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The round baler picks the hay from the ground and feeds it into the bale chamber. The hay is then wrapped onto itself by means of six to eight long rubber belts which are around 7 inches wide. As extra hay is picked up and drawn into the baling system, the bale becomes spherical and fills the bale chamber.
How does a hay round baler work?
Like the small baler, the large round baler uses a pickup to load the hay from the ground into the bale chamber. As the hay is drawn into the machine, the bale becomes round and fills the bale chamber to capacity. The hay exerts force upon the belts, which is in turn monitored by the hydraulic system.
How does a small baler work?
Grass is rolled up inside the baler using rubberized belts, fixed rollers, or a combination of the two. When the bale reaches a predetermined size, either netting or twine is wrapped around it to hold its shape. The back of the baler swings open, and the bale is discharged.
How are square bales of hay made?
Back in the 1950s and 60s, most hay was put up in square bales. Farmers cut hay in the field and let it dry for several days in the sun. Then they raked the dried hay into rows and ran baling equipment over the rows. This produced the bales.
How many HP does it take to run a round baler?
If you are buying a baler first, keep horsepower requirements in mind when pairing with a tractor. PTO horsepower requirements for round balers start at 30 hp and can run up to 120 hp. There are a couple of different options when it comes to bale size in balers.
Why are hay bales round?
Farmers often bale hay in large round bales instead of small square bales because they require less labor to bale and move than small square bales. The shape of round bales enables them to be stored outside, something you would never do with square bales. Rain and snow naturally run off their curved sides, like a roof.
How much does hay baler cost?
A good, serviceable square baler can be found from $500 to $2,500 depending on where your small farm is located and what time of year it is purchased. The baler compresses the hay into a packed bale weighing around 38 or 40 pounds, easily manageable by a lone farmer.
How do I get the last bale out of a square baler?
About a “bale’s worth of hay from the end”, loosen up the tension with the baler running all the way. Finish the windrow and manually trip the knotter. A bale hook helps, otherwise pull the bales out of the chamber by grabbing both strings at the same time. Hardly have to “grunt” to empty the chamber out.
What is the smallest square hay baler?
Abbriata makes square balers in 3 sizes. The smallest of the three, the Mini/S, has a total width of only 59 inches, making it the narrowest baler in the compact square baler class. The narrow width is great if you have gates or trees through which you need to navigate.
What are the parts of a baler?
A simple baler consists of a ram, chamber, gate for material feeding, and a machine to produce compressive force. These basic parts are then modified and improved to increase the compressive forces and throughput of the machine.
When were square hay bales invented?
Many people argue that the small square bale is all but a history lesson . . . but is it? Nolt, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, invented the prototype for the small square baler back in the 1930s. His patent was purchased and mass produced during the 1940s. It was an instant hit on farms across the United States.
What is the process of making hay?
Regardless of the amount of hay you produce in a year, it all can be broken down into four basic steps: cutting, tedding, raking, and bailing.
How does a rectangular hay baler work?
Rectangular (Square) Hay Balers Square bales, as they tend to be referred to as, are actually rectangular. Just behind the pickup is the compression bar which holds the hay in location so the auger can move it into the bale chamber. The bale is then compressed and cut to form the correct size and shape.
How much hay is in a square bale?
A standard two-string square hay bale weighs between 40 and 75 pounds; a three-string square bale weighs over 100 pounds, and some as much as 140 pounds; the average round hay bale weighs about 1,250 pounds, but their weight varies greatly from 563 to 1,584 pounds.
What size tractor do you need to run a round baler?
The low horsepower round balers, like the 450E, 450M, and 550M models can be paired with any of the John Deere 5-Series or 6-Series utility tractors. The MegaWide models that require a minimum of 125 PTO HP need to be paired with a more heavy duty tractor like a 4WD or Row Crop tractor.
What size tractor do I need to pull a round baler?
For example, a baler that recommends 50 HP, I’d prefer to have a tractor at least 75 HP to pull it. As others have said, you’d probably be even happier at 100 HP. That said, for the number of bales per year you indicated, you could make do with a 50-75 hp utility tractor.
How much horsepower do you need to run a 4×5 round baler?
Requiring a minimum of only 40 PTO horsepower to operate, Roll-Belt 450 Utility balers are the perfect match for most tractors found on small farms.
