Ultimate baler / sled / grab combo.

shumungus · Jun 4, 2020

Here in my part of the world all small square balers are mostly of circa 1970's vintage, and the whole flat eight thing never seemed to take off. So after having spent another evening watching a painfully slow baler plod around a field with rain clouds looming in the distance got me thinking. If I was to go looking for a baler/sled/grab outfit (secondhand of course) what would be the ones to look for?
We will say a budget of £10/15000. Not that we make all that many small squares anymore but I know we always will and it would be lovely to have the right toys in the toybox to just get sh!t done when need be.

wuddy · Jun 4, 2020

shumungus said:
Here in my part of the world all small square balers are mostly of circa 1970's vintage, and the whole flat eight thing never seemed to take off. So after having spent another evening watching a painfully slow baler plod around a field with rain clouds looming in the distance got me thinking. If I was to go looking for a baler/sled/grab outfit (secondhand of course) what would be the ones to look for?
We will say a budget of £10/15000. Not that we make all that many small squares anymore but I know we always will and it would be lovely to have the right toys in the toybox to just get sh!t done when need be.

No idea on prices but Welger ap730/830, two locally had flat 10 hydraulic sledges can’t remember the make, flat 10 cherry products grab and we modified a Richie Big bale transporter ( 56 bale transporter on steroids) to carry 10 x flat 10s!
Just seen @Farmerdunk post they were Armstrong flat 10 sledges

Nithsdale · Jun 4, 2020

Jones 10t baler

Browns flat8 sledge

Browns flat8 grab

Ritchie 56 trailer

Not our pics, but that was dad's set up which made/shifted 20,000 a year. It was in action with us right upto 1990 when he bought the first round baler and all sold to a neighbour who kept going with squares until the mid 90's.

Theres better balers, but the rest of the kit would be hard to beat.

Selectamatic · Jun 4, 2020

Nithsdale Farmer said:
Jones 10t baler

Browns flat8 sledge

Browns flat8 grab

Ritchie 56 trailer

Not our pics, but that was dad's set up which made/shifted 20,000 a year. It was in action with us right upto 1990 when he bought the first round baler and all sold to a neighbour who kept going with squares until the mid 90's.

Theres better balers, but the rest of the kit would be hard to beat.

Hey!! That’s my baler!! ??

Nithsdale · Jun 4, 2020

Selectamatic said:
Hey!! That’s my baler!! ??

Do you work it on a DB1212?

Selectamatic · Jun 4, 2020

Nithsdale Farmer said:
Do you work it on a DB1212?

Yes, quite often!

Nithsdale · Jun 4, 2020

Selectamatic said:
Yes, quite often!

Are you my father?!?!?

Although he upgraded to a 1390 by the end

Farmerdunk · Jun 4, 2020

We’ve had our Welger 830 and Armstrong sledge since 2002, both in great condition, and both doth a great job. Stacked in 40’s or 56’s with a cherry’s flat 8 grab.

Hesstondriver · Jun 5, 2020

Farmhand flat 10 sledge takes some beating

Goweresque · Jun 5, 2020

If you want to rehandle the small bales with the grab, I would suggest a Cooks grab, with its opposed hooks. That is it uses 2 hooks coming in from opposite directions to hold each bale in the 8. Thus not relying on pulling all the bales back towards the head plate, and making it far easier to pick up 8 bales without getting exactly square on, which is easy in the field, but less so in the shed.

daveydiesel1 · Jun 5, 2020

Best baler imho is the massey as u drive over row so never bales in ur way also crop doesnt have to move across its just straight in

Flat 10 · Jun 5, 2020

830. Armstrong Holmes sledge but only flat 10s......
Cherry grab

Rust · Jun 5, 2020

daveydiesel1 said:
Best baler imho is the massey as u drive over row so never bales in ur way also crop doesnt have to move across its just straight in

Have you used one ?

Boohoo · Jun 5, 2020

1970s balers aren't that slow if set up right, if the crop is ready and it's presented properly. My MF 124 will do 500 an hour when the going is good. I don't bale haybob rows, everything is raked into at least 20ft rows.
Flat 8s etc never caught on in Northern Ireland because it's rare that ground is dry enough to drag bales

335d · Jun 5, 2020

As above, when your baling hay and the tractor wheels are wet, it’s not a good idea trailing the bales along the ground.
fine in a good year though. You can get round this with a flat 8 with belt.

Your local arable dealer has one, but if you’ve ever been in his yard, you will know that it won’t be cheap

Cook Ritchie Super 8 Sledge for sale - Douglas Hamilton Machinery

cook ritchie super 8 sledge for sale - Douglas Hamilton Machinery

www.dhamiltonmachinery.co.uk

Boohoo · Jun 5, 2020

335d said:
As above, when your baling hay and the tractor wheels are wet, it’s not a good idea trailing the bales along the ground.
fine in a good year though. You can get round this with a flat 8 with belt.

Your local arable dealer has one, but if you’ve ever been in his yard, you will know that it won’t be cheap

Cook Ritchie Super 8 Sledge for sale - Douglas Hamilton Machinery

cook ritchie super 8 sledge for sale - Douglas Hamilton Machinery

www.dhamiltonmachinery.co.uk

You'd price a new sledge first. I went to look at flat 8 grabs last year and the price difference between a second hand Cooks grab and a new Ritchie wasn't big enough to buy second hand.

ffukedfarmer · Jun 5, 2020

Kuhns Mfg flat 10 sledge and grab. Straight up onto the trailer. Can go 8 layers high without roping.
Sledge is a beautifully simply design that just works.

I run an inline Massey baler that has been very reliable. It might not have the output of a Welger but it's no wider than the tractor so it easy to tow along the road and no need to fold it up to go through a gateway. Also handy being able to drive down whichever row you choose and not having to worry about bales being in the way.

In my view my system is as good as you can get without going to a bale packer.

maxxum5120 · Jun 5, 2020

You would of course need a David Brown 1212 to pull the baler with. Our neighbour has gone through 3 balers since his 1212 was new in 1978 it started with a mf 128 with a spadework hydraulic sledge which worked really well, he has tried using the fendt and the john deere but says theres nothing to touch the brown for the job

DeeGee · Jun 5, 2020

maxxum5120 said:
You would of course need a David Brown 1212 to pull the baler with. Our neighbour has gone through 3 balers since his 1212 was new in 1978 it started with a mf 128 with a spadework hydraulic sledge which worked really well, he has tried using the fendt and the john deere but says theres nothing to touch the brown for the job

You will be going on to Selectamatic’s Christmas card list at this rate.

bobk · Jun 5, 2020

You need to train your customers to get on 80x50 , everyones a winner

Ultimate baler / sled / grab combo.

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