IH 430 Square Baler

[ford4wd08]

Well, was checking Marketplace and a decent condition IH 430 came up for sale a mile down the road from me.

Was going for scrap price and included the service manual. I didn't really need a square baler, but this one has been stored inside at least recently and still makes bales according to the owner. I turned it over by hand and it felt ok. Gear box doesn't show any leaks and rolled over pretty smooth. So, I bought it. Going to pick it up tomorrow.

Reason for purchase was the abundant rain we have had this year has me with a surplus of hay. I make round bales and have stored plenty to get me through the winter, I have an old barn with a hay loft in it just sitting empty. I have all the other equipment to make hay minus any labor or an accumulator, might have to pick them up the old fashioned way.

I only plan on making a few hundred square bales to either save for myself or sell.

So, might need some tips from the group. Never been around a square baler, but am a fast learner. I know IH might not have been the preferred baler and there is a love hate relationship with them, but cheap wins out for me lol.

The 430 has the all twine knotters, so hopefully I can get them running right.

Anyhow, more to come.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Read the service manual while sitting down with cup of coffee , then if a malfunction occurs then you'll have a chance to recognize the problem sooner.

 

[ford4wd08]

Read the service manual while sitting down with cup of coffee , then if a malfunction occurs then you'll have a chance to recognize the problem sooner.

I have an owner's manual ordered as well.

I have some round bales I'm thinking of testing the baler with to make some square bales.

 

[ford4wd08]

Some pictures of my purchase.

It seems to be all original minus a farmer fix here or there. I'm hoping it can make a bale without much trouble.

 

[ford4wd08]

More pictures

 

[ford4wd08]

...

 

[JOCCO]

All I can tell you we baled for years with one lots of hay. So did a local dairy farm. Yes they will miss some. 440 435 445 all similar. I still have a 445.

 

[JOCCO]

Get the books they will help a lot. You have to understand the knotters are different than a deer or new holland.

 

[Wdj]

Have a 440 that's been good. Make sure the pickup slip clutch works!!! Learned that the hard way.

 

[Loosehandle]

Well, was checking Marketplace and a decent condition IH 430 came up for sale a mile down the road from me.

Was going for scrap price and included the service manual. I didn't really need a square baler, but this one has been stored inside at least recently and still makes bales according to the owner. I turned it over by hand and it felt ok. Gear box doesn't show any leaks and rolled over pretty smooth. So, I bought it. Going to pick it up tomorrow.

Reason for purchase was the abundant rain we have had this year has me with a surplus of hay. I make round bales and have stored plenty to get me through the winter, I have an old barn with a hay loft in it just sitting empty. I have all the other equipment to make hay minus any labor or an accumulator, might have to pick them up the old fashioned way.

I only plan on making a few hundred square bales to either save for myself or sell.

So, might need some tips from the group. Never been around a square baler, but am a fast learner. I know IH might not have been the preferred baler and there is a love hate relationship with them, but cheap wins out for me lol.

The 430 has the all twine knotters, so hopefully I can get them running right.

Anyhow, more to come.

Patience and in my opinion the hay has to be dryer especially to sell to horse people.

 

[ss55]

Well, was checking Marketplace and a decent condition IH 430 came up for sale a mile down the road from me.

Was going for scrap price and included the service manual. I didn't really need a square baler, but this one has been stored inside at least recently and still makes bales according to the owner. I turned it over by hand and it felt ok. Gear box doesn't show any leaks and rolled over pretty smooth. So, I bought it. Going to pick it up tomorrow.

Reason for purchase was the abundant rain we have had this year has me with a surplus of hay. I make round bales and have stored plenty to get me through the winter, I have an old barn with a hay loft in it just sitting empty. I have all the other equipment to make hay minus any labor or an accumulator, might have to pick them up the old fashioned way.

I only plan on making a few hundred square bales to either save for myself or sell.

So, might need some tips from the group. Never been around a square baler, but am a fast learner. I know IH might not have been the preferred baler and there is a love hate relationship with them, but cheap wins out for me lol.

The 430 has the all twine knotters, so hopefully I can get them running right.

Anyhow, more to come.

Twine can make a big difference. If you find one that works well stay with it even if it is more expensive.

 

[560Dennis]

I see brazed shaft on the lower gear shaft . Is that correct in photo of left side knotter ?

 

[ford4wd08]

I see brazed shaft on the lower gear shaft . Is that correct in photo of left side knotter ?

Yes, as I mentioned a farmer repair, but that shaft looks like it goes to the gear the drives the hydraulic chute compression.

If it needs a better repair, I can sleeve that shaft and do a better repair.

I'm waiting until I get my owners manual, then I'll go over it and hook it up to a tractor at some point.

 

[560Dennis]

Not familiar with this baler . Glad to hear that you’re getting the manual. Suggest checking ing the timing , from our baler experience.
It appears to have been greased which is a very good sign .

 

[ford4wd08]

Not familiar with this baler . Glad to hear that you’re getting the manual. Suggest checking ing the timing , from our baler experience.
It appears to have been greased which is a very good sign .

Yep, definitely a learning curve. Round baler is a cake walk compared to these old knotters .

I was told it works, turned it over by hand and tripped the knotters, "seems" to be ok.

Have the service manual, but been told the owner's manuals has good info too. It's been shipped. I've got a while before second cutting. Probably will take a round bale and make some squares for a test.

 

[jwal10]

I bought a new 430 all twine in '76, ran it behind a 454 IH tractor for years. Up to a 1000 ton a year counting straw. Keep a new or sharpened knife for the plunger and check the chute for dirt build-up often when baling red clover. Make sure the plunger stop works. They like good even windrows so I learned if a big difference in hay quantity in field to cut lighter hay separate for even windrows by doubling up swaths. It was a good baler but not as good as a 300 series Deere. Traded for more capacity. Before the 430, I ran a IH 27 with a Farmall B. It had a 1 cylinder Wisconsin. Big upgrade....James

 

[560Dennis]

Good points about twine , little details can make for a good day !

 

[dhermesc]

We had a 440 baler growing up - dad bought it new and worked decent but would occasionally go through a fit of skipping the knot on one side. Finally had a "trained" baler guy from another dealership look at and made the adjustments it should have had when it was first bought. It went on to make 10s of thousands of bales a year for several years with only minor field adjustments.

 

[ford4wd08]

Anyone have any experience with the hydraulic bale tensioner on the 430 baler? Looks like the cylinder may be leaking, could be an easy seal fix or something, just wasn't sure.

Still waiting on the owner's manual to get delivered in the mail.