Square balers?

some # 46 balers were equipped with motors from the begining. One thing with that peticular model is that they require an even feed rate and they are also some what picky on the flywheel rpm. I would reccomend getting the new knotter knife blades and installing them before I even tried to make a single bale. They are pretty cheap and are a great way to reduce agrivation. One other thing with the #46 is that they are Heavy… When they work they will really bale the hay.

Joshua

They were often outfitted with a Wisconsin engine. There was a flat belt that ran from a pully on the engine and then went to the flywheel. I believe that they were often in the 16 to 20 hp range. I do know that one of the people that I had helped with one of those balers we actually removed the engine and switched it over to PTO at her request. One thing about the wisconsins was their larger cylinder bore so they could “lug” more.
Joshua

Got to agree with Mitch on the New Holland. Joshua mentioned the knives and while you’re in there and hav the knotters up, check that the arm that the knife bolts to is actualy rubbing the back of the bill hook.. that can cause mayhem if it isnt. I think Im right in saying that some of the IH balers could be ordered with the “Deering” knotter. These were considered the best.
John

Hello, I use a PTO forecart, but my guess is a motor on the baler it’s self would be slightly more efficient. Both set ups are routinely pulled by four animals with a hay wagon. If a baler is the only PTO implement you want to use a motor on the baler is a lot less expensive (I would guess) than a motorized cart. On the other hand if you wanted to run a haybine or other PTO equipment then a cart may be cheaper and more versatile.

You can see pictures of mowing and baling with four or five head on my farm on my web album.

Good question, I think that is were you would test the efficiency of your PTO cart versus a motor on the baler. On flat ground I have seen teams of two, pull a baler no problem. I think two would pull a PTO cart and baler, as well. The only place I have ever used mine without a wagon, is on the one truly hilly spot on my farm. When I made that hill one end of a six acre field the horses could pull the wagon up the hill (short end), but when I mowed a small two acre piece with the same hill it was up one side and down the other. I just left the wagon off and baled it to the ground. easy with four and probably could have done fine with three but I would have been pushing a team of two to bale up and down that hill. This is were I believe a motor right on the baler might be slightly more efficient, but maybe not.

Baling on the ground is all right,but I do think it has to do with how many bales you hope to make in a year (or a day). Too many bales and it is just much more efficient to put them on the wagon while you make them.

Most folks out here have never seen or heard of the pop up loader you are talking about. I have never seen one in NY. I was impressed with the one I saw in Wa. You might not make the wagons full, though.

Depending on where you are stacking in proximity to the field use a slip instead of a loader and a wagon. We built slips that were (4) 2×12 planks connected at the front and allowed to float over the ground. We made them 12 feet long. It was real easy to tip a bale onto the slip and stack them 2 or 3 high. pull into the stack and grab a new slip leaving the other for the stack crew. We also had some with a gap between the middle planks. Easy to jam a crowbar in the gap and pull out leaving the mini stack for the stack crew. Again it worked for us as the haul was to the edge of the field. LF