For the last few days, there has been an ongoing discussion as to whether any company ever built a 6 X 6, or larger, roll-hay-baler.

Four knowledgable long time hay rollers state that they have either seen, or used, a 6 X 6 roller.

Just as many argue that 5 X 6 are as big as they ever came.


I found a tiny bit of reference to a New Holland Model 856 that made a big 2300-pound roll that said length=90", diameter=72"; BUT, I can find no printable evidence.


If someone can point me to some printable evidence of the existence of some BIG hay-rollers of any make/vintage, it would help to lay this discussion to rest so we can argue about something else.

Thanks.

 

I just poked around a little and the largest I saw was the John Deere 568. The bale was basically a 5 by 6.

 

Well, dont know how they bale them, but there are silage bags made for round bales that are 6'6" X 6' and 6X6...( aint GOOGLE great?)

And this pub by the Ok Co-Op extension service discuss storage of 6X6 bales....
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docush.../F-1716web.pdf

Does that help?

 

Lots of good circumstantial evidence in that Oklahoma study and the silage-bale wrappers.

I sure would like to get some pictures/specifications on some of the big rollers.

When these old hard-heads get a debate started, it is tough to convince them, even with expert witness and photographic evidence.

 

Vermeer made a big one

605M Balers 24” – 72” diameters x 61” wide; maximum bale weight, 2,400lbs. Direct crop feed, powered bale ramp system…

http://www.vermeerag.com/equip/mbalers/

 

Thanks; that one would be a 6 X 5.

I still need evidence of a 6 X 6, or bigger.

 

I just picked up 3 net wrapped round bales and stuffed them in my stock trailer (6' wide x 18' long inside), they bulged the sides out and I had to rachet strap the back door to keep it closed. It was a vermeer baler.

 

A NH 858 supposedly makes a 64" X 90" bale. My NH 855 makes basically a 5X6 bale. The newer balers all seem to stop at 5X6.

 

we have a vermeer 6X6 baler. I don;t know the exact model #, but we have put up some 2600 lb haygrazer bales with it. It has the helper springs on it as well.

 

OK there are several listings for used equipment that show the older Vermeer 605 Super Series baler as producing 6X6 bales.. the newer 605's only produce a 61" long by 6' wide bale..
http://www.agriseek.com/machinery/p/...ound-Baler.htm

http://www.forfarmers.com/new-used/p...ound-Baler.htm

and according to this ad, a 1997 NH 664 will produce 6X6 bales:
http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings...07988C86E955B2

 

Now, we're getting somewhere.

I bet the reasoning behind the 90" long rolls is for hauling them crossways on a flat-bed, back when 96" was the maximum width without special permits.


Is it maybe a 605 ??



With the so far accumulated evidence, I can better present my case to the square-table experts (they ain't got any round tables at the diner).


Thanks for the info.

Anyone else, don't hesitate to reply.

 

My neighbor had a Vermeer 605 (something) and did custom bailing for years with it. It made 6x6 bales. It would switch from net to string at the flip of the switch. It was a great baler. Gave him lots of trouble free service.

 

I used a John Deere baler that was pretty old all year and it made 5x5 but the guy who owned that baler replaced it with John Deeres biggest baler which he always told me was a 6x6. It had a little computer to control everything so that was pretty nifty.

Those vermeer balers look like a John Deere copy...

 

The main reason i dont think the 6x6 were ever popular is because they were so wide it was hard to stack 2 wide on a flat bed and haul them down the rd but there were a few produced remember seeing them advertised at farm shows. here is a link for slip on covers to fit certain balers so obvously someone made one that larger or they wouldnt have had that large of covers.
http://www.sliponsbalebonnets.com/slipons.htm

 

We had a New Holland baler that would do 6x6's but was a typical early NH round baler - junk! Bales looked like hay stacks after a few days. Went to a Ford baler that was just a repainted Hesston that did 6x5's. It was a good baler but it didn't like high moisture rye, oats, barley, etc... for bagging. Then went to a Vermeer 605 Super something that did 6x6's. It was a good enough baler but never could get the spring tension tight enough for our needs so we went with a 535 (I think) John Deere that used hydrolic tension. We could easily put more hay into those 6x5's than the 6x6's the Vermeer spit out. Much easier on the hay forks, chopper/feeder, wagons etc due to the narrow width. I would love to know how many bales I ran through that JD! It's about 18 years old and still going strong. My brother still bales with it. Replaced the belts a couple of times, roller bearings once, cylinders rebuilt etc... The trick to making a round baler last, is to keep it out of the weather all year long. Helps keep the belts from dry rotting due to UV rays and keeps moisture out of the roller bearings!