McHale or Kuhn Fixed or Variable?

hutchy143211

Member
Location
E. Yorkshire
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Some from today (brother baling not me) with some well wilted, second cut (no fert). Not perfect, but more than happy with them.
 

DrDunc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Dunsyre
Soft saggy bales has absolutely nothing to do with the badge on the baler or wether it’s a belt or roller machine.

Baler setting come into play to an extent but so does the stuff it gobbling up. I baled some very green silage on a stinking hot day with the V660 a few weeks back and they were a prat to wrap. Baler set at max pressure as well, grass was hot to the touch. Rain forecast the next day so customer wanted it rolling up.

same setting on a cooler day and Grass that was wilted a bit more and it turned bricks out that were still perfect shapes a month later.
Aye, grass was 24 hour wilt 2nd cut leaf

However the old Krone belt and slat bales didn't sag. They weren't the prettiest shape out of the baler, but they stayed that way. Belt baler ones looked lovely at first, but they have sagged and you can make them any shape you want this morning with the bale lifter.

Tried various core and outer density pressure settings on the belt without much obvious difference. Krone slat baler set to 160 bar (max 180) and smallest (30cm) soft core.

Does the netwrap pre-stretch and number of turns affect bale deformation? Belt was more stretch and a full turn off net more so I would have thought that better for bale shape?
 

kill

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South West
Aye, grass was 24 hour wilt 2nd cut leaf

However the old Krone belt and slat bales didn't sag. They weren't the prettiest shape out of the baler, but they stayed that way. Belt baler ones looked lovely at first, but they have sagged and you can make them any shape you want this morning with the bale lifter.

Tried various core and outer density pressure settings on the belt without much obvious difference. Krone slat baler set to 160 bar (max 180) and smallest (30cm) soft core.

Does the netwrap pre-stretch and number of turns affect bale deformation? Belt was more stretch and a full turn off net more so I would have thought that better for bale shape?
My bet is the grass was baled in the heat of the day and instantly sweated right up and Moisture from those bales is almost instantly lost. HOT second cut grass can be a bugger to wrap in no time after any baler .
So why’s the Krone going as it was super perfect in every way not so long ago?
 

hutchy143211

Member
Location
E. Yorkshire
Aye, grass was 24 hour wilt 2nd cut leaf

However the old Krone belt and slat bales didn't sag. They weren't the prettiest shape out of the baler, but they stayed that way. Belt baler ones looked lovely at first, but they have sagged and you can make them any shape you want this morning with the bale lifter.

Tried various core and outer density pressure settings on the belt without much obvious difference. Krone slat baler set to 160 bar (max 180) and smallest (30cm) soft core.

Does the netwrap pre-stretch and number of turns affect bale deformation? Belt was more stretch and a full turn off net more so I would have thought that better for bale shape?
One thing is the kuhn's can be fussy with netwrap (more so for not starting). We use exclusively rondatex which is recommended in the book and works a treat. We put 2.5x layers on just to be sure and that helps keep them a bit tighter.
 

juke

Member
Location
DURHAM
vicon 52xx series belt baler is the answer ., if its grass its eating it, straw exactly the same, good heavy straw bales or as light you would want. 3 zone pressure settings. fast back door and reliable netting system, well built machine. if output is the goal then a mchale from what i have seen isnt gonna be keeping up with the vicon.
 

Optimus

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North of Perth
vicon 52xx series belt baler is the answer ., if its grass its eating it, straw exactly the same, good heavy straw bales or as light you would want. 3 zone pressure settings. fast back door and reliable netting system, well built machine. if output is the goal then a mchale from what i have seen isnt gonna be keeping up with the vicon.
Just got a new vicon belt baler if its anything like the old one I'll be happy.
 

Drillman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Aye, grass was 24 hour wilt 2nd cut leaf

However the old Krone belt and slat bales didn't sag. They weren't the prettiest shape out of the baler, but they stayed that way. Belt baler ones looked lovely at first, but they have sagged and you can make them any shape you want this morning with the bale lifter.

Tried various core and outer density pressure settings on the belt without much obvious difference. Krone slat baler set to 160 bar (max 180) and smallest (30cm) soft core.

Does the netwrap pre-stretch and number of turns affect bale deformation? Belt was more stretch and a full turn off net more so I would have thought that better for bale shape?
I leave core and outer set at 160 bar all the time unless conditions dictate lowering them. I’ve found it’s the stuff your baling rather than the machine that has the biggest effect. Done a lot for ourselves and on contract with various brands over the years.

Mchale v660 knocks them all into next week though for output and ability to bale anything at any time.

the other thing is the McHale looks built to last. Meat where meat is needed in its construction.

End of the day the vast majority of modern balers are pretty good, but as you may have noticed everyone compares what they have to the McHale Which is pretty much the default benchmark for round balers.

Having come from NH to one 5 years ago I can see why as well.
 
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juke

Member
Location
DURHAM
Just got a new vicon belt baler if its anything like the old one I'll be happy.
13 seconds from stopping to back door closing is impressive there is a way to make them quicker I'm told but will likely void warranty. Only baler I've seen that can match the vicon for netting and ejecting the bale quickly is the JD curtain baler. I'm sure you will be more than happy with your new baler.
 
Aye, grass was 24 hour wilt 2nd cut leaf

However the old Krone belt and slat bales didn't sag. They weren't the prettiest shape out of the baler, but they stayed that way. Belt baler ones looked lovely at first, but they have sagged and you can make them any shape you want this morning with the bale lifter.

Tried various core and outer density pressure settings on the belt without much obvious difference. Krone slat baler set to 160 bar (max 180) and smallest (30cm) soft core.

Does the netwrap pre-stretch and number of turns affect bale deformation? Belt was more stretch and a full turn off net more so I would have thought that better for bale shape?
Whats happened to the Krone?
 

Optimus

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North of Perth
13 seconds from stopping to back door closing is impressive there is a way to make them quicker I'm told but will likely void warranty. Only baler I've seen that can match the vicon for netting and ejecting the bale quickly is the JD curtain baler. I'm sure you will be more than happy with your new baler.
Best I had on my old vicon was 120/h.the restrictor broke in the old one for back door.you fairly shift then but had to be careful.
 

HarryB97

Member
Mixed Farmer
Our baling contractor runs two Kuhn round balers and changes them at a year old. Does all our straw and fully chops all our silage. Have never had miss shaped bales, always tight and even. Drove one for a season and very reliable and user friendly.
 

DrDunc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Dunsyre
Whats happened to the Krone?
The comprima is still making solid dense chopped bales out of anything it is driven over, and so far I haven't found something that both puts more in, and makes a better shaped bale.

The Kuhn feed rotor with integrated side augurs is definitely an improvement, and straw output would be increased. However it didn't make bales of 2nd cut grass that kept their shape as well as the Krone.

A fixed chamber roller (such as the McHale 5600) makes a better shaped bale in grass compared to the Krone, but doesn't put any more in.

I'd like to have more time with a fixed chamber baler, but have no more grass for a month, and straw will be ready by then....

If I can speed up baling grass, get better shaped bales with as much in them, and don't lose the ability to bale over 20 tonnes per hour of straw, I'll have improved efficiency over the Krone. So far I've not found a better all rounder though......
 
Hhhhmmmm

Just carted and stacked last night's 2nd cut silage bales.....

I'll not be looking any closer at a belt baler! Soft saggy lumps in comparison to the Krone, whatever variations the Kuhn density core and full pressure were set to. Kuhn intake rotor is an animal, but I'll definitely agree, it's not a baler for lower dry matter.

I'm very impressed with the bale shape from McHale 5600 fixed chamber. They were by far the easiest to wrap, though they were also the lightest (wasn't on highest density).

I've read here that roller balers will now put 220 to 250kg of straw in a bale.

Does anyone know how the Kuhn FB3135 roller performs in straw?
I’m bailing with 3135 and it’s far better then fusion on grass and straw , weigh cells on mine and I’m averaging 246kg on straw today , use to be guessing weights , not anymore
 

KB6930

Member
Location
Borders
Hhhhmmmm

Just carted and stacked last night's 2nd cut silage bales.....

I'll not be
The comprima is still making solid dense chopped bales out of anything it is driven over, and so far I haven't found something that both puts more in, and makes a better shaped bale.

The Kuhn feed rotor with integrated side augurs is definitely an improvement, and straw output would be increased. However it didn't make bales of 2nd cut grass that kept their shape as well as the Krone.

A fixed chamber roller (such as the McHale 5600) makes a better shaped bale in grass compared to the Krone, but doesn't put any more in.

I'd like to have more time with a fixed chamber baler, but have no more grass for a month, and straw will be ready by then....

If I can speed up baling grass, get better shaped bales with as much in them, and don't lose the ability to bale over 20 tonnes per hour of straw, I'll have improved efficiency over the Krone. So far I've not found a better all rounder though......
You need to try a fendt / Massey or a JD

There's no way a fixed chamber can put as much or more in than a good belt baler
 
You need to try a fendt / Massey or a JD

There's no way a fixed chamber can put as much or more in than a good belt baler
Having had a brief foray into the world of Mc hale fixed chamber balers I would have to agree. Sold after 1 season for a new Kuhn belt baler, in its self not necessarily the best on the market but streets ahead of the Mc hale.
 

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