| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
matador 
Orange Level
Joined: 10 Nov 2014
Location: Wyoming
Points: 1727
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Off Color: Hesston 5500 "Rounder" Baler
Posted: 04 Jul 2022 at 9:19pm |
This year, we're going to be putting up a lot more straw! Mostly in small squares, but we're looking to do 150-200 acres of rounds. I have a John Deere 530 that was supposed to be working when I bought it, but the twine arm isn't right, so it's at a mechanic. We have about a month until we need to start baling, so yeah.... Not a whole lot of time. So, I've been doing what any person idiot would do and I checked the local classifieds to see about a backup machine. Finding hay equipment out here is virtually impossible, so yeah...
But I did find a baler, about an hour away. It's a Hesston 5500 Rounder. Here's the description from the seller: "Hesston rounder, good tires, good belts, good chains. Stringer mount needs repaired. Used last summer."
My questions: Are these things any good, or should I be running for the hills? We're going to be putting up that 150-200 acres of straw, and the neighbor has been heavily hinting that he'd like us to bale his cornstalks if my round baler is fixed. I can't imagine us doing hay- just straw and cornstalks with the baler. Our climate is bone dry and hot here, so material will always be bone dry too. I know nothing about these- this is our first year doing rounds. It's a $1000 baler, so my expectations aren't high, but is this something I should be looking at or should I just run?
These are the three photos of the baler in the ad:
|
|
Tractors: Allis WD (x2), Allis 7040, Oliver 1800A Diesel, Case 830 Caseomatic, White 2-105, Massey 1105 | Plus a Gleaner F2, 30' A-C 1300 Cultivator, Flightline bale elevator
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
dp7000
Bronze Level
Joined: 26 Sep 2021
Location: Winchester Kent
Points: 138
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 04 Jul 2022 at 10:59pm |
|
I had a 5500 in the 80s. Good for hay if it wasn’t too green and windrow wasn’t too big. It took some skill to start a roll. May be ok for straw but doubt it would do good in cornstalks. Friction tape on drive rollers helps.
I’d recommend a Vermeer Super J with spiral roller.
|
|
DiyDave
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gambrills, MD
Points: 53330
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Jul 2022 at 4:00am |
I still have a 530, its little brother. Relatively simple baler, no net wrap, just winds twine around the bale. As for starting the bale, there is an attachment inside, called a short crop bar, 4 bolts remove it, once its out, it starts a bale much easier. Also, if you are having difficulty starting, just travel perpendicular to the windrows, till you see the bale start rolling. Also, in thin windrows, you have to weave as you drive, or the bale will get lopsoded, and you will have problems... 
|
|
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
|
|
Tbone95
Orange Level Access
Joined: 31 Aug 2012
Location: Michigan
Points: 11978
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Jul 2022 at 6:39am |
|
"Stringer mount needs repaired". . . .So.....your JD's twine arm isn't right, so you're buying a back up which the twine arm isn't right?
|
|
Tom59
Bronze Level
Joined: 27 Feb 2021
Location: Lebanon Tenness
Points: 155
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Jul 2022 at 7:34am |
|
I believe if I was going to be baling that much hay I would increase my budget and buy a baler that was newer than the JD 530. When hay is on the ground and ready to bale you need to be baling hay instead of working on a baler in the field.. Plus fix up your JD 530 baler, those balers are pretty simply, cannot be that much wrong or hard to fixed. Plus John Deere should have the parts available for that baler ( probably have to order them, nobody keeps parts in stock now ).
|
|
shameless dude
Orange Level
Joined: 10 Apr 2017
Location: east NE
Points: 13607
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Jul 2022 at 10:15am |
|
I have one of those balers, they were designed for corn stalk baling. i've done alfalfa with mine and it did just fine. I can't tell in the pics if there are steel fingers mounted on the belts, they help lift and pull the material in.
|
|
matador
Orange Level
Joined: 10 Nov 2014
Location: Wyoming
Points: 1727
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Jul 2022 at 12:36pm |
Our 530 is definitely going to be fixed, and the main round baler for now. As much as I hate John Deere with a passion, it is nice to have a dealer close-by. I was thinking of a second machine for when the JD breaks down. Old equipment and breakdowns- name a more iconic duo, am I right?
Buying anything at all is such a nightmare out here. We're jealous of you guys in the Midwest who get tons of equipment to pick from. Out here, it's slim pickings. We wanted another gravity wagon last year. I kid you not, the closest I could find was an auction in Iowa. Buying a gravity wagon sight unseen isn't a big deal, but still....
I know putting up 15,000 small squares with two New Holland 276's is hardly ideal either. Neither is a Case 830 baling tractor or an Allis WD on a three point PTO rake. You make do with what you can get though. I know a fancy 15 year old baler would be the cat's meow! I wish I could find a good cheap baler out here. But I'd be kidding myself if I said that I wouldn't be shipping something in from the midwest. That Hesston 5500 is the only thing I can find at all. It's like that for everything here- no equipment to be found
|
|
Tractors: Allis WD (x2), Allis 7040, Oliver 1800A Diesel, Case 830 Caseomatic, White 2-105, Massey 1105 | Plus a Gleaner F2, 30' A-C 1300 Cultivator, Flightline bale elevator
|
|
Ron(AB)
Orange Level
Joined: 27 Dec 2009
Location: Alberta
Points: 959
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 06 Jul 2022 at 12:43am |
|
I'd look further...
|
|
405, 7000, 7050, 8050, 8070, L3, 2300 & 2600 disk
|
|
Tbone95
Orange Level Access
Joined: 31 Aug 2012
Location: Michigan
Points: 11978
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 06 Jul 2022 at 6:55am |
 Ron(AB) wrote:
I'd look further... |
Why?
|
|
Tbone95
Orange Level Access
Joined: 31 Aug 2012
Location: Michigan
Points: 11978
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 06 Jul 2022 at 6:58am |
matador wrote:
Our 530 is definitely going to be fixed, and the main round baler for now. As much as I hate John Deere with a passion, it is nice to have a dealer close-by. I was thinking of a second machine for when the JD breaks down. Old equipment and breakdowns- name a more iconic duo, am I right?
Buying anything at all is such a nightmare out here. We're jealous of you guys in the Midwest who get tons of equipment to pick from. Out here, it's slim pickings. We wanted another gravity wagon last year. I kid you not, the closest I could find was an auction in Iowa. Buying a gravity wagon sight unseen isn't a big deal, but still....
I know putting up 15,000 small squares with two New Holland 276's is hardly ideal either. Neither is a Case 830 baling tractor or an Allis WD on a three point PTO rake. You make do with what you can get though. I know a fancy 15 year old baler would be the cat's meow! I wish I could find a good cheap baler out here. But I'd be kidding myself if I said that I wouldn't be shipping something in from the midwest. That Hesston 5500 is the only thing I can find at all. It's like that for everything here- no equipment to be found |
It is hard to imagine the status of your equipment market, or lack thereof. Things are a little sparse right now due to supply chain stuff. Getting new stuff is often greatly delayed, which makes used stuff very expensive, but there is still stuff to get if you spend the money.
I can't offer any advice on your Hesston baler as I've never had one. However, have had a couple of Hesston implements (mower conditioner, chopper) and they were well made stuff. Round balers in general are fairly simple, so if you think you can work on it, I'd say go for it. Best of luck in your endeavor.
|
|
