John Deere 347 baler

[Mike Layden]

Can anyone tell me what is the smallest horsepoweer tractor I can get away with to run a John deere 347 baler with an ejector on it

 

[HWooldridge]

I ran one for several years using a Ford 641 diesel (which is around 30-35 HP) and it worked but was hard on the tractor. I now have a 55 HP JD and it's a much better match.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have run my 346 with a JD 2350 and it did just fine. 55 hp.

 

[burnetma]

It isn"t just a question of horsepower, but also weight when you are trailing a baler and wagon over hilly ground. I almost lost the battle of "dandelion hill" (the nickname given by the land owners for this dome shaped hay field) when my nearly full bale wagon started to slide down a side sloping grade. The baler (JD 327) started to go with it. Fortunately, my tractor (JD 5420 balasted to nearly 10,000 lbs) was in four wheel drive and able to pull the wagon and baler back onto level ground. This all happened at baling speed and frankly it felt like it was too fast. Scared me pretty good.

I would suggest at least 55 HP and 9,000 lbs on hilly ground. You can get away with nearly half the weight on flat ground.

 

[Tx Jim]

burnetma
A 65 HP tractor weighted to 10,000#s is fairly overloaded when one adds a sq baler & wagon with hay.

 

[burnetma]

I am not certain what you mean by over-loaded. I am not being sarcastic here and I want to learn.

The baler (4000 lbs) and the loaded hay wagon (8000 lbs) outweigh the tractor and operator (10,000 lbs). At max conditions, the GCVW ~ 22,000 lbs.

JD allows up to 13,000 lbs max axle load for this model. They do not have a recommended tow capacity or GCVWR, probably due to uncertainty in the terrain and towed vehicle design.

Here is my issue. On the steeper hillsides, I can get pushed downhill, slipping all four tires on the tractor (I bale in 4WD for this reason). God forbid I get caught on the slopes in a rain storm or I would slip and slide right off the hill on the wet grass.

I try to stay off these slopes except with empty or less than full loads for that specific reason. This year we will likely round bale the worst of it.

What do you recommend, besides a bigger tractor?

 

[burnetma]

BTW, three more pieces of information.

My weight distribution is about right, 40% front, 60% rear.

My dealer suggests MORE ballast.

The tractor pulls these hills while baling without lugging.