L4330 kubota and square baler

[CaptainQ]

Would a L 4330 kubota 4x4 fel and cab weighing in around 5000# be big enough to operate a small square baler like a new holland 273 or a jd 336 ? 44 gross hp 42 net and 37 pto hp we only want to bale about 5 acres of bermuda hay 3 times a year.This tractor is also a hst ( hydro) is this a problem?

 

[CumminsLuke]

It'd probably handle it ok, but your at the minimum. I used to run a 24t JD with an M4700 Kubota at 42 pto hp and it handled it great even in heavy conditions and pulling a wagon behind the baler with as many as 120 bales on it. Some people will tell you it can't be done, but I'll tell you it can, just go slow, especially in the heavier windrows. Now if you were gonna do 20 acres or more I'd say you might ought to step up in tractor a little.

 

[art]

I'd give it a whirl! Might have to make an adjustment or two for the horsepower.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Just don't pull a heavy wagon behind it and you'll be okay. You have the power, but not enough tractor to stop a heavy load.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Would a L 4330 kubota 4x4 fel and cab weighing in around 5000# be big enough to operate a small square baler like a new holland 273 or a jd 336 ? 44 gross hp 42 net and 37 pto hp we only want to bale about 5 acres of bermuda hay 3 times a year.This tractor is also a hst ( hydro) is this a problem?

The New Holland 273 would be less demanding (hp) than the 336, but in EITHER case, you should be good to go. I had one of each of those two balers. I usually baled with a 40 hp (The only hp # I use is pto) tractor that weighed in around 5000lbs.

For pto loads, hydros should be at an advantage I would think. You can vary ground speed as needed.

 

[MFRED]

We've baled hay with our old NH 371 ( I think) with a MF1260 compact. 40 hp engine. Towing a wagon. Not something I'd do every time , but it worked in a pinch. 3 times a year, 5 acres, wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[slowzuki]

I bale at least 1000 bales a year with my L5030 HSTC, have done as many as 4500 but I drop on the ground. I use a JD 336. Power is not a problem, weight is always the issue.

 

[CaptainQ]

Slowzuki are you saying that weight is a problem in general or that with your 5030 weight is a issue i.e. you wish you had more of it. With the jarring of the square baler on these smaller tractors is it likely to tear or wear something prematurely or is it just a rough ride?

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

I have a customer who has a Mahindra 4110 33.5 PTO HP, 4000 pounds with another 1200 pounds with loaded rear tires. He bales with a Massey Ferguson kicker baler and has the wagon on the rear. Seems to do a fine job. Also when I was a kid on the farm, the tractor would rock back and forth with the plunger, but it never caused any problem and we never thought a thing about it, and we baled 4 to 5 thousand bales a year. Good luck with your baling.

 

[zzvyb6]

I do it with 35 hp loaded tires and weights. What makes it rock is the flywheel slowing down, either because the bale case knives are dull, the hay is too wet, the charge is too big or the tractor governor is snafu. If you can keep the flywheel rpm constant then the unit won't rock very much at all.

So: slow down, tedder the hay, and sharpen the stationary and plunger knives.