MF No. 10 Baler?

[Luremaker]

During my travels this week I came across an old MF No. 10 Baler for sale for $400. The condition seems good but I know little about baling or balers. The owner said it has always been store inside and is field ready. It does need new tires. For the price I thought it might be worth picking up and having a little fun trying to bale some hay. I'd be using it with my L3130 (24 pto hp) and only making bales for garden multch and composting.

 

[sixdogs]

For $400 you can have some fun, yes. But these can be money pits and MF parts can be very expensive or even not avialable at any price. Balers are contraptions that seemingly function with the precesion of a swiss watch.

I would say--since you asked--that it would be ok to bale with but if it needed more than a few dollars of parts down the road to part it out and sell the pieces. Get an owner's manual and never stick your hand near the knives. Tractors and balers can move on their own and you are probably more attractive to your wife with your appendages intact.

My guess is you would be OK baling garden mulch but you can buy a lot of bad hay for $400. Wouldn't hurt to help some farmer bale hay this summer and learn the ropes. Education has it's priveleges.

 

[flusher]

During my travels this week I came across an old MF No. 10 Baler for sale for $400. The condition seems good but I know little about baling or balers. The owner said it has always been store inside and is field ready. It does need new tires. For the price I thought it might be worth picking up and having a little fun trying to bale some hay. I'd be using it with my L3130 (24 pto hp) and only making bales for garden multch and composting.

If you have $400 to burn and really want to get involved with haying, then go for it. You can always sell it for scrap and get some of your investment back if it turns out to be junk that will be expensive to fix.

I looked at several "field ready" old balers before buying a MF-124 square baler for $2000 a few months ago. That baler was used by the seller the day before we made the deal and is in excellent condition. It is truly field ready.

I would have your tool box and a good farm welder handy if you buy that MF-10 just to be prepared for any eventuality.

Ask the seller if you and he can hook that baler up to a tractor for a test run. You can do this by feeding a few bales worth of hay into the pickup and see what happens. This way you'll learn a lot about that baler in a short time.

 

[Rara Avis]

During my travels this week I came across an old MF No. 10 Baler for sale for $400. The condition seems good but I know little about baling or balers. The owner said it has always been store inside and is field ready. It does need new tires. For the price I thought it might be worth picking up and having a little fun trying to bale some hay. I'd be using it with my L3130 (24 pto hp) and only making bales for garden multch and composting.

Have him break up some old bales and run them thru the machine so that you can see it work...

Baling hay is NOT FUN...

For me, it's cheaper than a Gym Membership...

 

[Mike120]

This is probably a silly question, but baling is only one step in the process; how do you plan to cut and rake the hay you're going to bale?

Your tractor is a bit light on HP for that baler and the baler probably weighs as much as your tractor. You're likely to have an interesting ride. You're probably better off buying hay.

 

[Luremaker]

Once again thanks for the info. The guy called me this morning to say he had an offer on the baler last night and if I didn't want it he'd sell it today. I told him thanks but I'll pass on the baler. I looked in really good condition but I do not have any animals myself. I rent out most of my pasture to a cattle farmer so I don't need any hay. Would have been for the fun of it more than anything else. Wife thought I was nuts for even thinking of buying the baler. I also saw a Kioti DK65 with loader and cab for $26000. No idea how many hours on it but nice looking tractor. It's amazing how many things for sale on the side of the road this summer. All I need is more time and money.