Options for Round Balers

jdjdjd · Sep 27, 2009

I am looking for a new round baler for personal use (not commercial). The MF/Heston 1745 looks like what I need. I have questions about some of the options like Gathering Wheels, Auto-tie, Bale ramp, and counter. Are these items necessary or just nice to have?

I will be baling about 100 acres of coastal bermuda once or twice a year.

Also, any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
JDJDJD

scrapironford · Sep 27, 2009

I almost bought a 1745, what stopped me was the economic situation we are in. Gathering wheels are good to keep from loosing the edge of the windrows and help fill the bale chamber to the edge. Bale ramps will roll the bale away from the baler, so you don't have to back up before you dump a roll. A starting roll scraper is great in bermuda grass. Auto tie and bale counter are just nice to have. A Fire Extinguisher should be required equipment on a round baler. I feel a MF 1745 and a Vermeer 5410 balers give the most value for the dollar in round balers for personal use. I can't see much difference in them and would buy either, dealer service would seal the deal. I have baled tift85 bermuda and bahia grass with both ,they done a good job. scrapironford

jdjdjd · Sep 27, 2009

Thanks for the info. It helps to have advise from someone who bales.

I have been going back and forth between new and used. The used units I have looked at have either been worn out rust buckets or way out of my price range.

jdjdjd · Sep 28, 2009

Issue resolved. It has been a long Monday. The Massey Ferguson dealer missed out on a sale and I ended up with a Vemeer Rebel.
Thanks scrapironford for your advise.

scrapironford · Sep 28, 2009

You are welcome Is it a 5400 or5410 Rebel ? The 5400 is an older model ,the 5410 can have net wrap added to the unit if you want it. It also has adjustable hyd density,easy to use if you install a pressure guage on it,will make soft core bales to standard hard core bales. Which monitor,manual or automatic wrap? I think you will be happy with this baler, with good care& maiteneance it will last a long,long time. scrapironford

MFRED · Sep 29, 2009

Can I ask why the Vermeer over the Hesston? Was it options or dealer?

jdjdjd · Sep 30, 2009

Scrapironford, I found a good used 605XL with bale-kicker, auto-tie, and gathering wheels. It does have a density adjustment. It appears to have been well maintained.

Mfred, I was originally going to purchase a MF 1745 from my local dealer. I called Saturday morning and they said they had one in stock for $13,600. When I got there and looked it over the salesman said the price was $17,495. I do not take well to that. He lost that sale and a sale for a disc-cutter as well.

MFRED · Oct 1, 2009

Can't blame you there. I'd buy a 1745 for that price as well. They weren't even close with that guess.

jdjdjd · Oct 1, 2009

Oops!, post correction, I looked at the Rebel but purchased a 605XL.

scrapironford · Oct 2, 2009

I have not used a 605XL or even seen one. I can't give you any help or advice on that one. Hope it gives you good service and does a good job. What size tractor will you be using to pull that big 5x6 baler in what kind of hay? scrapironford

jdjdjd · Oct 2, 2009

Kubota M9540 4wd Cab 95hp.
Will be using it mostly for coastal bermuda. Personal use only, about 125 acres.
I have spent the week cleaning, lubing, adjusting, and making minor repairs. It looks ready for service. We will see...

scrapironford · Oct 2, 2009

That should do the job with no problem, tractor and baler. I round bale with an M&W 4500 with a Massey 492 4x4, turned the smoke screw up a little bit, on the PTO dyno yesterday 103 hp. Hope its not to much hp and break something,also have an Oliver 1855 I used to use. We bale Pensacola Bahia, Tifton85, this year we sprigged 5ac Russell bermuda just to try it. We will be baling it the first time next week, don't know what to expect from it yet. scrapironford

HayDR · Oct 5, 2009

jdjdjd said:
Scrapironford, I found a good used 605XL with bale-kicker, auto-tie, and gathering wheels. It does have a density adjustment. It appears to have been well maintained.

Mfred, I was originally going to purchase a MF 1745 from my local dealer. I called Saturday morning and they said they had one in stock for $13,600. When I got there and looked it over the salesman said the price was $17,495. I do not take well to that. He lost that sale and a sale for a disc-cutter as well.

This happens all the time and the dealer is really innocent. Likely the dealers had sold all his deep deal early order units and did not realize the unit on the lot was more expensive. The MF 1745 baler went up $3,000 on list price during the season. Also the rebate was $1,500 and that makes a big difference when all those price discounts are stacked up. During hay season inventory move fast and when you were quoted a price they had one baler for less money and when arrived it had been sold and all that was left was the higher priced units. I have seen CCM sell 10 new balers in one day before. The average dealer sells 2-6 round balers a year so most dealers will not have large inventory and the cheaper balers will sell first.

jdjdjd · Oct 24, 2009

Follow-up on purchase: Vermeer 605XL pulled with a Kubota M9540. Cut a test area Monday and baled on Tuesday. Only did 9 bales, but the baler worked great and the Kubota handled it nicely!

Looking forward to Spring!

scrapironford · Oct 24, 2009

Glad to hear everything worked great and no problems. scrapironford

jdavis7399 · Oct 26, 2009

I have a 9540 and will be purchasing a baler in the spring. I was considering a Vermeer 504M out of concern for being under powered for the 604M. Did the 9540 handled the 605 well? Did you go to full density setting and bale size?

jdjdjd · Oct 26, 2009

The Kubota M9540 handled it better than I thought it would. Even without a bale it is heavier than my 15' batwing cutter. Density was set high but bale size was 63". Most of the grass was coastal bermuda.

As this was my first attempt at baling I do not have anything else to compare it with. The only time I noticed any real load on the tractor was while going up an incline, but that was easily remedied with a touch of throttle.

HayDR · Oct 26, 2009

jdavis7399 said:
I have a 9540 and will be purchasing a baler in the spring. I was considering a Vermeer 504M out of concern for being under powered for the 604M. Did the 9540 handled the 605 well? Did you go to full density setting and bale size?

You need to look at the New 665 Rancher. It is designed just for your size tractor. You get the benefit of the heavy 605M baler drives and yet you will make a 66"x61" bale and save $10 grand.

jdavis7399 · Oct 27, 2009

I am a little leery of getting a model the first year out. How does the price of a 665 compare to a 504M?

HayDR · Oct 30, 2009

jdavis7399 said:
I am a little leery of getting a model the first year out. How does the price of a 665 compare to a 504M?

The Rancher 665 baler is basically a 505M Classic with a standard width pickup, heavier 605 M drives and 6" of increased size. This baler meets the demands of the operators that usually use a 60-95 PTO HP tractor and want the 66" x 61" larger bale. This is really not a new baler just proven technology sized to meet market demand.