Packomat press

[Farmerdunk]

Hi. I am thinking of getting a packomat for my kvernland 5f variwidth. We have a mixed soil types, chalky to clay. The ploughing tractor is a MF 7626. Any of you nice folk got any views on the packomat.
I have just joined the site, it looks very informative but funny as well!
Any replies would be great.
Thanks
Duncan

 

[Jimbo]

@Iben

 

[Al R]

@stevedave uses one..

I used to use a contractor who had a Dowdeswell swing over push press but we found little benefit from it and 200hp wasnt enough to push it uphil. so once we bought our KV 5F we didn't want to splash out the extra cost for the packomat (£5k circa?) and we have never regretted not buying it. My personal opinion that I don't like press's.

What are you following with after the plough and are you contracting?

 

[Farmerdunk]

No contracting work, 750 acres in a family farm. On the easy working ground it gets rolled, followed by a set of vaderstad Spring tines, roll again maybe then drill. Heavier ground gets the rexius press. Been offered one for £2950, £10k new!!

 

[Al R]

No contracting work, 750 acres in a family farm. On the easy working ground it gets rolled, followed by a set of vaderstad Spring tines, roll again maybe then drill. Heavier ground gets the rexius press. Been offered one for £2950, £10k new!!

Buy it for £2950 and sell it on.
I'm on some light, stoney, medium and heavy ground and can plough then straight in with
Combi. Or when using a CO4 I've ploughed then rolled, CO4 then rolled again. Do you think you may be doing to much on light ground? On heavy I would plough, rexius, roll then drill. My thoughts?

 

[Iben]

Have a packomat on a six furrow vari width.

Excellent piece of kit. Was very sceptical before getting it as it looked far to light and 'tinny'. I was wrong, makes a great job from blowing sand to sticky loam, only time it struggles to make a good job is on heavy clay, although we have never screwed it up to full pressure.

If you want a 5 furrow press, then Netherton at glenrothes have one they would do a good deal on, its been in stock for quite a while.

 

[Farmerdunk]

Maybe. Got my local kvernland Demo chap on Wednesday to set my plough up! It's not quite right!! If its ploughed level and pressed then could go straight in with the disc drill.
Don't think would have any trouble selling it, they don't come available with the arm and press complete very often.

 

[Iben]

What headstock have you got? Really want the 300

 

[Farmerdunk]

Nothing showing on Nethertons?
That is what I've heard, it does a better job than you think it would.

 

[Farmerdunk]

Yes got a 300 headstock. Had it new about 4 years ago.

 

[Iben]

It's not on their website, but definitely there.

 

[Farmerdunk]

New or s/h?

 

[Iben]

New, been in stock for a few years now, so should be a good price.

 

[Farmerdunk]

Ok may give them a call tomorrow.
Thanks

 

[dunkie]

They won't be surprised when you call

 

[Will 1594]

Double days. Holbeach have or had a couple in

 

[Sandy]

Get one of these very easy pulled I've a 7f with this 3m lemken

 

[Jim75]

Farm I worked at had a loan of a 5f with packomat until they got there new one without packomat. Ploughed half a sticky 8ha field with the packomat and finished the field with the new one to clean the boards. You could see the line down the field until past flowering. Packomat'd rape was a lot better in terms of plant size and numbers there and the drill man had a moan for not finishing with the packomat slowing you down Stuart

 

[stevedave]

We have used a pacomat on everything for the past 10 years and I would not have a towed or front mounted press. It is a great piece of kit. If you are buying second hand be careful with what mounting brackets you need it can be a minefield, we have a bracket for a 300hp headstock. It will do a better job than rolling afterwards and cheaper. As said above it can struggle a bit on heavy clay as it is quite light and uses the draft of the plough to pull it into work. They are cheap to buy second hand as the market for them is quite small. Parts can be steep as with all KV stuff. Just do your research into what you need.