[Kent]

Six years ago I ran a timberjack in Tennessee almost identical to one in the video. I confess that that scene brings back memories. The video looked exactly like situations I was in, minus the riders. My only excuse is ignorance.

[Kent]

I fully agree with J-L.

[Kent]

I picked up a bale with my bale mover and roped the arms together using the square tubing above the bale. I lowered the bale back to ground and the bale rolled just like it should.

[Kent]

Here are pictures of the bale mover.

The second picture is a close up of the winches. The top winch squeezes and raises the bale. The bottom winch keeps the arms apart to release the bale after it is set down and keeps the arms apart while backing up the next bale.

The third picture shows the pivot point for the arm. The bolted on collar to right of the pivot can be moved to the left side when a person is moving a 5′ bale. The square tubing poking out to the front of the arm has a small cable that runs through a pulley and is attached to the lower winch.

Picture four shows the upper part of the bale mover. The square tubing that run to back at the top of each of the vertical round tubing are parallel to the bale arms and would be used when unrolling a bale. A person would cinch the back end of the two tubes together to keep the arms from releasing the bale when it is set on the ground since it is the weight of the bale keeping the arms squeezed together otherwise. On the vertical pipe there is a place the quickly tie off a rope that would be used to cinch the arms together. The hitch pin is hanging on it in the photo. I used a chain between the lever arms in the center to attach the strap from the lift winch to. This allow for moving the arms in and out depending on picking up a 4′ or 5′ bale. Also I had to add the lever on the pulley because the strap had a tendency to run off the edge of the pulley. With the lever, I can guide the strap by tipping the pulley one way or the other.

The last photo mostly shows that I used a hub, spindle, and wheel off of an old implement for the spinners. I cut the rim off of the wheel and added pokers.

I will add a few things that I considered before I built this. The used the front hub assembly off of a junked Datsun which have high speed bearings so I take it out behind the pick-up at highway speeds. Having the axel of the bale mover even with the center of the bale adds or takes away very little to the tongue weight and only when going up hill or down. Negative tongue could be very bad when using a forecart.

I am sure that you can improve on this bale mover. If the weather is nice in the next day or two I may go pick up a bale and cinch the arms together and roll it around and I will report back. Also I apologize if none of this makes any sense.

[Kent]

I will take pictures and post them. It may take a day or two.

[Kent]

Thanks. I may have to take pictures to show how it does work. There are two cranks. The upper winch raises the bale and squeezes it between the arms. Just below that winch is a smaller winch that moves the arms out when the bale is sat down and keeps the arms apart to accept the next bale. The arms will adjust in and out so the would stay parallel with either a 4′ or 5′ wide bale. The arms do pivot in and out at the front corners of the bale mover. It is made out of much heavier material than needed, but that is what was handy when I did it.

[Kent]

I have moved many bales with this bale mover. I confess I have never unrolled a bale with it (though I had that in mind when I built it) but am sure it would work fine. It may be more work to build than some other designs that would work just as well or better. Ronnie, I could take more detailed pictures and some measurments if it would help you.

Kent

[Kent]

I have hit a snag in getting started with oxen and will be delayed for a bit. I had hoped to have calves by now. I am going to get started by making a yoke now.

Good luck with yours,
Kent

[Kent]

I have never heard the red maple is poisonous though I have read from several different sources that walnut saw shavings are toxic as bedding for horses. I have not heard anything about walnut leaves, but I would be very careful with walnut leaves also.

Kent

P.S. I did not see that there were two pages on this topic when I posted my reply so I did not see Jason’s post until after I already posted. I am sure he knows far more than I do.

[Kent]

What is a reasonable price is for a team of shorthorn oxen? I would then have to add on shipping.

I was watching a program about Asia the other day that was unrelated to oxen, but there was short clip with a water buffalo looking critter jogging down the road with other traffic. The driver was sitting on a cart with what looked like a clothes line string strung through a hole in the ox’s nose. Carl, my point is that no sneakers would be required to drive a pair of Jerseys in this fashon, though a person might need some for the training process.

I am leaning towards finding shorthorn calves as close to home as possible.

Thanks to everyone for your input,
Kent

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