TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Haying Question

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

John S-B

09-24-2004 13:43:46

Report to Moderator

Got a haying question for you guys. I have a small hay field ( just a hobby ) and I am having problems with the baler picking up the windrow. The field is mostly fescue with a little clover. The size of the windrow and the height of the pickup reel on the baler do not seem to be the problem, it seems like the grass is too "slick" and won't stick together, it kind of slips thru the pickup teeth. I was wondering if adding some timothy or alfalfa would help. Also can I just broadcast it in after light disking and is it too late to do it this year? (central Oh.) As this is just a hobby for me I don't want to spend too much time and money on this. I'm using a JD 24T baler and a Farmall M tractor. I'm also wondering if putting a small bend at the end of the pickup teeth would help. Thanks for any advise you can give.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

John S-B

09-28-2004 08:13:35

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

Thanks for all the info guys. I think I'll over seed with some alfalfa, I'm not worried about having to bale often. Old hay rake on steel: free
Drive chain for rake: $20
Sickle bar mower: $75
JD baler Neighbor payed for: $200
Pleasure of using old iron: priceless!

As you can see I did'nt have to do much to get this little deal going. I was bush hogging 5-6 times a year anyway, now I'm getting beer money of this acre. Missed the first cutting this year but I should be ahead after first one next year.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Hugh MacKay

09-25-2004 02:34:10

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

John: Are you traveling the same direction as you did mowing? Balers, any make do not pickup any species well if your mowing direction is drfferent from baling direction. Speed very important as well as Joe mentioned.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

old fashioned farmer

09-24-2004 19:09:12

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

Howdy,

I had that same issue today in a little section of my hayfield that had light fescue. I would go ahead and add some other types of grass to it. It's really your choice but I'd suggest timothy as it will only give you one or two good cuttings unlike alfalfa, which may keep you busier than a hobby hayfield is intended. Sowing now is alright but don't wait too late or your field won't have a chance to get a good stand before killing frost sets in. I have neighbors who sow alfalfa in the fall here in S. ohio and they say they get better results than spring sowing. I haven't tried it myself but I'm also trying to get away from alfalfa right now (until I can get a good disc bine...sickle cutting and the high humidity down here just don't mix with alfalfa). God bless.

--old fashioned farmer

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

RickL

09-25-2004 07:06:10

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to old fashioned farmer, 09-24-2004 19:09:12

OLD fASHION fARMER; I have a disc mow/conditioner forn sale if that would help you out. needs nothing I am just going to larger unit

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

JoeMN

09-24-2004 19:02:44

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

Which direction are you going on the windrow? If you are trying to feed the cut stem first,it won't feed well. Whether grass or legume,the windrow feeds better approached head first. As a previous post stated,it is important to keep your ground speed high enough that the pickup just lifts the windrow without tearing it apart.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Loren

09-24-2004 18:53:39

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

Are you getting a pretty full windrow? If it's thin there's no mass to keep it flowing into the baler. Fescue feeds the worst in my baler too. Also, I use a swather with crimper and have noticed that when I end up baling reverse direction from the cut for whatever reason it doesn't like to feed in well. The swather throws the grass to the rear as it moves and creates a lay to the windrow. Any help? Loren.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

old

09-24-2004 14:25:50

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 13:43:46

How low do you have the pickup teeth set?? They need to almost touch the ground or it doesn't work right. Also are you sure that the slip clutch for the pickup isn't slipping. I'm just going by memery since I haven't used a JD baler in years. I do know that when I used my 14T the pickup teeth had to cut in to the ground at times to pick up well

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

John S-B

09-24-2004 18:03:38

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to old, 09-24-2004 14:25:50

I've tried it at several heights, none are much better than the others. It just kind of kicks the grass hay out front again instead of pulling it up. I was thinking that some kind of leafy clover would help it kind of stick together so it would feed better. I'm pulling in 1st gear so it has a chance to pick up.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

JMS/MN

09-24-2004 18:14:54

Report to Moderator

Re: Haying Question in reply to John S-B, 09-24-2004 18:03:38

Try baling in 2nd or 3rd. 1st is too slow if the windrow is light. Pickup just bumps the hay around. It needs some flow to make it go through. Watch the speed of the pickup in relation to the ground speed. It should pretty much match. If you go to fast you'll see the windrow being broken up, left behind, rather than flowing in at a smooth rate. 1st gear is way to slow to bale an average windrow.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy