John Deere baler

[Snowdonia19]

Hi, I'm new on here just joined 10 minutes ago. Would like some positive feedback and flaws if any. Im going to see a jd 644 baler tomorrow morning from my local jd dealer which ive bought a 6220se off them few years ago now. Is my tractor capable of using this baler above hp wise? Been told its 100hp there abouts maybe 110hp. Its a 2012 baler with very low bale count one owner from new. Any good and bad points regarding the baler? Nearly bought a jd 578 but been offered this today instead. Many thanks in advanced.

 

[H200GT]

Used a 578 for a few seasons, make a good solid bale when going. Issues mainly around the netting system, its not that good and i think its more luck than judgement to get it to work reliably, although running it at around 580-600 rpm seemed to make it better.

Never used a 644, they may be a lot better, and others on here will no doubt know far better than me. But in my part of North Wales its almost exclusively McHale now, and there must be a reason for that. There are some Vicon and Welgars mixed in, but id say 90% are McHale now.

Not sure what money a 644 would be, but if it were me id spend my money on one of the 3 mentioned above.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

We have a chipped 6220 which is 90hp at the business end.
On flat ground it has plenty power for a 568 baler (similar to a 578) though when baling dry hay with the pressure up the tractor does let us know it’s working hard as the bale reaches max size, and we sometimes have to drop a gear. Fine for small time farmers like us. Hope that helps.

 

[H200GT]

Also i think your tractor may be on its limit with a baler at 90hp, the JD578 was not light on the engine if screwed in tight, and the chopper takes some power too. Add any hills and pace will be slow with only 90hp. The McHale is even more power hungry, but we get through the work far quicker.

110hp would be about the minimum on hilly land for a baler i think, 140hp if you want to crack on and chop. I’d be tempted to remap your tractor, couple good lads do this in NW area

They do say a krone baler is easy on the power, but never used one myself.

 

[balerman]

JD roller balers aren't the best,they only realised a couple years ago you need 18 rollers not 17 and a blanking plate.They do make good silage bales tho,hay and straw could struggle.A 6220 will drive it,and if youre only doing up to 1000 bales it will be ok,for serious baling tho,you need a bigger tractor and a better baler.

 

[Ducati899]

Had mine since they first come out and have had no issues whatsoever baling hay or straw,very very rarely the net will wrap round instead of going on the bale,I’d say I’ve had that happen once or twice a season,if doing mega numbers then there would be balers better suited with better output for sure but I find as a farmers machine it does the job fine

 

[Owz130]

We run two late model 578’s with the “Cover Edge” net wrapping system.

Never used the earlier netting system balers, but the Cover Edge system is certainly of no concern whatsoever. Nets reliably every time. We use standard width net with the two spacer bobbins inserted.

The 644 uses the same netter.

We don’t tend to chop unless asked, so this alows us to use 90 or 100hp tractors with ease even on the slopes. When we do chop, this does need extra hp.
Id say 120 or 130hp will be fine.

One of ours has just crossed 32k bales and needed a set of chains, but other than this, faultless.

Being in mid-wales, we havn’t come across straw, but it bales silage fine. Have had issues in seriously dry conditions (and i mean dry) while baleing hay, the bales will stop turning in the chamber before the net is applied, but this is quite a rare occasion, to the extent that it really isnt a problem. I believe the newer 441r model with 18 rollers have this sorted.

Im sure there are better balers out there, but on the whole, a good, reliable baler and they’ve served us well.

 

[mtx.jag]

Got a 644 premium and it gose as well as a mchale 550 which we had side by side.
Had teething problems first year but after a lot of mods it’s now flying.
Got 150hp on the front but a lot of what we bale is steap and as your going up a bank with bale nearly full it takes every pony you have.
Do silage,hay and straw with it,I find the faster you go with dry straw the better it gose.

 

[Snowdonia19]

We run two late model 578’s with the “Cover Edge” net wrapping system.

Never used the earlier netting system balers, but the Cover Edge system is certainly of no concern whatsoever. Nets reliably every time. We use standard width net with the two spacer bobbins inserted.

The 644 uses the same netter.

We don’t tend to chop unless asked, so this alows us to use 90 or 100hp tractors with ease even on the slopes. When we do chop, this does need extra hp.
Id say 120 or 130hp will be fine.

One of ours has just crossed 32k bales and needed a set of chains, but other than this, faultless.

Being in mid-wales, we havn’t come across straw, but it bales silage fine. Have had issues in seriously dry conditions (and i mean dry) while baleing hay, the bales will stop turning in the chamber before the net is applied, but this is quite a rare occasion, to the extent that it really isnt a problem. I believe the newer 441r model with 18 rollers have this sorted.

Im sure there are better balers out there, but on the whole, a good, reliable baler and they’ve served us well.

Been offererd a 644 the 578 has been sold before i got ro it that was an edge too. 2007 and only 20,000 bales on the clock. The 644 is a 2010 after looking at it on Saturday with 12,000 bale count. Mint condition too. All my land here are fairly flat my farm especially. I do about 500 bales a year thought it would do me a couple of years. I have a friend to wrap for me. Whats the going rate just baling ? I wint do straw as everyone seems have stopped doing it including myself. I won't chop dont think its moslty haylage i do rather than silage. How do you chip a 6220se? Speak to my local dealer? Is it costly? Will she me more thirsty on the fuel? Another question does she need a lot of turning been told jd's always wanted more of a turn compared to other makes? Or is that just rubbish with modern balers.

 

[Snowdonia19]

How much more horsepower would i get out of my 6220SE if chipped? Whats the cost of it if i have to take it to my local John Deere dealer in Anglesey?

 

[H200GT]

How much more horsepower would i get out of my 6220SE if chipped? Whats the cost of it if i have to take it to my local John Deere dealer in Anglesey?

Give Martin Turner of Turner Tuning a call - 07580147196, based in Wrexham.

Did a great job on the old mans NH

I would personally do a DPF delete at the same time as he is coming out if the tractor is fitted with one as its one less headache to go wrong in the future, but thats up to you. Your engine will thank you for it, greenpeace wont.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

I checked the test results and our 56 reg 6220 is 104hp at PTO speed . It is a very noticeable difference over standard. It was a Chip from a name like Steinbauer fitted by the then JD dealer and cost around £700 I think. Perfectly adequate for our 568 with no chopper but I am hoping that 145+ hp on the front will speed it up a little this year. No idea about fuel consumption but I assume it uses more than when it was standard.
I would definitely have another JD baler based on how good the 568 has been for us.

 

[Snowdonia19]

Been advised from my jd dealer not to open the pump would make more harm than good. All they said get a bigger tractor hp wise. That wont happen soon not after i purchase the jd 644 baler off them!

 

[H200GT]

Been advised from my jd dealer not to open the pump would make more harm than good. All they said get a bigger tractor hp wise. That wont happen soon not after i purchase the jd 644 baler off them!

Of course they wouldn’t, they want your £££.

Seriously, all our tractors have been mapped or spanner’d, none have yet given any trouble that could be attributed to it.

 

[flyonthewall]

Dr Derv sorted our 6430 out with 150 hp map, runs cooler now too!

 

[Snowdonia19]

Well latest update ive bought a john deere 644 cover edge premium last week off a local john deere dealer and already baled 15 acres at ease with my jd 6220se tractor. Very impressed with the quality of the bales solid bales. More to cut next week.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Well latest update ive bought a john deere 644 cover edge premium last week off a local john deere dealer and already baled 15 acres at ease with my jd 6220se tractor. Very impressed with the quality of the bales solid bales. More to cut next week.

They are good balers in hay and hayledge....not so good in second and third cuts or early sappy stuff

 

[Snowdonia19]

I only do haylage no straw as been told they dont like straw. If its dry it will bale second cut no problem. I dont chop either.

 

[Cmoran]

Been advised from my jd dealer not to open the pump would make more harm than good. All they said get a bigger tractor hp wise. That wont happen soon not after i purchase the jd 644 baler off them!

I got my 6620se mapped years ago well worth doing he took out Ecu to do it cost €700 at the time but worth every penny still pushing out 140hp at pto