Off Color but looking for opinions!

It's a very good baler. Look for wear. You indicated that it has little, based on the fact that little paint is worn off. Check the knotter. Do the gears look worn? Consider that a new baler will cost well over ten times the $1800 price. Without me seeing the baler, I'd say it looks like a good deal.

Lot better baler than the green one. We used one for years baling 4000+ bales per year with basic not trouble.

I paid $600 for a excellent condition NH 268, this might help give you an idea. Always shop around before making a final decision. I have found that the NH balers are very easy to work on if you ever have to. Good luck and happy haying!

I have used both the jd and nh square balers I like the nh better. The jd parts cost more and for some reason even though the knotters are very similar the jd had alot more trouble with knots stuck on the billhook. So check the knotters the first thing to check is that the pivots are not all worn out and floppy if they are the knives will be almost impossible to adjust right mine was like that when I got it. Had to have both knotters sent to a machine shop and sleeved. Next when you lower the knotters they should almost stop on the wiper rubbing the billhook. If all that looks good then check the hay dogs and springs. The springs are pretty cheap but if they are weak it won't tie Knotts the knot will be there but will pull out. Also take a good look at the feed system. I still struggle some with my feed setup not sure why the thing liked to loose a wheel on the roller and then give trouble with the tracks. But it would take it over a jd anyday. I put up about 7000 bales so far this summer and the only breakdowns where dog springs and the wheel thing I mentioned I think you could count the broken bales on one hand this summer. I have the nh 565

the nh- is a better baler'' your working on the green one more then getting any work done' had a new green one 336' let it go 2 years later all you did was work on the da'''' thing

269 won't have SS teeth.  I sold one that I paid $250 for, back in the 80's a coupla 5 years ago, got $2500, on the first ask. It was moderately worn. things to check for are  flywheel shear pin hole, for excessive wear,  packing system plunger for missing/dented teeth, bale knife and shear, for sharpness/wear, plunger for tightness, safety for dents, and hay dogs springs for breakage, and chamber wedges for rust out.

If you own a New Holland you swear by it. If you own a John Deere you swear at it.

We had a 269 with super sweep. According to nh 269 was the first to have ss.
There were not a lot that had ss. I have only seen a few,even with all the farms I was on when selling equipment.

We had a 269 with super sweep also. That was Grandpa's baler. When Dad went on his own, he got a 273 with standard pickup. Dad re-joined Grandpa on the home farm and we used both balers for years doing 24,000 bales a year with very little trouble out of either baler. If it looks as good as you say it does and you believe what the seller says about the amount of use it has seen, then I think it would be a real steal for you at that price and give you decades yet of good service.

I'd use it to be sure but it sounds good. I bought a 273 a couple of years ago and have had 0 problems once I got it adjusted. Get a manual and follow it step by step for all adjustments and you'll be good.

Yup the chain adjustments are important i just spent the day working on getting my timing sorted out because the main drive chain got loose and jump time. Took me a while to figure out why the plunger was out of time.

Yup a nice rake is one heck of a bonus.