Got a question about baling hay

[csdebroeck]

I have been reading on here alot and see that alot of people don't agree with baling with a compact. So here is my question do you think a Massey Ferguson 1660 or would be suitable pulling the Massey Ferguson 1745 round baler since it is a larger tractor than most of other compacts.

 

[Mud Mechanik]

Not familiar with that baler but I'm sure my 1660 would do the job just fine, it is by far the strongest and heaviest compact I have ever had.

 

[Mud Mechanik]

I looked the baler up on Massey website, it recommends 40 pto hp, no problem.

 

[csdebroeck]

Glad to hear that. How do u like your cab on the 1660.

 

[Mud Mechanik]

I love it, I drove several other manufacturers in the same hp range and this was the biggest cab, the a/c keeps up with south MS heat ( though I am thinking of tinting the windows to make it even better ), and the Dyna QPS is what sold me on it.

 

[North West Farmer]

I have been baling hay for 40 years and in regard to how big should the tractor be, it needs to be large enough and have enough ground grip to safely control the weight of the baler.

On flat ground a relatively small stature tractor can safely be used to bale with as long as it has enough horse power to operate the baler. For example an engine driven good sized baler can be pulled and operate very nicely behind something like an old 9N Ford. The same baler on steep ground will need something of significantly larger stature and ground grip to keep the baler from getting away from you.

In my opinion it comes down to adequate horse power to run the baler and enough tractor size to control the weight safely under any conditions you will be facing.

Good luck and be safe out there.

Nick, North West Farmer

 

[tessiers]

Massey reccomends 40 hp but also a minimum 4000 lb tractor. Baler with full bale is 5000 lbs I would be leary on hills, maybe flat would be OK. If you have and leave a loader on that would help with the weight. Also filled tires would make a big difference. If you are only doing a few bales for yourself it might be OK but I would not get into any serious volume.

 

[csdebroeck]

Thank you for all the input. I live in northwest Louisiana so no real hills around the place I will be baling I already have a 90 horsepower tractor I do most everything. So I am really trying to find a medium between compact and the other tractor I have so I can do chores around the house and it's an older tractor I have for baling and if it were to go down I would want a tractor to replace it until back and running again.

 

[the6shooter]

Well you have the power and weight, I put my 1643 on the scale, and with the loader and 6' modern ag rotary cutter, and its gross weight was 5820lbs.
I have the 120 loader, you have the 130 loader.
my tractor does NOT have filled tires.
You have more than enough.
david

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

... here to echo that size matters, not just engine HP. there are also some small balers that to mate well to small tractors. I know Kronea and NH from our product lines, and both make small utility balers that are okay behind big compacts.