teach them to use the subtle and not so subtle movements that the tractor, baler and rack impart on you to their advantage. It can make a short day really long if you don't. If you do, a long day with a huge field or lots smaller fields is much easier to handle.
I moved to a new place and got a tractor and some implements . There was a Massey Ferguson 124 baler in the back of the yard. I aired up the tires, checked the fluids and greased up as many fittings that I could find. The moment of truth!!! I hooked up the PTO and the baler seemed to function I have a feeling it needs some work before use. I only have almost 4 acres to cut and bail so I would rather pay to have some one do the work than to buy a rake and what ever kind of hay cutter and crimper. Do people buy Balers then fix then up? All I know about balers is I used to keep my cousin company when he cut and baled the fields on his ranch. Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
You don't necessarily need a mower/conditioner- plenty of people use a sickle bar mower, then rake it to fluff it up and encourage drying (when and how often you do depends on heat and humidity)
Originally Posted By: Linctex
They can be tricky.
The timing is absolutely essential & if it's timed properly,
take *careful* notes on how to time it again if the chain breaks.
If the needles are in good shape, good for you!
If they break - good luck finding replacements!
The device that ties the knots is an engineering marvel - if/when it works.
If the knotter won't tie the string.... you don't get "bales" - you get miniature haystacks.
This man speaks the truth! I'd be suspicious that an old machine like yours is in proper working order.
Originally Posted By: Kruse
Originally Posted By: CT8
Balers are like horses the hay goes in the front and comes out the back.
Ha, ha. Not quite the same....
I grew up on a dairy farm and probably baled several hundred thousand bales with a New Holland 269 baler, the brand being one of the best in it's day. There's nothing quite like riding a bale trailer behind the baler and stacking a precision load of hay (straw, alfalfa, whatever) all while trying not to get bucked off because of rough terrain. It's also interesting if a snake gets packed into a bale and tries to take it out on the guy behind the baler doing the stacking.
Is your knotter twine or wire? Most every small twine baler has a very similar design of their knotter. (the part that ties knots in the twine to keep the bale together) It's just that everybody changes the parts just a little bit so that parts do not interchange.
People who can troubleshoot those small baler knotters are getting to be few and far between, as most people who now bale use large bales. Still, people who have hobby horses or goats like the small bales for convenience. We have never farmed with Massey Ferguson equipment, but a stop into your local MF dealer might give you a hint if parts are available for your baler brand new or if that machine has been long discontinued and new replacement parts are non-existent.
What problems does your baler have?
Baled more hay than I care to count behind a Farmall Super MTA and a Holland 273... neither one of those machines ever missed a beat. Well, on occasion the baler when it was switching from one roll of twine to another.
You're right about the feeling of satisfaction you get when you fill up a rack and you set a plumb line off of it. It's also kinda fun to torment the kids who want to help, but aren't used to the exertion- I've tried to teach them to use the subtle and not so subtle movements that the tractor, baler and rack impart on you to their advantage. It can make a short day really long if you don't. If you do, a long day with a huge field or lots smaller fields is much easier to handle.
- Status
Similar threads
