Does haying really take that much power ?

airbiscuit · Wednesday at 11:25 PM

Tractor, we don't need no stinking tractor!

Hay Dude · 2025-10-30T06:54:34-0400

zzvyb6 said:
Just to clarify, A dozen years ago, I was baling with 2 wagons behind the baler, the idea being to kick them into the rear wagon and then fill the front wagon. While turning around under my 4400V service lines, a bale kicked up perfectly and snagged in one of the lines. It caught fire from contact with the ground line. I let it burn out, making sure the field didn't catch from the ashes dropping down, but the black marks on the wires are still there after all these years..

I used the EZ Trail bale baskets. Had the big tailgate and dumping features.

Hay Dude · 2025-10-30T06:55:00-0400

airbiscuit said:
Tractor, we don't need no stinking tractor!

Most re-posted video link on TBN.

Rockbadchild · 2025-10-30T07:30:05-0400

My round baler 4 x 5 is actually require less PTO hp then a square baler, yeah ok it heavier to pull up hill with a full bale in it but still 60hp is plenty for both its just odd when you see the hp requirement for a round baler its way over estimated...

zzvyb6 · 2025-10-30T11:58:11-0400

Rockbadchild said:
My round baler 4 x 5 is actually require less PTO hp then a square baler, yeah ok it heavier to pull up hill with a full bale in it but still 60hp is plenty for both its just odd when you see the hp requirement for a round baler its way over estimated...

I agree. My 35 hp JD easily rolls my 4x4 variable chamber bales while running in 2nd range, 3rd gear. These weigh more than the 4x5 bales I struggled to make with my Vicon 1210 fixed chamber machine. So, the process is a large factor in this power requirement. As for comparison with square baling, I never was able to run this ground speed on my JD 14T. 1/3 the wall-clock time with the 335 to do the same field.

bmaverick · 2025-10-30T20:11:41-0400

For small sq-bales, 20Hp to 40hp tends to work well enough on flat fields. Cut, rake, bale does just fine. The only drawback is, it takes way longer vs a 40 to 8-Hp tractor.

My Pa cut with a Ford 8N and sickle blade, then bar raked, and used an old reddish New Holland two digit model baler. I was too young to know much about the equipment details.