Small square baler

[Briar]

On look out for a small square baler to replace an old JD 456 that was recently toasted. Going to be used mainly for static work. On looking back through the threads Welger appears to be the baler of recommendation. Would like to know why it is thought better than other makes and/or recommendations please.

Thank you

 

[Dry Rot]

This has been discussed before. Welger small balers are shaft and gear driven, most other makes are chain driven. As each link in a chain wears the whole chain lengthens, that alters the timing which needs to be precise for the knotters to work efficiently.

Also, although Welgers have shear pins (not sure about the bigger ones which maybe don't, except the needle shat?), the drive train is protected by a slipping clutch. That makes the breakage of a shear pin more unusual. Blockages can usually be cleared by stopping and turning the Welger over slowly in a lower gear for a few minutes.

Then there is German engineer at it's best. Quality doesn't cost, it pays!

 

[Briar]

Thank you for your reply. Sounds like a Welger AP is the one to go for, just wasn't sure why it was better over its peers. Inherited previous baler and it must have been on farm for best bit of 40 odd years. As it just worked never even considered upgrading it till now.

 

[David.]

If using it static, output is perhaps not key consideration, If you are feeding baler from rounds or wads from big bale, I wonder if the screw type feeder system of JD might even out the feed a bit better than packer forks and is certainly smoother.
Then the fact that a similar JD to what you have will be much cheaper than any Welger you can find.

 

[Goweresque]

This has been discussed before. Welger small balers are shaft and gear driven, most other makes are chain driven. As each link in a chain wears the whole chain lengthens, that alters the timing which needs to be precise for the knotters to work efficiently.

Also, although Welgers have shear pins (not sure about the bigger ones which maybe don't, except the needle shat?), the drive train is protected by a slipping clutch. That makes the breakage of a shear pin more unusual. Blockages can usually be cleared by stopping and turning the Welger over slowly in a lower gear for a few minutes.

Then there is German engineer at it's best. Quality doesn't cost, it pays!

JD knotters and needles are driven by a shaft and cogs, so can't go out of timing, not within the knotting process anyway. Obviously the ram can get out of timing with the needles as with any baler.

 

[Gapples]

Claas Markant 65 is shaft driven, as is the slightly smaller 55.
The Packers on the 55 are chain driven though, might you I never saw a chain driven markant packer give any troubles

 

[Rust]

JD knotters and needles are driven by a shaft and cogs, so can't go out of timing, not within the knotting process anyway. Obviously the ram can get out of timing with the needles as with any baler.

But a chain drives the shaft !?

But only a short one would be cheap and easy to change.

 

[Dry Rot]

Oh, come off it! You can't beat a Welger. OK, they are expensive, but think of the re-sale value!

 

[johnboy87]

From experience of dealing with tens of thousands of bales from JD and welger balers, the JD will be slower but every bale will be the same length whereas the welger bales will vary horrendously, and don't even think about finishing a stack with welger bales that started with JD ones

 

[TrewithickFarm]

Got to say my IH440 has been a very good baler. Only the pickup reel is chain driven.

 

[The Stig]

From experience of dealing with tens of thousands of bales from JD and welger balers, the JD will be slower but every bale will be the same length whereas the welger bales will vary horrendously, and don't even think about finishing a stack with welger bales that started with JD ones

Only reason being because the welger can take more Crop and so are driven faster . If driven at the same speed as a Jd then bales from the welger would be all be the same length too.

 

[Laminated]

I have a class markant 65 for sale

 

[Vincent]

I've a 456a and baling straw recently I was told I was driving to fast as a Bale was made with 8 flakes. I was driving steady after a 24ft combine. I think it's normal as it's the same baling hay. Was told 12 flakes would be normal. This baler is probably the highest out put baler I have driven.

 

[Ioan annwyl]

This has been discussed before. Welger small balers are shaft and gear driven, most other makes are chain driven. As each link in a chain wears the whole chain lengthens, that alters the timing which needs to be precise for the knotters to work efficiently.

(splitting hairs now)

 

[Goweresque]

splitting hairs now

No this can happen. Brother in law bought (still has) a secondhand NH 570. Great little baler, but straight away had trouble with ram stop coming in and doing shear bolts. We adjusted the timing and got it better but it would still do a shear bolt or two per field. He then got a baler guru in who diagnosed a stretched knotter chain, new chain, baler runs like a sewing machine, hasn't had a problem since.

 

[Rust]

So ....buy any baler you like and a new chain. It will be cheaper than a welgar. [emoji4]

 

[Briar]

Thank you for input. Baler situation now sorted - borrowing neighbours for the next few weeks till welger AP630 arrives .