Thinking on a Ford 532 baler?

[slingworks]

I'm contemplating on picking up an older Ford 532 baler at at auction in a couple weeks, but never used one and know very little about them. I've read they were made by Gehl? (I read this on google).

The baler is in decent looking condition for it's age, not wrecked up. Typical barn rust and some blue paint fading.

The owner of the farm it's on passed away and they're liquidating his belongings, so it was used until fairly recently.

I'm thinking to pick it up, any thoughts/advice or warnings on it I should know about? What's it worth? I'm guessing it will go for a little north of scrap value, maybe a couple hundred dollars or so. I don't think old Ford square balers bring much in this region. I saw a ford 530 in working shape sell last week at a consignment auction for $150, so I'm kinda basing my thoughts on what it will sell for on that.

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm contemplating on picking up an older Ford 532 baler at at auction in a couple weeks, but never used one and know very little about them. I've read they were made by Gehl? (I read this on google).

The baler is in decent looking condition for it's age, not wrecked up. Typical barn rust and some blue paint fading.

The owner of the farm it's on passed away and they're liquidating his belongings, so it was used until fairly recently.

I'm thinking to pick it up, any thoughts/advice or warnings on it I should know about? What's it worth? I'm guessing it will go for a little north of scrap value, maybe a couple hundred dollars or so. I don't think old Ford square balers bring much in this region. I saw a ford 530 in working shape sell last week at a consignment auction for $150, so I'm kinda basing my thoughts on what it will sell for on that.

I’d offer $200 but before you make your offer, ask the seller where they got it fixed. You might find a dearth of advice, parts, donor baler parts & pieces.
It is possible that the deceased farmer did all the fixin.
One thing you always want to do when you buy an older farm piece is make friends with the seller and ask them if there’s someone in the ‘hood that fixes that particular brand, or has another one for parts.

 

[Sportsman762]

The Ford 532 baler was made from 1969 to 1981 according to the parts book. There are very little parts still available for these balers as Ford abandoned them almost immediately after partnering with New Holland. Almost all of your parts will have to come off of salvage units. The lead time for parts will be long if you can find them, as your hay is sitting in the field.

 

[slingworks]

I’d offer $200 but before you make your offer, ask the seller where they got it fixed. You might find a dearth of advice, parts, donor baler parts & pieces.
It is possible that the deceased farmer did all the fixin.
One thing you always want to do when you buy an older farm piece is make friends with the seller and ask them if there’s someone in the ‘hood that fixes that particular brand, or has another one for parts.

That's pretty good advice. Downside it's an estate auction. I'd imagine his son/s would probably know a bit of the details though. I think it won't bring much, probably scrap value.

 

[slingworks]

The Ford 532 baler was made from 1969 to 1981 according to the parts book. There are very little parts still available for these balers as Ford abandoned them almost immediately after partnering with New Holland. Almost all of your parts will have to come off of salvage units. The lead time for parts will be long if you can find them, as your hay is sitting in the field.

That's kind of a bummer.

I guess if I can get it cheap I can use it till something catastrophic happens and then junk it.

Wonder if it might be worth more for parts/parting out?

 

[Hay Dude]

That's pretty good advice. Downside it's an estate auction. I'd imagine his son/s would probably know a bit of the details though. I think it won't bring much, probably scrap value.

When you find a real outlier like that, it’s best to buy 2 of them.
I’d say buy it, but immediately find another, so you have a real good shot at having parts.