Vicon RF135 Baler, Any good?

[Magik22]

I should’ve asked this before I bought it...nevermind!..but I’ve just bought a Vicon RF135 round baler. Anyone have experience with these? Anything to look out for on it?

 

[Yale]

New or second hand?

Aren’t they the same as The Kubota baler?

 

[Magik22]

Wasn’t aware they still made the RF135? It’s around 2005/06 I think. I think Kubota now own Kverneland/Vicon, was told that there’s something to do with Deutz as well...gets a bit confusing!

 

[kill]

I should’ve asked this before I bought it...nevermind!..but I’ve just bought a Vicon RF135 round baler. Anyone have experience with these? Anything to look out for on it?

At the time I would say it had the best pickup and chopping unit on the market And the augers built into the chopping rotor we’re brilliant . I owned 3 RF130/135 balers and all were prone to the bottom roller on the tailgate losing its cog as it wobbled and ate the roller shaft every 10-20k bales.
Hated the big spanner to reverse the pickup and that could be Bleady hard work in a hot day.
All in all tho not a bad baler but it won’t eat a 30ft swath in heavy grass like newer balers

 

[Zebbedee]

At the time I would say it had the best pickup and chopping unit on the market And the augers built into the chopping rotor we’re brilliant . I owned 3 RF130/135 balers and all were prone to the bottom roller on the tailgate losing its cog as it wobbled and ate the roller shaft every 10-20k bales.
Hated the big spanner to reverse the pickup and that could be Bleady hard work in a hot day.
All in all tho not a bad baler but it won’t eat a 30ft swath in heavy grass like newer balers

That about covers it a bit underrated in its day but outclassed now rathers bale silage than dry straw if it’s got the extra roller (19 in total I think) it will bale straw but if it’s less rollers it will struggle

 

[Magik22]

Ideal Thanks. Couldn’t find a lot of info about Vicon balers so thought I’d see if anyone has experience with them. Ideally would’ve gone for a Welger 220 but this one came up locally and seemed clean and genuine reason for sale, so thought I’d take a punt on it. Not baling straw, only my own silage and hay and not thousands of bales, so I don’t mind it not being the fastest machine. I can imagine not having a drop floor could be a pain but my last baler didn’t even have a way to reverse the pickup, had a narrow pick up and no chopper so this should be an improvement!

 

[Zebbedee]

Ideal Thanks. Couldn’t find a lot of info about Vicon balers so thought I’d see if anyone has experience with them. Ideally would’ve gone for a Welger 220 but this one came up locally and seemed clean and genuine reason for sale, so thought I’d take a punt on it. Not baling straw, only my own silage and hay and not thousands of bales, so I don’t mind it not being the fastest machine. I can imagine not having a drop floor could be a pain but my last baler didn’t even have a way to reverse the pickup, had a narrow pick up and no chopper so this should be an improvement!

Sounds like it will suit you well

 

[Weare Cham]

At the time I would say it had the best pickup and chopping unit on the market And the augers built into the chopping rotor we’re brilliant . I owned 3 RF130/135 balers and all were prone to the bottom roller on the tailgate losing its cog as it wobbled and ate the roller shaft every 10-20k bales.
Hated the big spanner to reverse the pickup and that could be Bleady hard work in a hot day.
All in all tho not a bad baler but it won’t eat a 30ft swath in heavy grass like newer balers

I've got one and agree with all of this.

 

[balerman]

At the time I would say it had the best pickup and chopping unit on the market And the augers built into the chopping rotor we’re brilliant . I owned 3 RF130/135 balers and all were prone to the bottom roller on the tailgate losing its cog as it wobbled and ate the roller shaft every 10-20k bales.
Hated the big spanner to reverse the pickup and that could be Bleady hard work in a hot day.
All in all tho not a bad baler but it won’t eat a 30ft swath in heavy grass like newer balers

Agreed,the integrated feed rotor and augers hasn't been bettered today,im surprised McHale haven't copied it cos it would eliminate the dead spot between their pickup reel and feeder.One thing to look out for on a 130 particularly(may have been sorted on a 135) is the way the sprockets attach to the rollers on a splined shaft,keep an eye on the circlips holding them on.If you lose a circlip it will carry on baling with the sprocket wandering around on the shaft until it has worn it to point,knackering both.

 

[Magik22]

Looks like they changed it on the 135, the sprockets are all bolted on the rollers. So that’s one less thing to worry about!

Any idea on density pressure settings? I’m assuming different setting for hay, silage, chopped etc?
Thanks again!

 

[Boohoo]

The rollers were updated at some point. My 99 spec 130 had the splined rollers and sprockets but when the bottom roller on the back door had to be replaced, the replacement had a cam shaped shaft.

The balers were built by Kverneland but badged as Vicon RF in some markets and as Deutz Fahr MP in others. Most in GB will be Vicon, most in Ireland are Deutz Fahr and here in Northern Ireland we got a mixture.

Parts and operators manuals are available on the Kverneland website if you need them.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Looks like they changed it on the 135, the sprockets are all bolted on the rollers. So that’s one less thing to worry about!

Any idea on density pressure settings? I’m assuming different setting for hay, silage, chopped etc?
Thanks again!

180 comes to mind as near max? Just drop it down for dryer stuff if they get stuck in the back door....

 

[wdah/him]

had a 130 deutz here, as the splines went on the sprocket and shaft i replaced them with key and taper locks with a local lathe man.

never had a problem with the intake had 50ft wet grass though it, took the middle of the swath then the left and right bit.

 

[Benjim]

Iv got one, 4th season with it and it’s never let me down. Similar to you, I’m only doing my own and not in a rush or about to go contracting so it suits us. If you have any advise on altering the bale density I’d be interested, I’m not good with computers and have been to afraid to try pressing any more buttons than necessary haha.

 

[Magik22]

Iv got one, 4th season with it and it’s never let me down. Similar to you, I’m only doing my own and not in a rush or about to go contracting so it suits us. If you have any advise on altering the bale density I’d be interested, I’m not good with computers and have been to afraid to try pressing any more buttons than necessary haha.

Unless yours is different to mine you’ve been worried about the computer side for no reason! The density adjustment is beside the pressure gauge, wind off the locking ring and wind in to increase pressure.

 

[Agrifarmernz]

At the time I would say it had the best pickup and chopping unit on the market And the augers built into the chopping rotor we’re brilliant . I owned 3 RF130/135 balers and all were prone to the bottom roller on the tailgate losing its cog as it wobbled and ate the roller shaft every 10-20k bales.
Hated the big spanner to reverse the pickup and that could be Bleady hard work in a hot day.
All in all tho not a bad baler but it won’t eat a 30ft swath in heavy grass like newer balers

Hi could you please tell me do the RF 130 and the RF 135 share the same controller / monitor are they inter changeable