Used 50 HP HST for small hay making

[shanehobson]

Hi folks,
I'm dialing in from New Zealand. I'm considering taking on a contract to make 6000 small hay bales (cut, row & bale) every year.
Currently I have a 40 year old International 434 (40HP, 2WD) which isn't much fun for this work.
I think I've decided that a 50 HP HST cab tractor would be ideally for pulling around a 2.4m disc mower & small hay baler (Int'l B47 or NH376).

My questions are :
In your experience is a 50 HP HST going to run a small baler ok ?
Is it worth paying the price premium for HST over a standard transmission ?

I'd be buying second hand, which Kubota models might fit the bill ?
I've send an L5030. Are there any other suitable models ?

Thank you,
Shane

 

[Bigfoot62]

Hi and :welcome: to TBN.

I don't own a Kubota, but I do know a little about haymaking.
I have both a JD 265 and a Kuhn GMD 600 disc mowers. (same mower, different paint job) I do most of the mowing with the New Holland TN70A. This tractor is "comfortable" with that size mower. I wouldn't want anything smaller, lighter, or with less HP. Looking at the info on the tractor you mentioned, TractorData.com Kubota L5030 tractor information I see that it's smaller, lighter and has less HP.
Just my opinion, but I would look for a bigger tractor.

 

[Carl_NH]

If your not pulling a wagon just the baler probably OK and mostly flat ground. The L 5030HST is probably 42-43 PTO HP and about 4000 lb.

Your International 434 is an older machine weighs in at 4600Lbs is 43 HP, and those older machines typically are fairly robust at pulling a load.

I would go up to 60+HP the M6040 size range and if mostly baling or field work (not loader use) then a gear machine would be just fine.

 

[flusher]

Hi folks,
I'm dialing in from New Zealand. I'm considering taking on a contract to make 6000 small hay bales (cut, row & bale) every year.
Currently I have a 40 year old International 434 (40HP, 2WD) which isn't much fun for this work.
I think I've decided that a 50 HP HST cab tractor would be ideally for pulling around a 2.4m disc mower & small hay baler (Int'l B47 or NH376).

My questions are :
In your experience is a 50 HP HST going to run a small baler ok ?
Is it worth paying the price premium for HST over a standard transmission ?

I'd be buying second hand, which Kubota models might fit the bill ?
I've send an L5030. Are there any other suitable models ?

Thank you,
Shane

My baling tractor is a 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto, 2WD, gear tranny 8F/2R, power steering, weighs about 6500 lb with FEL and filled rear tires) pulling a Massey Ferguson 124 baler (two-twine, small bales, weighs about 3000 lb). No problem running the baler on level ground.

HST vs gear tranny? IMHO, HST is not absolutely necessary for this kind of work where you run in a straight line with little need to use reverse gears.

I'd check very carefully to be sure that the tractor you're eyeballing can handle the offset weight of that disc mower. Kubota's are generally pretty light weight tractors.

Good luck.