NH 488 or 479 haybine

[cdv]

lookin at a 488 and 479 are they the same haybine or is there some different in them thanks cdv
 

[wolfman]

Basically the same. Older 479s had bigger tires and evidently a longer tongue as the 479 would narrow more for road travel.
 

[wolfman]

Basically the same. Older 479s had bigger tires and evidently a longer tongue as the 479 would narrow more for road travel.
 

[RodinNS]

479 or 489? I'm not familiar with the 479. It may be an older version of the 489 which is the same cut as the 488 but was considered the 'delux' model. The 489 had a floating cutting head that was supposed to follow ground contours better than the 488 which had the head fixed solid to the frame. The 488 was the surviving model as it's still made today...

Rod
 

[scotc]

I thought the 488/9 was a 9 foot (or so) cut while the 478/9 was a 7 foot.
 

[rankrank1]

488 is basically a newer version of the 479. Both are 9' machines. 488 model is still made today. For practical purposes either likely to perform same in field so buy based on condition and price.

489 was a deluxe version of 488 and is also 9' cut machine. The head floats independently on the 489. As to the 489: People either seem to love em or hate em, but all readily admit that the 489 is much harder to work on and a few have been known to break the tongue out. 489 no longer made today so the design did not survive the long haul. Personally, I would not be afraid of a cherry 489 but if abused then I would rather have a 488, 479, or even 46? models as they are simpler and more plentiful for finding used parts.

Myself, I use a Hesston 1120 as I find it even simpler than a New Holland design. Easier for me to keep old junk operational affordably the simpler and more durable that it is. No expensive wobble box or roller delamination problems on my Hesston like the New Holland systems.

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