NH 570 vs MF 224

[jwcinpk]

Found 2 square balers local that are within my budget. 1 is a like new MF 224 $6000 and the other is a weathered but otherwise nice NH 570 $7500. The 224 is the better looking baler. Obviously shedded and appears to have been maintained well. It is a little trip to pick it up but it's also $1500 cheaper and I have the ability to haul it. The NH 570 is not a bad looking baler, just been kept outside. I did notice that one knotter has been replaced on the 570. Appears to have been fairly recently too. New black knotter. Being sold by my local dealer.
I assume the 570 is going to be a little higher capacity baler, but the 224 is no slouch either. Never seen one in action but understand that series is all the rage. I want to switch about half my operation over to squares. Will be running the baler with a 70 hp tractor.
Any input appreciated!

MASSEY-FERGUSON 224 Square Balers For Sale At TractorHouse.com

New Holland 570 Square Baler | VALLEY FARM EQUIPMENT SCIENCE HILL, KY #ELS833040

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

I have all my experiences with New Holland. New Holland and Deere are the most popular balers in my area. You see some Agco centerline under the Hesston, New Idea, Challenger or Massey name. I am on my second NH and it is a 315. (Late 70's to early 80's model). I did have a NH 68 (late 50's model). They were both working when I bought them but I still went thru them when I got them home. They were bought from individuals.
I don't know about the 570 specificaly but I know the knotters are pretty much the same. They are very dependable and not too bad to work on. NH baler parts are easy to get and seem to me to be reasonable. Many of the parts are carrried over many years and models. There are a lot of them out there.
I don't know much about the Massey Ferguson balers but I do know that design and model was discontinued many years ago. They did have have their own knotter design. I had heard they sold the knotter design to Gehl which no longer makes hay equipment. The new Massey (Agco Hesston etc...) from what I can tell is a similar knotter design to the NH and Deere.
Massey made a lot of balers in their day. You might check with a Massey dealer and see that they still support the older Massey balers. If they do I would check prices on common wear parts like knifes, tines, sprockets, and for sure all of the knotter parts.
Then check on prices for the NH parts and availibility. I know most of the time my local NH dealer keeps what I need on the shelf during baling season. If not there are 3 dealers with in 25 miles and 3 more within 50 miles. Agco dealers are 1 within 25 miles and 2 within 60 miles.

Here are some pics of my NH 315 rebuild a couple of years ago.

As far as HP your 70hp will be fine on either of those balers. I use a JD4430 125 PTO HP and Kioti 38 PTO HP on my 315 without a problem.
If you are going to be on the tractor than I highly recommend a cab tractor with cold A/C. LOL.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

A few more pics of the NH 68 rebuild and NH 315. If I can work on these anybody can!:laughing:

 

[jlsmith]

I like the massey myself. Parts are still available and its easy to work on. I have two customers that still run those models one customer has two of them and the other has one and a new MF sq baler.

 

[redneckford]

a newholland 570 is one of the best if not the best baler i have ever run i dont know much about massey. but where we are from 7 out of 10 balers are nh and then 2 johndeere the a very few of the other brands. but every part on the nh 570 is still available since they have used most of the same parts as previous models. they still make the 570 but it has a new number and i cant remember the new number. i would take the 570 over any baler ever made. they bale nice tight but heavy bales.

 

[jwcinpk]

I've been searching for info on the capacity of the 224, but can't find any. Would like to be able to compare the specs on the 2 before buying. Anyone have any idea of the specs/capacity of the 224?

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

Massey 224
I researched and found the MF 224 is around 80 strokes per minute plunger speed. That is plenty as my old 315 is only 79 and if you are loading wagons it will keep you plenty busy. If you are using an accumilator and and doing a lot of acres of squares you might want more.
I did find out Gehl must of purchased the tooling for this baler in the early 90's and began to build it. I am unsure when Gehl quit building this baler but it must of been sometime before they got out of the Ag business in 2007. I was suprised that Gehl didn't try to sell off it's ag equipment side. I had heard it was approached before it decided to get out but wouldn't sell. They chose to shut down down their factories. I wonder where all of their tooling for their hay equipment went. They had a nice looking disc mower as well. I say it was a mistake because it's commercial construction side of the business was hit hard by the recession that started in 08'.

NH 570
I found this article on the Model 570. In the day it was the best-selling 14"x18" baler in North America. Super-Sweep pickup width: 65" (70" flare). Exclusive rotary feeding system. Feed opening: 283 square inches. 93 strokes per minute (30" stroke). Twine or wire. 62 PTO hp (minimum) tractor required.
http://www.triebold.com/products/pdf/baler_sq_565specs1.pdf

Hope this helps.:thumbsup:

 

[AKfish]

Any room to deal on the prices? The dealer might have some "wiggle room" and a smaller price difference between balers.

Don't know about the 224. I used a smaller Massey year's ago. It was not my favorite piece of farm equipment on the place...

Have worked with my neighbor and his New Holland 570. Have never seen it miss a bale in the past 4 season's. It's a rock solid machine!

Sure glad he's got a loader mounted bale grapple 'cause those bales are heavy.

AKfish