Small Pull behind hay conditioner

[powerscol]

By small I mean 6-8 feet that can be run with 26.5 HP PTO Does anyone still make a stand alone conditioner/crimper unit?

In searching I find the the past there were New Holand 404, Agway, New Idea750, JD 32, and some others, but have no idea how they worked or if parts are available. Im just doing reasurce.

New this year I am running a PZ 170 drum mower and tedding behind with a (two basked GF 222T model. I was thinking I may want to condition behind the drum mower to soften the stems.

Thought on something to specifically look for?

 

[powerstroke444e]

I pull a new Holland 472 with my b26tlb Kubota on 6acres and it does fine.

 

[super55]

I don't believe anybody anymore makes a roller/crimper anymore. Most of the manufacturers these only make the larger mower/conditioners. Crimpers used to be pretty popular back in the day when sickle mowers were still prevalent and they would run the crimper off the PTO of the sickle mower.

I see them pop up every now and then on craigslist in my area but I would say all them were made before the mid-60's. I have seen prices range from a few hundred bucks to about 1500.00 and they always seem to sell really fast so you aren't the only one that seems to be in search of one.

I would keep an eye on craiglists or check out tractorhouse.

 

[powerscol]

Thanks - Ill keep my eye out.

I did run the drum mower and tedder yesterday and it did a good job or bruising the stem material. Ill see how fast it drys

 

[powerstroke444e]

If you have a tedder I wouldn't worry about a conditioner. Hope all goes well.

 

[glockky]

I picked up this allis chalmers about a month ago. Seems to function fine. I'll try to post back on how it works when we get some dry weather. I picked this one up for $200

q

 

[powerscol]

What model is it?

 

[glockky]

Think it's the AC 500

 

[powerscol]

Thanks

 

[flusher]

I picked up this allis chalmers about a month ago. Seems to function fine. I'll try to post back on how it works when we get some dry weather. I picked this one up for $200

q

Nice. You did good.:thumbsup:

 

[Threepoint]

If you have a tedder I wouldn't worry about a conditioner. Hope all goes well.

But doesn't that depend on the coarseness of the cutting? Not needed for fine hay, but it can make a coarser (but still nutritious) hay more palatable, so less waste.

 

[barkerwc4362]

We had a 7 footer, New Holland I believe, that Dad bought in the 60's for the sole purpose of reducing the drying time. We ran it off a separate tractor. The John Deere No. 5 behind the John Deere B was not set up to run the conditioner behind it. Cut the drying time of alfalfa hay from two days to one, if mowed early morning. The down side of it was, if it got rained on the hay quality suffered more than if it was just mowed. Eastern Iowa is where I grew up.

Bill

 

[powerscol]

But doesn't that depend on the coarseness of the cutting? Not needed for fine hay, but it can make a coarser (but still nutritious) hay more palatable, so less waste.

Well I got 25 bales up off of the 1.5 acres. I cut early for vacation (would have been too ripe later) so was very happy. Between the drum mower and tedding twice I was surprised at how well things were conditioned. The stem parts were well bused and probably cut a day off of the drying. It was not a true test as I got a light rain shower the afternoon before I was going to bale, setting me back a day. Tedder proved its worth though.