Getting hay balers ready

[Hay Dude]

Have been going through the Krone this week. Lots to do.

Immediately upon first run, blew a remote. Digging into it this week. Probably a bad o-ring or needs a new cartridge.

Made a big mess.

 

[ptsg]

What kind of twine are you using on that bad boy?

 

[Hay Dude]

What kind of twine are you using on that bad boy?

Bridon MAX 4000 440

 

[sea2summit]

When you gonna send me that little worn out tractor?

Hope to start first cut next week here. Gotta service the mower then I’ll be pretty well set.

 

[SethWilliams]

Been working on my new to me John Deere 430. Had to fix the pto shaft and give her a good cleaning and maintenance. She’s ready to go now.

We are hoping to cut next week, weather permitting.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

It's crazy to think that haying is already starting. I have only mowed my yard 3 or 4 times so far this season.

 

[Hay Dude]

It's crazy to think that haying is already starting. I have only mowed my yard 3 or 4 times so far this season.

I’m still 3 weeks away, but the way these balers are, it could take 3 weeks to get the dang thing ready

 

[sea2summit]

Well...I just had to swipe my card three times to fill up the aux tank on the truck for next weeks cut.

Time to think hard about hay pricing I guess.

 

[Hay Dude]

Well...I just had to swipe my card three times to fill up the aux tank on the truck for next weeks cut.

Time to think hard about hay pricing I guess.

Getting ready for the “I did that” pain at the diesel pump.
Cant imagine my fuel bills this year. Its sick.

 

[Hay Dude]

Back to the balers. I got the remote stack re-installed yesterday. Rebuilt 3 sets of remotes, new o-rings & seals. New bottom gasket. Hopefully no more leaks. Need to re-attach hydraulic brake outlet, baler plug and trailer tow plug.

Next its work on the HVAC. A sensor is out. I think it’s the air intake temp sensor. We had to take the back cover off behind the cab on the MX-270 to check some wiring.

The tractor is now about ready for baling. We are still working on the hitch. The Krone baler is crazy heavy-like 34,000 pounds and we are going to reinforce the hitch

Next onto the old Hesston 4x4 square baler. What a mess. Needed to get it hooked up to the Massey 7495 and clean out the start of an old bale from some “winter baling” we did.
Its a mess and had to be forked out.

Once that was dont, time to assess the twine boxes and look for “issues”.

After about 5 hours of cleaning, I spun it up. Needs some work, but should be ready in a few more repair sessions. The Massey got a few repairs. New drivers side mirror arm, sight glass for hydraulic tank, electrical outlets for the Massey 3 prong plugs, oil changed on front PTO and finally an air hose outlet up front for blowing out the radiator!

 

[5030]

I never leave hay in my bailer over the winter, it corrodes everything. Of course this year it's a non issue as the bailer is new.

Curious as to whether you increased you prices yet? I went up 30% myself.

Mine is ready to cut. I'm not however.

 

[ptsg]

Ahh now I recognize some of the twine on the Hesston. I worked on maintenance division of the factory that made the Cordex twine a couple years ago. They also made twine for Krone, NH, Case, etc, which was essentially the same stuff, just a different label.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ahh now I recognize some of the twine on the Hesston. I worked on maintenance division of the factory that made the Cordex twine a couple years ago. They also made twine for Krone, NH, Case, etc, which was essentially the same stuff, just a different label.

Thats good to hear. Was tempted to buy the Krone twine, which was alledgedly better. Also came with a higher price. I think I’ll just stick with the Bridon or Kordex.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Thats good to hear. Was tempted to buy the Krone twine, which was alledgedly better. Also came with a higher price. I think I’ll just stick with the Briton or Kordex.

How much diesel do you burn per hour while haying? That is some serious equipment. I spent too many hours stacking wagons behind a little NH square baler

 

[Hay Dude]

How much diesel do you burn per hour while haying? That is some serious equipment. I spent too many hours stacking wagons behind a little NH square baler

The MX-270 will burn 10-11/hour or $50-$60/hour
The Massey 7495 will burn 8-9/hour or $40-$45/hour
The Kubotas will burn 4-6/hour or $20-$30/hour

Thanks Joe!

 

[oosik]

Hay Dude - that baler is a really LARGE unit. Once you have completed all the "known" problems - do you do a test run. Or just "go for it" when conditions are right.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hay Dude - that baler is a really LARGE unit. Once you have completed all the "known" problems - do you do a test run. Or just "go for it" when conditions are right.

Yeah the Krone 4x4 XC is a “factory on wheels”. 34,000lbs. Add 2 full square bales and now its 38,000lbs. The Hesston 4910 is probably only 20,000lbs.
We will get it running best possible with no hay, then drop some hay later next week, let it dry and then rake & bale. Baler tech will be on speed-dial if I can’t fix problems as they occur in real time. First by phone, then @ $130/hour if the truck comes

 

[sea2summit]

Yeah its a “factory on wheels”. 34,000lbs. Add 2 full square bales and now its 38,000lbs.
We will get it running best possible with no hay, then drop some hay later next week, let it dry and then rake & bale. Baler tech will be on speed-dial if I can’t fix problems as they occur in real time. First by phone, then @ $130/hour if the truck comes

Holy crap, didn't realize they were anywhere near that weight I would have guessed 8-12K.

 

[5030]

First by phone, then @ $130/hour if the truck comes

Exactly why I put an extended warranty on my new round baler. I don't want to be paying 100 bucks plus an hour if a tech has to come out to the farm plus parts. The extended warranty (additional 2 years) plus the one year warranty covers every thing. Farm calls plus parts if necessary. The baler is 100% computer driven and controlled. Was an extra 600 bucks well spent in my view. I didn't do that with the NH I traded in and was sorry I didn't because I got to 'diagnose and repair issues myself and I'm not electronically proficient by any means.

It's Bridon Twine and Cordage btw, not Briton but I knew what you meant. I only run the mega balls, not the standard balls and only as a backup, said before, my customer prefers net wrapped (over the edge) rounds. The new Kubota (Kneverland) bailer I purchased last fall will take 6 mega balls and 4 rolls of net (2 in the wrap position and and 2 in the side storage rack. I only have 2 mega balls loaded (and only as a backup, just in case).

Myself, I'd like to go to large squares like you but that would entail a larger Kubota tractor as my M9's don't have the grunt to run one and I'd buy a new large square baler as well, neither of which for me today is financially viable (don't want a new T4 final tractor anyway) and most importantly, my customer who buys 95% of the hay I make cannot handle large squares so that is out of the equation for me. I base what I do on what my largest customer can handle and that is 4x5 rounds in net.

Customer requirements dictate what I run 100%.

 

[5030]

Bet you are real proficient at tying square knots, I know I am....lol