WaddleRemodel are you running a small square baler, or big round? What do you have for local dealers (John Deere, Case, Kabota?) for repairs? Any other chores you'd like to use it for? And lastly what is your budget?
A new tractor that's able to run all that will be $$$$. I'm assuming you want to mow hay with the sickle bar?
Have 12 acres with 12 more that I am trying to lease next to my place. Doing paper work for weed free hay. Not trying to make a killing on the hay. Small bales. Trying to see if I can put all together used with a budget at around 12,000 to 15,000 dollars with a payoff in five years. Most dealers are couple hrs away. Might even do some custom haying if I can find the time..
Problem is, a tractor with enough zutzpah to run even a small square baler is going to be a bit awkward to sickle mow hay with. Unless they make bigger sickles than I've seen. I've used oversized tractors with a rake before and that's not too awful. Your budget says old school. Tractor, mower, rake and baler all on $15K? Around here, that's a pretty tall order. If that budget is just for the tractor, you should do pretty well.
around here you can by smaller sized mower rake and baler (w/o kicker) for 6 to 8 thousand, this time of year, that doesn't leave a lot for tractor... friends just bought new 55 JD as used was almost as much as new...
That is my problem. Want over need. Have a local guy that will cut, rake and bale. It is on his time and he wants half which I am good with.. The half part. His time not so much.. The search goes on...
I love those old Ford industrial tractors. The 4wd skip loader models are awesome too (445D and 545D). Good luck finding a good one without paying an arm and leg though. I know where a backhoe is that would definitely come in handy if I could source a 545.
Modot runs sickle bars on 60hp tractors here. Look to be pared well. A 40-50hp tractor will be perfect.
My experience with sickles is limited to what was attached to the old Farmall H. Had no idea they had 'em sized for 60Hp tractors. Lots of old sickle/reel mowcos just sitting around in farmer's back lots for cheap $$ here. Almost every dairy or anybody else serious about hay has switched to disc mowers. I agree that 50hp would git'r'dun nicely for WaddleRemodel.
With those guidelines used is the only way to go. If you have decent dealers/repair services then any of the big name manufacturers will be ok. Bad thing is that tractors in that hp range in the used market bring premium prices, especially anything from the 60's/70's are collector items, if in good condition. You can find 10/20 series Deeres, 56/66/86 series IH'S in the 5-8k range, but will be rough and/or high hours. Best deals can be found on older JI Case, Allis Chalmers (agco/agco-allis) or Fords. Basically will get same hp in better condition and/or fewer hours. Our Ford 5600 is just about right for haying, two thing holding it back are only one hydraulic outlet, and is a little light weight for the baler. (Plunger lunges the tractor every rotation) Mower: sickle bar mowers, or mower conditioners can be found very cheap, and will preform just fine for what you want... until your in a hurry, can't rush a sickle bar! If you can take your time 3pt disc mowers can be found for reasonable money, but if it is to cheap to be true, stay away, they can be costly to repair. Rake: I'm not sure about your area, but around here a 5 bar rake can bring stupid amounts of money at auction. I bought our 10 wheel V rake for 750 off CL. It's a little over sized for the small baler in heavy hay, but works great for most cuttings. Baler: I got very lucky when we got ours, a family friend was splitting up there farm operation and had a Deere 336 w/ kicker, two kicker hay racks, a old Deere 5 bar rake and a IH 7' sickle bar mower... I got the whole ball of wax and a 6 ton bulk bin for $3k ended up selling the rake and sickle and got half my money back! (Again 5 bar rakes bring stupid prices here) Deere, New Holland, Agco/Massey all make good balers. Kickers are worth the price if you ask me... I can't get anyone to ride a rack anymore! It might be pushing your budget thin to get all this, but it can be done. I totally understand not want to use the custom guy, for the reason of it is base on his allowed time. One thing about custom hay guys, there hay come first, and I can't blame them. But it still sucks when you need yours done. If I was in your shoes, I might just get good tractor in the 60-80 hp range and a disc mower. Then pay the custom guy to take and bale. Then next year or so get a baler. Just my 2 cents.
Many Thanks for all the info..Will probably have to piece together over the next few years.. but half the fun is in the looking and dreaming.. Then it just becomes work. My Boss just spent 80,000 on a used big boy baler..his budget is just a tad higher than mine. Hopefully a good deal will come as the weather becomes colder...
Well.....the atf leak wasn't too bad on the MF300. There's a lot of rust flakes in the fuel tank though. The way it's baffled makes a bear to really clean. Ideas?
It's not so easy to take off. That's the fuel tank on the back there........it's all one piece across to the other side, which has the hydraulic tank.
They never seem to think of this stuff during the design phase do they? If the outlet is big enough, drain the tank and run a constant stream of fuel to wash what you can through it. If you have big flakes that won't break up then you may have to throw yourself upon the mercy of Murphy and a good fuel filter.
