McHale v660

[robbie]

Some of you may have seen in the TAW thread my beloved case rbx went up in smoke yesterday.

I need another baler and don't want to buy/can't justify a new one so I've been offered what sounds like a good good second hand one.
It's a McHale v660 it's been gone through by the main dealer and has 40k bales on the clock.

I know they're a good baler from threads on here but would anyone like to share any pitfalls these machines have and what to look for when buying one second hand.

Tia

 

[stevedave]

The state of the belts would be the first place to start. Then check cam track bearings, they are quite cheap and easy to do.

 

[robbie]

I would hope having been dealer prepped it would have had the cam track bearings done.

I'm so annoyed about loosing mine as I'd been right thought the pick up not long ago and id replaced the belts. How I see it im going to end up buying spending a fair bit of money buying something which I don't know and could end up needing all the things doing that if just done to mine.

 

[solo]

FYI.There’s a McHale 550 with half the bale count in classifieds on here.

 

[KB6930]

What age is it ?

 

[robbie]

2015. Done 4 seasons.
I've been and looked and it seems in very good order, it's been gone through with new chains and sprockets where needed new cam track bearing. And a seasons warranty.

 

[KB6930]

2015 are sealed bearings on the back door rollers so fair chance you'll get some of them over time

The net system is good but you have to keep an eye on it for the speed the roll is turning as it can sometimes not start properly onto the bale but the baler still thinks it's put on e.g. 2.5 turns but you get a bale half netted but if it's running slow you just flick it onto manual then auto once it speeds up

Belts I'm not sure about I know a couple of people that had early v660 and did 50-60000 without a problem but since 2014-15 with they're replacement they've had belts myself included on a 2018 model

 

[robbie]

My main reservation is the net wrap system, to my mind it looks a bit heath Robinson and im concerned it won't make such a neat bale as the CNH (I'm vain when it comes to producing neat bales). They were an excellent wrap system in my opinion and would turn out perfect bales all day long without even having to give it a thought.

The belts seem to be in very good order, I'll now better once I've got it hooked up and can open the tail gate for a better look.

When did they change to greaseable bearings on the tailgate??? I thought when I looked there was grease pipes running to the bearings.

 

[Chae1]

The mchale is wider than the nh. You'll need to use edge to edge if you want really tidy bales. There a good baler mines done 37k bales and will definitely buy another.

Mines 2011, has greasable bearings on back door.

 

[KB6930]

The net system looks crap but works very well and isn't fussy with net brand like some

My 2015 was definitely sealed bearings I think it was late 17 before they put them back to greaseable . I had a couple go on mine in 30000 bales

I of course got the blame as mine was modified to get tighter bales but it's funny how they changed again !!

 

[Chuckie]

I've one from 2012 and hasn't been much bother apart from one of the drive rollers snapped last year, and have noticed a couple of small cracks in the chamber wall that need welding up.

Both of the above issues shouldn't have happened but maybe I'm just unlucky, still like the baler though and along with Welger are a league ahead of anything else that I've tried yet.

Neat bales not a problem

 

[Drillman]

For what it’s work I went from the yellow version of the case RBX to a V660 and wouldn’t go back. Yes the McHale netter needs more of an eye kept on it than the CNH baler but overall it’s in a different league for build quality and is worth a gear higher in the majority of crops.

 

[robbie]

I must admit the dealer had a brand new rb 456 next door to the McHale and I did rather fall in love with the case and it was a very attractive deal but as soon as we looked at the McHale the difference in build quality and strength was night and day.

I normally use farmers e to e net or netex????? From Spalding. Would these give a tidy bale in a McHale????

 

[KB6930]

I use total cover made by Karatzis it's only 1.23 wide and makes a tidier bale than my welger did with tamma edge to edge

 

[Gil582]

Tidy @Chuckie !
4 or 5 ft bale in the picture ? What sort of weight/bale are you averaging there ?

Sorry @robbie, no experience with a 660 myself

 

[bluepower]

I've one from 2012 and hasn't been much bother apart from one of the drive rollers snapped last year, and have noticed a couple of small cracks in the chamber wall that need welding up.

Both of the above issues shouldn't have happened but maybe I'm just unlucky, still like the baler though and along with Welger are a league ahead of anything else that I've tried yet.

Neat bales not a problemView attachment 823945

Krone Comprina any day of the week!!!

 

[Chuckie]

Tidy @Chuckie !
4 or 5 ft bale in the picture ? What sort of weight/bale are you averaging there ?

Sorry @robbie, no experience with a 660 myself

That's about 4ft6 or 1.4m aveage about 280kg.

Did have a Krone in the same field last year but the bales weren't as heavy as the 660.

 

[Drillman]

Did have a Krone in the same field last year but the bales weren't as heavy as the 660.

That’s just not possible

Well according to some (one) on here at least

 

[michael N123]

 

[KB6930]

View attachment 824127

That will be a better machine than the 2015 one