what type of haybine should I look for??

[NolanJae]

I live in north central Minnesota and I have a hobby farm. I have 30 acres of hay ground and cut grass hay two times a year. Were lucky to get two cuts. I just scrapped out an Owatonna haymaster 200 for many reason and I'm on the hunt for a haybine. I want to find a haybine that will cut a thick 1st crop of grass hay and a second thin cut of grass hay. I also want to use my farmall M for the haybine. I looking for advise on right brand and model which allows me to cut grass and buy parts without seaching the world over for them. Again I also want to use my M for the job. I have a neighbor custom bales for me. I dont want anything smaller or bigger than a 9 ft cut. What do you guys recommend????
 

[steve in wi]

Can you please tell everyone what dealers would be close to you?
 

[krm1976]

New Holland 479
 

[Zachary Hoyt]

I have a NH 461 and have been pulling it with an H the past three years. I would think that most any NH would be a good choice, it depends on condition. Mine is rough but it was cheap and the conditioning rollers are complete so I bought it. Parts are still available, not all are cheap.
Zach
 

[NolanJae]

I have New holland, IH, John Deere and one good all around implement dealer withing 30 miles.
 

[Don-Wi]

A new idea 290 is a good one to have. Was also sold as the ford 535 and massey ferguson hay tender, although the mf model number eludes me right now. Dad started out with a ford, then after that he found a new idea. We still use ours a little here and there for marsh grass and water ways.

Donovan from wisconsin
 

[NolanJae]

How many pennies should a guy save? I'm hoping to get one in good shape for at or under 2,000. Am I dreaming???
 

[Don-Wi]

When Dad got our 290 15 years or so ago, he paid $750 for it. They don't have the issues with the crimper rolls like NH either. The bottom roll is steel ribs, and the top is laminated rubber, like rubber belting or tire sidewalls. Maybe it's the other way, I don't remember.

Even today, I wouldn't expect to pay much more than $1000 for a 290 or 535. Still see a few in the area around here. Our main haybine is a Hesston 1014+2. That's a 14' hydro-swing.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 

[NolanJae]

thanks Ill keep an eye out for a 290
 

[Zachary Hoyt]

I got mine for $176 at auction, but it is missing some of the amenities. I have seen pretty decent ones go under 1,000. This is the time of year to buy haying equipment in my limited experience.
Zach
 

[randy hall]

haybines are a lot cheaper the last couple of years. everyone wants a discbine now.
 

[kossuth]

In my opinion there is only one brand to look for as far as Haybines and that's New Holland. Always had good luck with their units, and anytime we dealt with any other brand we ended up back with New Holland. Now, with my biased opinion stated, I've never dealt with Hesston equipment before. Perhaps that is a good unit. So I'll say this.

Look at which dealers you have reasonably close to you and base your decision on that. As good as I feel New Holland Haybines are, they will break just like any other machine and they will break at the most inconvenient time. So getting parts and getting parts in a timely manner is paramount.

Your M will run just about every haybine made with the exception of a 499. If you do go with a New Holland unit there are a few "lemon" units I would steer away from. 489s have a record of gearbox issues, and gearboxes are definately an expensive fix. The big thing with any unit is make sure the rollers are in good shape. Make sure the cutterbar is straight. If it's not straight you will hate life. Just make sure the machine regardless of what make hasn't been abused.

Either way picking up a good unit for around $2000 or less shouldn't be a terribly hard feat. Many bigger operations have moved on to discbines due to their ability to mow much faster than a haybine. Your M won't run a discbine though and quite frankly you don't want to pay the discbine price.
 

[dboll]

I have a 488 NH and get along good with it. Before that I had a 555 Case (PT10 Hesston) which was a good machine but mine was worn out.
 

[tjiniowa]

I really like my IH 1190, I only have about $900 in it. The rolls don't fall apart like a NH, and they open up when you lift the machine to clear them out. Same as a New Idea also 530something I think. Parts are no problem to find, easy to work on. Been around 489 and 492's and hard to even grease in my opinion, tongues are weak on 489's. 499 is the biggest mistake NH ever made, we had one of them for a few years and don't miss it at all, the goofy reel was a problem and hitching it up with heavy tongue and PTO pump was hard
 

[donjr]

#3 Haytender, I think. Built for MF by NI.