Our New Holland 835 round baler ate itself yesterday. Been nursing it for a bit. We're looking to get another in the price range of £6000 to £7000. We only do about 400 bales a year, just wondering what people would recommend. Best model for reliability etc. we have a 90 horse power proxima zetor and is very hilly where we are so would we be able to have one with knives or we lacking horses!!! Advice??
What round baler would you recommend?
- Thread starter Howler
- Start date
ILovebaling
Member
- Location
- Co Durham
There was another thread similar a week or 2 back. NH br740 was a popular recommendation. Loved ours when we had one but I would suggest having a good look at the condition of the pick up reel as that was our main issue with them.
At that money, I'd recommend a Deere 578 maxi cut, unless it's for straw. They're not the strongest or best engineered, but buying second hand is good value for money.
You'll get a younger baler with lower bale count than most other brands. It will make a superb shaped dense bale in hay and silage.
They are a relatively easy to power baler. I pulled mine with a 90hp Renault for a few years and my ground is proper steep stuff. You'll know when it's time to sharpen the knives, particularly in drier stemmy stuff, but that just means coming down a gear or disengaging the chopper knives.
When looking any roller baler, take a pry bar and try to move the rollers. The most likely to need bearings will be the bottom two and the last one on the door.
On the Deere check the comb that sits above and behind the feed rotor inside. The little stripper fingers that sit above the knives can be abused and be missing or bent. These will need sorted or that knife removed to prevent it blocking.
The chains on the Deere 578 will need replaced between 25 and 30 thousand bales.
The rotor drive and bottom two roller bearings will need replaced at a similar bale count if its been a silage baler.
A welgar 235 or very early Mchale 550 are better balers, but are likely to be pretty rough at £6-7000. A tidy Deere 578 can be had for that, and it's a far better baler than a new Holland or the awful claas 255.
You'll get a younger baler with lower bale count than most other brands. It will make a superb shaped dense bale in hay and silage.
They are a relatively easy to power baler. I pulled mine with a 90hp Renault for a few years and my ground is proper steep stuff. You'll know when it's time to sharpen the knives, particularly in drier stemmy stuff, but that just means coming down a gear or disengaging the chopper knives.
When looking any roller baler, take a pry bar and try to move the rollers. The most likely to need bearings will be the bottom two and the last one on the door.
On the Deere check the comb that sits above and behind the feed rotor inside. The little stripper fingers that sit above the knives can be abused and be missing or bent. These will need sorted or that knife removed to prevent it blocking.
The chains on the Deere 578 will need replaced between 25 and 30 thousand bales.
The rotor drive and bottom two roller bearings will need replaced at a similar bale count if its been a silage baler.
A welgar 235 or very early Mchale 550 are better balers, but are likely to be pretty rough at £6-7000. A tidy Deere 578 can be had for that, and it's a far better baler than a new Holland or the awful claas 255.
NH740 would be a good bet. They are a decent baler if well cared for and as you are already used to NH balers you will be on familiar ground. We used to have one and as @ILovebaling says check the pickup carefully. All the bearings are greasable unlike the older models. We have pulled ours with a 2wd ford 7610 no bother although I've never had a chopper version of that baler I would think on not too hilly going behind a hay bob with maybe a half set of knives you will be ok. Behind a 25 ft rake up the side of MT Everest it will be a different matter.
- Location
- Notts / lincs border
New holland 740 or 750 would be my choice or a case rbx 453 or 463 is the same baler.
oldoaktree
Member
- Location
- County Durham
Mchale seam v popular in these parts now! Re read your post think a Welgar would be a good bet
fergie35
Member
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Where are you located? We have a NH BR740, NH644 and a JD 582 all around your budget. PM me for details if you would like to know more.
banjo
Member
- Location
- Back of beyond
I use a 544 new Holland, don't use the chopper knifes. It makes a very good bale and good on steep ground. It's a chain baler though with a set bale diameter.
I bought a box full of bearings a few years back for £200 and change them when needed, only tales 5 mins. I also changed the pickup bearings When bought so goes well. The wrap system is excellent and rarely have to get out.
Check the chains for wear and the roller bearings before buying, but as I said the bearings are cheap.
If you are doing extremely steep ground a chap mentioned to me that some belt balers will lose a belt every now and then, but there are plenty on here who will know about that.
Good luck
I bought a box full of bearings a few years back for £200 and change them when needed, only tales 5 mins. I also changed the pickup bearings When bought so goes well. The wrap system is excellent and rarely have to get out.
Check the chains for wear and the roller bearings before buying, but as I said the bearings are cheap.
If you are doing extremely steep ground a chap mentioned to me that some belt balers will lose a belt every now and then, but there are plenty on here who will know about that.
Good luck