New Holland 640 Vs. Hesston 540

[sixtyninegmc]

How do these two balers stack up against each other? Looking at getting my first round baler, and these are the two best options I`ve found. I`m leaning heavily towards the 640, it is $2500 more, but it belongs to a farmer I know and trust, so I know the condition and how it has been taken care of. But if the hesston is a good unit, it might be worth looking at.
 

[Nathan (SD)]

Lots of New Hollands in my area. From what I have seen the new series of NH balers use about 80 percent of the parts that the 640 650 660 balers used. I must be a good design if they aint changed it much in 20 years.
 

[DiyDave]

I have used a Heston 5530, for about the last 10 years, only
weakness I found in it were the pickup bars are prone to bending
from hitting groundhog mounds. I know it's not a 540, but is the
next smaller baler, older version. Only parts I have put in it have
been a set of belts, and some pickup teeth, and bar bushings, and 1
belt bearing went, this summer.
 

[4020guy]

New Holland, best 2500 dollars you'll ever spend.....Ron
 

[495man]

Different class machines...

640 is a 4x5 baler and a lot more substantial machine.

The 540 is a 4x4 baler and was more inline with the smaller NH 630 baler.

Also depends what tractor you have to run the baler...the 540 will run on 40 PTO, some also need dual remotes unless electric tie equipped.

Assume you have enough tractor, 640 would be my pick.

The 540 design was last used by MF as the 1744 which is not offered any more.

The 640 design is still going as mentioned in the current NH line up.
 

[sixtyninegmc]

I`ll be running the baler on either the 4020, or the 4440, so horsepower is not an issue, for sure. The NH certainly seems like a lot stouter baler, but I have been happy enough with my hesston square baler that the 540 caught my eye. I think the fact that the NH has been parked in a barn and always cleaned out since it was new is going to be the deciding factor.
 

[Ron-MO]

Cannot comment on the NH as I have not owned one, but I had a Hesston 530 (very similar to 540), and only owned it one season, and resold it. If it is any indication I had an old NH chain baler prior to buying the Hesston, and went back to the old chain baler. Hesston seemed like a good idea at the time till I had to lie on my back in 95 degree heat unplugging it, and spent most of my time stopped tying all those little bales. Narrow pickup spills hay out the sides unless windrows are small. But I am sure it would be fine for just a few bales per year and a smaller tractor. Just my thoughts.
 

[2510Paul]

I won't go into detail here but....Heston Round Baler? RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No good experiences here. I can identify with the guy laying on his back unplugging it and a whole lot more. Paul
 

[hd6gtom]

Father in law had a Heston, When I got the 852 New Holland, he parked the Heston in the fence row and never hooked it back up. I think he air'd up the tires and pulled it to the scrap yard.