Yet another what chopper baler thread

[Wellytrack]

Righto,

As above, and as in an earlier thread, looking for user opinions of McHale balers in particular..

Have used most makes of roller baler, but not McHale, most ive seen of the older baler are the F550, folks ive spoken to like them, like them a lot.

Trading up to a McHale, have option of a younger F560, with full auto operation, and 23 knife chopper, and according to McHale's website a heavier rotor, at of course more dolla.

Any 550 users tried one? Regretted not getting one at the time? Seen it as needlessly complicated for the same job?

Or stuff it all and get a *insert rival brand here*

 

[milton-95]

I have a 550 with 23 knife chopper and it's ace it will bale every thing and do it well, once did clover for a diary because the welger was making soft bales and they couldn't wrap them, the farmer was amazed that the McHale baled it better and the bales were still perfectly round when he opend them, it also good in staw and it can take it in at some speed, net is also put on from side toside aaswel and it isn't to fussy with the kind of net either. Definitely recommend a McHale baler

 

[Wellytrack]

I have a 550 with 23 knife chopper and it's ace it will bale every thing and do it well, once did clover for a diary because the welger was making soft bales and they couldn't wrap them, the farmer was amazed that the McHale baled it better and the bales were still perfectly round when he opend them, it also good in staw and it can take it in at some speed, net is also put on from side toside aaswel and it isn't to fussy with the kind of net either. Definitely recommend a McHale baler

Do you run a half set of knives at a time?

 

[milton-95]

Yeah I sometimes run with 12 and it choppes it just aswell (obviously not as short) make no difference to the power consumption or forward speed tho.

 

[Wellytrack]

So the F560 has a load sensing pipe, am I likely to burn out my non load sensing hydraulic pump?

 

[Wellytrack]

So, if I was to consider an upgrade to a Fusion instead to save labour and time, is CCLS a must, or will my standard hydraulic pump be killed??

 

[Nenuphar]

Yeah it is, you will boil your oil in about 10 minutes otherwise.
If you get a fusion try set up power beyond on your tractor. It will save you 10/15hp.

F560 is the front half of a fusion I think, never used one but imagine it's the true competition for the Profi Welgers, fully auto computer?

Don't be afraid of a high bale count fusion either, once the chains are sound and the auto greaser works (no reason why it shouldn't) there really isn't much to go wrong as the bearings are well cared for by the greaser. Tyres maybe, I wouldn't want to replace one of them. Fusion 2 is the one you want but a mk1 would be fine too.

 

[Wellytrack]

Yeah it is, you will boil your oil in about 10 minutes otherwise.
If you get a fusion try set up power beyond on your tractor. It will save you 10/15hp.

F560 is the front half of a fusion I think, never used one but imagine it's the true competition for the Profi Welgers, fully auto computer?

Don't be afraid of a high bale count fusion either, once the chains are sound and the auto greaser works (no reason why it shouldn't) there really isn't much to go wrong as the bearings are well cared for by the greaser. Tyres maybe, I wouldn't want to replace one of them. Fusion 2 is the one you want but a mk1 would be fine too.

Ach, Balls...

Was hoping to get away without load sensing as don't have it, unless it can be retro fitted, Massey 3120..

Like the idea of the 560 being full auto and 23 knives, but recently been more leaning to a fusion to save labour.

McHale seem a great baler sure enough, have a Deutz and its been very good to be fair to it, makes a great bale, but the output of the McHale is in a different league..

How much ye reckon to budget to re chain and refurb the cam if needed?

 

[valtra 101]

Doubtful if ure 3120 would cope with a fusion they are a fair weight esp if on hills? We have a f550 with normal spec rotor and does a great job,will bale anything put in front of it

 

[Wellytrack]

Doubtful if ure 3120 would cope with a fusion they are a fair weight esp if on hills? We have a f550 with normal spec rotor and does a great job,will bale anything put in front of it

Well im lucky enough Im not on alot of hills, and I appreciate the 31 would be at her limit but she's got new boots, well weighted up and probably closer to 140hp than 120..

Ideally a 6490 or 95 would be lovely, but not this year.. Well maybe, but not now..

So long as I could get the hydraulics going id put up with slower progress...

 

[Nenuphar]

Ach, Balls...

Was hoping to get away without load sensing as don't have it, unless it can be retro fitted, Massey 3120..

Like the idea of the 560 being full auto and 23 knives, but recently been more leaning to a fusion to save labour.

McHale seem a great baler sure enough, have a Deutz and its been very good to be fair to it, makes a great bale, but the output of the McHale is in a different league..

How much ye reckon to budget to re chain and refurb the cam if needed?

I don't know to be honest, just put the hours in driving and maintaining a couple of fusions. Never had to refurb a rotor and the first fusion had over 90k on the clock when it left, was on its second set of chains. Worked hard but not abused.

I think the 62xx were the first Masseys of that size to have CCLS?

Once you use an auto baler you will wonder what you have been doing with yourself before hand, the 3120 will suit a 550/560 perfectly. They were designed to be worked, so I wouldn't have too much issue buying a baler with a decent count, got over 50k out each set of chains bailing at near max/max pressure making 11/12k a year with no hay.

The balers honestly only ever got chains, pick up tines, grease, oil and abuse. Never let down by that part, the wrapping sensers could get temperamental alright.

 

[Wellytrack]

I don't know to be honest, just put the hours in driving and maintaining a couple of fusions. Never had to refurb a rotor and the first fusion had over 90k on the clock when it left, was on its second set of chains. Worked hard but not abused.

I think the 62xx were the first Masseys of that size to have CCLS?

Once you use an auto baler you will wonder what you have been doing with yourself before hand, the 3120 will suit a 550/560 perfectly. They were designed to be worked, so I wouldn't have too much issue buying a baler with a decent count, got over 50k out each set of chains bailing at near max/max pressure making 11/12k a year with no hay.

The balers honestly only ever got chains, pick up tines, grease, oil and abuse. Never let down by that part, the wrapping sensers could get temperamental alright.

Grand Job thanks..

The 560 is load sensing too, but id have thought it wouldn't have needed a vast amount of oil to open and close a door compared to spinning on 2 rolls of wrap at a time..

Good to hear they wear well, the cogs must last a few set of chains then?

Do McHale do tours of their factory?

 

[Boohoo]

I had a fusion 3 behind a New Holland TS115a last year. It didn't have load sensing and it could've done with more power but it was ok. Know of someone who pulls a fusion with a Fiat 110-90 so no load sensing and not a lot of power or weight.

 

[Happy]

Got an F5500. Good machine.
Only problem I have is the knifes on the chopper are prone to getting stuck down if you have been running with them down for a while. Ours won't power back up without a bit of persuasion with a hammer from underneath. Think it's build up of chaff/hay somewhere that's the problem.

Anybody else find this with them?
What's best solution other than a bigger hammer

 

[Wellytrack]

I had a fusion 3 behind a New Holland TS115a last year. It didn't have load sensing and it could've done with more power but it was ok. Know of someone who pulls a fusion with a Fiat 110-90 so no load sensing and not a lot of power or weight.

Ahh, we're back in business!


Those fusion 3 are a marvellous thing, over a ton lighter than the first one or so im told.. would make a difference too..

I find it abit odd too the way some people are death on Fusions, 'too heavy for here' they always say, but look where they are from!

In my experience when the ground is soaked, the wrapper does more harm, no doubt the fusion could make a mess, but it must be seldom.

 

[Wellytrack]

Got an F5500. Good machine.
Only problem I have is the knifes on the chopper are prone to getting stuck down if you have been running with them down for a while. Ours won't power back up without a bit of persuasion with a hammer from underneath. Think it's build up of chaff/hay somewhere that's the problem.

Anybody else find this with them?
What's best solution other than a bigger hammer

Cant say specific to your baler, but id imagine as you say grass and muck etc wouldn't help the engagement..

Think id look just like your Avatar if I had a 5500, same colour and all!

 

[milton-95]

Got an F5500. Good machine.
Only problem I have is the knifes on the chopper are prone to getting stuck down if you have been running with them down for a while. Ours won't power back up without a bit of persuasion with a hammer from underneath. Think it's build up of chaff/hay somewhere that's the problem.

Anybody else find this with them?
What's best solution other than a bigger hammer

Yeah we get that with our 550, just get out with pen knife and pick out the worst of the stuff. The give it a few trys up and down and away it goes.

 

[Amund]

Bought fusion 2 last year, what a fool i have been, should have done this many years ago. Pulling with a jd6810 with load sensing. ok . Knifes need to be cleaned from time to time or they will not obey orders. 710 wheels makes it float quite well.

 

[Wellytrack]

Bought fusion 2 last year, what a fool i have been, should have done this many years ago. Pulling with a jd6810 with load sensing. ok . Knifes need to be cleaned from time to time or they will not obey orders. 710 wheels makes it float quite well.

Good news..

Met a man last year, was raving bout buying a baler, bought a 550.
I asked him what he was going to drive it with.. A 1594 was the answer..

Met him again in the autumn at the mart, asked him how he got on, broke the crankshaft in the Brown, tractor was still in a hundred bits...

Seems they all like a bit of power, standalone baler or fusion..

 

[Nenuphar]

I had a fusion 3 behind a New Holland TS115a last year. It didn't have load sensing and it could've done with more power but it was ok. Know of someone who pulls a fusion with a Fiat 110-90 so no load sensing and not a lot of power or weight.

A 110/90?!? The wrapper must be painfully slow on it?

How many bales are we talking about here?

The tyres under a fusion are massive, get stuck and it's a digger job but it won't go down easily. I'd sooner a fusion on wet ground than a conventional on 560's.

Never a problem with cogs, keep it full of grease and oil and it will mind you. Auto lube is a wonderful thing.