[AT] Old baler guidance needed

[Spencer Yost]

I also have noticed there is tremendous regional variation in prices too. There are parts of the country where I see nice 273 class/age balers for $500-$1500. But shipping puts another 700 to $900 on it.  Then there is the issue of inspecting it first....

The prices in this area have always had market support.   Between my 10 year stint in hay starting in the late 90s and putting this field back into production about 4 years ago I have kept somewhat of an eye on Baler prices. They fell with the round bales but have slowly, but continually, risen since them.    I hear scrap price, "haul-it-away" stories many times from around the country.  But that has never been true around here  if it working.

Spencer Yost

> On Apr 21, 2016, at 8:01 AM, Dan Glass <dglass at numail.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Baler values must be going up again.  They took a dip a few years ago 
> when people were switching to round bales.  I have a couple of good 
> working 273's that people just gave me to haul them off.   I brought 
> them home and started baling immediately.  I did adjust how tight the 
> bale was and about every 100 bales a twine would break when the bale 
> fell out the back.  But just minor adjustments.
> 
> 
>> On 4/20/2016 11:59 PM, Spencer Yost wrote:
>> Thanks John.   The 273s around me that are less than 2500 are worn out and kept out in the rain.    I have looked at a few of the "super" two digit line like the super 66 than are cheaper(roller bearings and not blocks).   But again, I have not seen one that was not in pretty bad shape.  One super 68 close to me that sounded really nice came up for $800 but it was sold even though the the listing said it was 1 day old. The worst part is the guy won't delete the ad and I get excited everyday for a half a minute until I realize it's the same one. (-;
>> 
>> For example. The 273 in King for $1500, has welded needles, knotter gear teeth worn to a sharp point and missing back out plates.    Someone fed a bale of hay with plates in it (-;
>> 
>> The one in Brown Summit and the one in Elon do not return my calls.   The rest are all over $2000 or are too far away.
>> 
>> The one in Wilkesboro at the new holland dealership for 2500 I went to see when I was in Wilkesboro for work.    It's nice.   If I was going to spend real money I would buy that.   They have it cleaned up, adjusted. and put a few new parts on it.
>> 
>> My big problem is I need one that will work for a couple hundred bales since my back is against the wall. I don't know about you, but my orchardgrass is almost reaching the boot stage already. I will need to cut the next four days of sun I get after this next round of weather.  If I need to work on it between the first and second cutting that's fine.   But I need one to work for a few hundred right out of the gate.  If you see one that doesn't require $500 or more in parts and more than a few hours of work and is less than 1500  let me know!
>> 
>> Tires are a real issue too I've noticed. Several have had replacement tires that prevent the pickup from reaching the ground properly or the tires are badly mismatched.
>> 
>> I have a used Rossi two basket Tedder.   Works great and was pretty cheap to buy as far as tedders go.  That was always part of the deal with my neighbor.  If he could show up with his tractor towing the baler and rake behind it, get in the field and rake and bale without worrying about mowing and tedding he would do it for 10% of the bales. Worked pretty good but all good things come to an end I guess.
>> 
>> The other thing that worked was he does alfalfa. So his equipment was idle when I was ready for baling and he got a little grass hay for his retired horses that don't need high test alfalfa. His sick family member however does grass hay like me.  His equipment will be busy when I need it. So even if he was willing to lend it to me(and he's like me.  He would lend his wife before his baler), it would probably be too busy to use.
>> 
>> Thanks for keeping an eye out for me!
>> 
>> Spencer Yost
>> 
> 
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