Bombproof round baler

Hey I'm potentially looking at getting a used round baler, i want something cheap, simple and easy to fix that makes 4ft bales of everything from silage to straw. Can anybody recomend anything that they've had good experiences with. Or not so I know what to stay clear of.
Cheers
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Buying used it's a lottery... you've just no idea how the previous owner looked after it.

For example a baler with 100k bales on the count which has been well looked after could well be a better buy than one with only 30k bales but has never seen grease or oil...


Of the current crop of balers, it's pretty fair to say McHale is probably the most reliable, which to many make it also the best.
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
John deere belt balers make a nice tight centred bale but in my experience don't like it too wet or too dry. We have used a JD550 for years but it struggles in wet silage or dry straw. It laps up damp straw. A bit old hat nowadays. It makes a tighter bale than a McHale in my experience but is slower and less able to cope with diffcult conditions.

Avoid anything Eastern European. Utter shite.
 
John deere belt balers make a nice tight centred bale but in my experience don't like it too wet or too dry. We have used a JD550 for years but it struggles in wet silage or dry straw. It laps up damp straw. A bit old hat nowadays. It makes a tighter bale than a McHale in my experience but is slower and less able to cope with diffcult conditions.

Avoid anything Eastern European. Utter shite.

Cheers, not too bothered about speed, looking at between 700-1000 bales per year from first cut to third so nicely spread out.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Cheers, not too bothered about speed, looking at between 700-1000 bales per year from first cut to third so nicely spread out.


Greatest respect, we do just slightly more - usually 1100-1200 and I wouldn't consider buying 2nd hand. Buy new and keep it 25 years... expensive outlay initially but it'll cost you very little over its life and there's no hidden horror story you don't know about.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
both the last 2 class rollants I bought used, both ended up igniting themselves while baling straw, not to be recommended, the 1 before, new, brilliant, before that, wellgar 200, brilliant, haven't got one now.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
New baler prices went mad too, over 30k for a new McHale now. Last one cost about 20k 8 years ago. Baling price not gone up much.

Fair do's if you can justify one on 1200 bales. Mines done over 40k and can't make sums add up to change it.

McHale f5500 was 34k in 2013 when we bought it... but that included a ridiculous charge from McHale for the finance they bit us with AFTER buying/signing up! We made our thoughts about that bloody clear to the dealer
 

Andy Nash

Member
Arable Farmer
Buying new would of course be great but in my situation impossible, so when I was faced with the same dilemma as you ten years ago I bought a welger rp12. It was slow but reliable needing bearings every now and then. When it started breaking chains I bought a rp200 for £3800 which was much quicker but does the odd bearing every now and then.
 

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