Hobby Hay Field

[SLWagner73]

So, as I have received so many great answers from all the helpful gents. on this site, I figured "who would know best?".

I have a 2N, which, thanks to this site, is running just fine.

So, I have two small fields that I mow now, and they produce really nice "hay". But I have no way to clean it up. Well, at least not by powered equipment.

So, to get to the question at hand, will a 2N work for bailing hay, and if so, what size rake, and what style, size bailer would make sense.

I know the rake would be ground driven, but how wide is too wide?

And for the baler, is there a certain make, model I should be searching for?

Bear in mind, this is just a hobby size deal, so, I am not looking to upgrade to a bigger, different tractor. I am just thinking it would be nice to bale instead of buy hay.

Thanks for taking the time to read:
Scott

 

[R Geiger]

I have to ask, you say you are owing the fields now, What are you mowing it with? I mean what type of mower? Are you using a sickle bar mower?

A couple small fields, I would hire a local farmer to come in and mow, and bale the hay. It would not be cost effective to have all the equipment for a couple of"small" fields.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Some things an N Series are really good
at. But you do need to be realistic
about their capabilities.
For cutting and raking hay they would be
fine.
But baling?
Yeah, some here have done it. Maybe
still are with a small square baler like
a JD 14T. Or yes, you Might find some
worn out old thing with its own engine,
spend an inordinate amount of time and $
fixing up to be useable and then have it
beat your underpowered N all to heck,
doing a LOT of clutching and shifting
when the baler chokes because the
tractor is too fast and doesn't have
live pto. But as a practical matter,
even for a hobby scenerio?
Not me!
I can think of other, better ways to
whizz away my time and money.
A cheaper, funner, more practical way
would be to start with a tractor that's
double the weight and double the HP of
an N.
I would skip all the smaller Fords and
START with a 3 cylinder 4000 and go from
there. Then the whole process would be a
fun, non cringe inducing affair.

 

[8NHENRY]

We always used New Holland hay equipment, the 268 baler and a 258 rake would work good. The rake is ground driven and if you don't make the wind rows very big the 2n will handle the baler. Both older units but are very dependable.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 09:55:12 05/19/19) So, as I have received so many great answers from all the helpful gents. on this site, I figured "who would know best?".

I have a 2N, which, thanks to this site, is running just fine.

So, I have two small fields that I mow now, and they produce really nice "hay". But I have no way to clean it up. Well, at least not by powered equipment.

So, to get to the question at hand, will a 2N work for bailing hay, and if so, what size rake, and what style, size bailer would make sense.

I know the rake would be ground driven, but how wide is too wide?

And for the baler, is there a certain make, model I should be searching for?

Bear in mind, this is just a hobby size deal, so, I am not looking to upgrade to a bigger, different tractor. I am just thinking it would be nice to bale instead of buy hay.

Thanks for taking the time to read:
Scott

ell, many will tell you that Ns are too small, but I paid $100 for an old JD214T, $350 for a 501 mower, and @200 for a rake and cut, raked and baled thousands of bales with this 8N. Sure a bigger tractor would have been nice, but went with what I had. With the cost of new or even nearly new modern day equipment, it would not be reasonable.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 10:59:00 05/19/19)

(quoted from post at 09:55:12 05/19/19) So, as I have received so many great answers from all the helpful gents. on this site, I figured "who would know best?".

I have a 2N, which, thanks to this site, is running just fine.

So, I have two small fields that I mow now, and they produce really nice "hay". But I have no way to clean it up. Well, at least not by powered equipment.

So, to get to the question at hand, will a 2N work for bailing hay, and if so, what size rake, and what style, size bailer would make sense.

I know the rake would be ground driven, but how wide is too wide?

And for the baler, is there a certain make, model I should be searching for?

Bear in mind, this is just a hobby size deal, so, I am not looking to upgrade to a bigger, different tractor. I am just thinking it would be nice to bale instead of buy hay.

Thanks for taking the time to read:
Scott

ell, many will tell you that Ns are too small, but I paid $100 for an old JD214T, $350 for a 501 mower, and @200 for a rake and cut, raked and baled thousands of bales with this 8N. Sure a bigger tractor would have been nice, but went with what I had. With the cost of new or even nearly new modern day equipment, it would not be reasonable.

And that hay field is billiard table flat. The family farm in SE PA was anything but and an 8N with New Holland rake and square baler put up better part of a thousand or so bales every year. Bit more of a challenge but it was done that way for a couple decades or more.

TOH

 

[8NHENRY]

We always used New Holland hay equipment, the 268 baler and a 258 rake would work good. The rake is ground driven and if you don't make the wind rows very big the 2n will handle the baler. Both older units but are very dependable.

 

[Ed S.]

While I won't argue with Ultradog that a heavier, more powerful tractor will do a "better" job, what you [i:876c14616f]actually have[/i:876c14616f] is a 2N, two "small" fields and a desire to put up some 'therapy hay.'

Presuming the fields aren't sloped/hilly, you'll do just fine without needing to buy a bigger tractor. Just keep in mind an N Series is relatively light and aren't known for their good brakes.

For context, I've been haying about 11 acres for the past 17 years. Flat, with a slight slope at one end. I used the 8N for everything (cut, rake, bale) until I could afford to get a dedicated Hesston 6400 cutter and eventually a larger loader tractor. Sold the Hesston last year, as I'm starting to scale back.

I ran a New Idea 7' sickle on my 8N for cutting: yootoob vid link

Out of the three activities (cutting, raking, baling), it's actually the sickle bar that gives the most problems due to plugging. Conditions have to be "just right" to get the whole field done without having to jump off every two or three times around to clear a plug.

A PTO-driven 3-pt Fergeson rake worked really good until it balled itself up a couple years ago. Replaced it with a 3pt wheel rake that I think works better as it doesn't beat the alfalfa up so bad.

As for balers, the JD 14T is supposed to be a good match. I looked at a couple but ended up with a New Holland 68 Hayliner that I was very happy with. As long as you rake your windrows so they're not super-heavy, you will rarely have plugging problems. As UD mentioned, with no live PTO, you have to be quick on the clutch if the baler starts to bog down as you have to bounce it into neutral and clutch out so the baler can clear its throat before moving on. No biggie.

Here's the 68 in action (very light windrows in the vid, it actually bales better if they're a bit heavier): yootoob vid link

When I bought the larger tractor, I also bought a NH 273 baler - about a decade newer than the 68, but with similar capacity. I've not run it behind the 8N, but would imagine it would be similar to running the 68.

So to summarize, if you're looking to use your 2N for some therapeutic haying, your fields are reasonably flat, and are close so you're not having to road a lot of equipment, go for it. You'll need:

1) 7' sickle bar mower - best to get one in known good operating condition, else be prepared for a lot of repairs and frustration. Make sure you have a spare pitman arm on hand.

2) Wheel-driven towed rake, or a PTO-driven 3pt. rake, or a 3pt. wheel (finger) rake - my favorite of the three.

3) Older, lightweight baler like the JD 14T or NH 68. Be prepared to learn how to time and adjust it.

There's a lot of nuance to haying, too, most of which can only be learned by trial and error...

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

es

 

[Ultradog MN]

You guys and your Ns.
Wink

 

[showcrop]

When I started out haying 30 years ago it was with a Ford 250 baler that I bought at auction for $25.00, and a 19 HP Kubota. The baler needed work, but once I got in operation it worked pretty well, and the 'bota had plenty enough power for it. You would want one of the older smaller lighter balers, and as others have said the lack of live power isn't really an issue if you keep your windrows on the small side, by raking partial swaths if need be.