Moving Round Bales

[TS_Scout]

What would be the minimum size yanmar to lift and move the large round bales with a 3 point bale spear

 

[JAK]

I have a 1700, I can stab the bale and start to lift and the front end just comes off the ground. I have no weights on front and I dont know how much weight it would take to balance the tractor. but even with weights I dont know if it would be good on the tractor to lift it, those bales Im working with are about 1200 lbs. I think Ive seen on this form that the lifting capabilities on a 1700 are 750 or 800 pounds.

 

[greatrandini]

JIMB111 uses a 3110 to do some limited moving of round bales. Ask him how that is working out!

 

[Forester102]

YM 226D 27 hp I move 600-800 lbs (4-5') round bales. Gave up the spear and just use forks on my bucket I found it easier for me and I can stack them higher.

 

[hudr]

If you are talking about the 6X6 round bales, I would venture at LEAST a 50hp and would suggest 55-60hp model. I have a 50hp Mahindra and the 6x6 bales of bermuda we put up are at the ragged edge of its envelope when they are first baled. As they age and dry out they get easier to handle.

 

[normde2001]

I think most bales are 800-1200#, and I would want at least a 3,000# tractor to handle them without too much strain.

 

[lens12]

I have 1000 lb round bales. I move them on the 3 point of a YM330d with loader. I have some stalk bales made with a newer baler that probably weigh 1500 lb. I have to put something in the bucket to move them. I just put a mover on a YM276d & it took 300 lbs of front end weights to keep the front wheels on the ground with the lighter bales. I don't recommend moving them with a loader very far or over rough ground unless you have a big tractor. I have a JD2030(65 hp) that I use a spike on the loader. I 've broke several spindles mainly when backing & turning to quickly.

 

[5030]

I wish I had a picture of this, but I moved and staked chopped corn stalk bales with my M9000 this fall. The bales were 4x5 around 1200 pounds each. I had one on the rear spear and 2 on the front....one each on each fork of the pallet forks stabbed right through the middle. The tractor rode like a Caddy across the no till. I despise chopped corn stalk fields. That is about the dirtiest work at harvest time. Not for an open station machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mickey_Fx]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( YM 226D 27 hp I move 600-800 lbs (4-5') round bales. Gave up the spear and just use forks on my bucket I found it easier for me and I can stack them higher. )</font>

What kind of ballast do you have on that tractor? Mine is sim in size and I wouldn't even attempt to lift something that heavy.

When I made my bucket forks I put about 500# a couple ft out on the forks for a test and it almost had the back end off the ground and my tires are liquid filled. In addition the rated capacity of both front tires is only 900#. I bet you have the front end of your tractor way over loaded.

 

[normde2001]

"YM 226D 27 hp I move 600-800 lbs (4-5') round bales."

I believe the YM226D is more like 22 HP. US versions, such as yours, use the 1st 2 digits as engine HP, minus about 20% for pto HP. Grays use 1st 2 digits as pto HP, plus about 20% as engine HP.

 

[jimb111]

TS,
I have a 3110d with a Koker 160 loader and ROPS. I move round bales with the 3PH that weigh approx 1000+ Pds without difficulty. I have the rear wheels extended to maximum width and the rear tires are loaded with windshield washer fluid. I also loaded the front tires and believe this added approx 50-60 Pounds to each tire. Some folks do not recommend loading the fronts but I have not experienced any problem. I would think that the total weight of the tractor with all of the above is approximately 4200 pounds. The tractor has more that adequate power and stability to lift and carry the hay without concern. I can transport the hay up or down an incline that is in excess of 30 degrees. However, I always scoop a load of soil into the loader bucket before hand. I experimented with an empty bucket on the inclines and determined that I could allow the tractor to roll backwards down the incline very slowly with a round bale and hit the brakes which made the front almost get airborne. I did not get any feel of instability performing the same experiment with the bucket loaded. I performed these experiments very slowly with the hay very low to the ground and my hand on the 3PH lever in order that I could drop the hay immediately if need be. Use extreme caution if you attempt to move round bales on any terrain other than level with tractors of this size. My 3110d will negotiate more extreme inclines with round bales than my International 444 but the International does not have a loader to act as a counter weight.
I would have serious reservations concerning handling round bales with a loader on the 3110d or smaller. I use a Belarus 570 that weighs in excess of 10000 pounds to move hay with a loader spear. Whatever you do, make sure you experiment and use extreme caution to determine the stability of the machine to handle the heavy loads. Good luck.

 

[Forester102]

My rear tires are full. I have my bales delivered to me and I then stack them in the barn. I don't move them very far and I take my time. No bouncing. Using the forks in is not likely that I will tip over because the bale will fall of first.

 

[Forester102]

my error, but whats 5hp among friends?

 

[RS69]

I have a 1700, I can stab the bale and start to lift and the front end just comes off the ground. I have no weights on front and I dont know how much weight it would take to balance the tractor. but even with weights I dont know if it would be good on the tractor to lift it, those bales Im working with are about 1200 lbs. I think Ive seen on this form that the lifting capabilities on a 1700 are 750 or 800 pounds.

What spear did you use (TSC?) or did you build a custom one?

 

[clemsonfor]

WOW zombie post!!!:laughing::confused3:

If those random people are still around hopefully they will answer you 12 years later??!!

 

[Smoody]

Hear I was reading through this and realized the date, he definitely pulled this one from the vault. I can not believe I joined almost 10 years ago now!

 

[clemsonfor]

Hear I was reading through this and realized the date, he definitely pulled this one from the vault. I can not believe I joined almost 10 years ago now!

good to see you again. I will be in your neck of the woods this weekend.