How do,
I'm wondering if any of the old Vermeer baler experts still read these forums. There used to be a few guys on here who really knew their stuff (HayDR, KEY, and 504BalerGuy).
I was browsing through the parts manual for my father's Massey 1440 (rebadged Vermeer 504G) and noticed some accessory options I'd never seen before. Most interestingly: a silage knife kit. Doesn't look like there's much to it - just a gate reinforcement and roll scrapers.
Doing some more digging, I see a post on here (link below) by HayDR where he mentions folks in the UK using the old F and G 504's for baling haylage. I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about what modifications were done to the balers, and how they performed? All you hear about on these old 504's is how awful they are to start a bale if the moisture is even slightly above perfect, so I assumed haylage would be impossible. I've never had problems with ours starting, but I suspect that's more good luck than good management.
I have a wrapper, and my father does just a few alfalfa haylage bales each year - probably between 15 & 30 - Just to have a little higher protein stuff on hand for a few late calvers. Doing it now, I either need to haul my Deere baler 130 km south from the other farm, or have a custom guy roll them up for him, but most guys around here are (understandably) too busy to make a special trip for only a few bales. Would be very nice if I could use the Vermeer instead.
504G Haylage
I'm wondering if any of the old Vermeer baler experts still read these forums. There used to be a few guys on here who really knew their stuff (HayDR, KEY, and 504BalerGuy).
I was browsing through the parts manual for my father's Massey 1440 (rebadged Vermeer 504G) and noticed some accessory options I'd never seen before. Most interestingly: a silage knife kit. Doesn't look like there's much to it - just a gate reinforcement and roll scrapers.
Doing some more digging, I see a post on here (link below) by HayDR where he mentions folks in the UK using the old F and G 504's for baling haylage. I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about what modifications were done to the balers, and how they performed? All you hear about on these old 504's is how awful they are to start a bale if the moisture is even slightly above perfect, so I assumed haylage would be impossible. I've never had problems with ours starting, but I suspect that's more good luck than good management.
I have a wrapper, and my father does just a few alfalfa haylage bales each year - probably between 15 & 30 - Just to have a little higher protein stuff on hand for a few late calvers. Doing it now, I either need to haul my Deere baler 130 km south from the other farm, or have a custom guy roll them up for him, but most guys around here are (understandably) too busy to make a special trip for only a few bales. Would be very nice if I could use the Vermeer instead.
504G Haylage