Loader bucket mounted bale spears

[SHALER]

I am considering a FEL bucket mounted bale spear to handle 750lb 4x5 rolls. This is for a tractor and not a skidsteer. Anyone care to state a testimonial about their bucket mounted bale spears and recommendation?. Of course I am looking for a good value. I will be moving like 50 bales a year with it so it does not have to be top shelf commercial grade, but of course I dont want the harbor freight version either that will be all bent up in 2 years.....also please dont suggest any loader bucket fabrication mods, the loader bucket is not mine and I cant modify it.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I have a spear that slides over the lip of the bucket that a chain goes around under the bucket to the top where it hooks into a swivel that is attached to the spear works good,takes about 2 minutes to take on and off.It handles 1000lb+ bales no problem on an AC 180 tractor.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

That is about the same as I have except mine has a tractor top link the chain hooks into so you can tighten the chain. Tom

 

[Traditional Farmer]

Sounds like mine Its like a top link but with slots for the chain.I like it because it takes a lot of weight off the lip of the bucket.Gave $105 for it at an auction BTW.

 

[old]

I use a bucket mount bale spear. Work good but the first year I used it I peeled the bottom of the bucket so I had to rebuild the bucket. But my bales are the 6X6 bales and come in around 1500lbs plus. I now also make sure I have chain going from th top corner on each side down the spear so as to make things a bit stronger. But also when I rebuilt the bucket I used 1/4 inch plate and at the lip of the bucket I double that

 

[c.oawright]

I took my 3 point hay spear and sat the bottom of it on the lip of the bucket and U bolted it to the lip. The front and back bolts that hold the lip on mactched up perfect the n took a chain through the lop link and attached the chain to the back of the bucket. It handles the bales just fine. The only thing is the visibility. Cannot see around the bucket all that well so have be be careful if loading a bale into the back of someones pickup truck... Crunch... :-(

 

[495man]

(quoted from post at 08:13:03 02/10/20) I am considering a FEL bucket mounted bale spear to handle 750lb 4x5 rolls. This is for a tractor and not a skidsteer. Anyone care to state a testimonial about their bucket mounted bale spears and recommendation?. Of course I am looking for a good value. I will be moving like 50 bales a year with it so it does not have to be top shelf commercial grade, but of course I dont want the harbor freight version either that will be all bent up in 2 years.....also please dont suggest any loader bucket fabrication mods, the loader bucket is not mine and I cant modify it.

I used a chain on spear for years, chain goes around the bucket and tightens with a top link like tightener.

Will work perfect for what you want, no tractor modifications needed.

Still using it today. It's handled 1000s of bales, no repairs to it or the tractor bucket.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

Same as mine and mine was one of the cheap ones sold at Marion Auction. Lineback maybe?? Been over 20 years since me and Dad both bought one. Tom

 

[old]

The one I have uses a single bolt to hold t on other then the U shaped part that sit over the cutting edge of the bucket. My round bales are in the 1500lbs plus range an it handles them just fine. I do also use a chain form each top corner as an extra safety since when I first started using it U peel the bottom of the bucket out of the bucket

 

[Case30Deutz06]

I cannot say enough good things about the attachment in the link below:

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-steers/hay-handling/hay-spear-attachments/43-inch-hay-bale-spear-universal-bucket-attachment-w-dual-prongs/135512.html?lang=default

I know people on this site have commented that some of Titan's stuff is low end, and I will agree with them on some of their products. But these are relatively cheap and well made. The 2 spears themselves are the high quality German spears that are over $100 a piece at one of my local machinery dealer, and then the heavy duty turnbuckles that come with it are over $40 a piece last time I looked at the local farm store. Those pieces alone are about or over the $295.97 they charge, and that is not counting the bracket or the chain. And they have free shipping (on these very heavy parts)...and I got mine like 2 days after I ordered. I am very impressed with them.

My dad made almost the same exact attachment himself for the loader bucket about 35 years ago. I was using it a couple years ago and I did something very stupid and broke the spears on it. It was all my fault. I was considering replacing the spears on dad's cobbled and welded together mess but then I found these and these were much more cost effective to buy than fixing dad's. They also go in the bale easier and dad's old spear used to bend quite a bit.

I handle between 300-350 round bales a year with them, multiple times of course. We have 5'x 5' New Idea softcore bales. I am not sure the weight, but my estimate is 1000 to 1200 lbs each depending on the hay. With dad's old homemade one we used to handle 6'x5' hard core Vermeer bales, and as I said his attachment was not near as strong as this.

I like the bale in-front of the bucket for its increased reach. I am constantly reaching over bales in the shed to get a bale from the row behind, unloading/loading trailers/wagons from one side, and putting bales in feeders with cows in front of the tractor that will not move. And the real advantage to the reach is you can use the reach to your advantage to stack bales higher in your shed (if your shed is made taller). The disadvantage it lowers the lift capacity of you loader because bale is so far ahead (hydraulic capacity and rear weight of tractor). But if your tractor/loader has the capacity it works great.

Below is picture of some bales I stacked with mine in my shed. In the picture the loader is at its full raised position. As I said there is trick to getting them that high...and it isn't actually unsafe once you know the trick as you would think.

Hope this helps,
Dan W

 

[495man]

(quoted from post at 17:39:45 02/10/20) I cannot say enough good things about the attachment in the link below:

https://www.palletforks.com/skid-steers/hay-handling/hay-spear-attachments/43-inch-hay-bale-spear-universal-bucket-attachment-w-dual-prongs/135512.html?lang=default

I know people on this site have commented that some of Titan's stuff is low end, and I will agree with them on some of their products. But these are relatively cheap and well made. The 2 spears themselves are the high quality German spears that are over $100 a piece at one of my local machinery dealer, and then the heavy duty turnbuckles that come with it are over $40 a piece last time I looked at the local farm store. Those pieces alone are about or over the $295.97 they charge, and that is not counting the bracket or the chain. And they have free shipping (on these very heavy parts)...and I got mine like 2 days after I ordered. I am very impressed with them.

My dad made almost the same exact attachment himself for the loader bucket about 35 years ago. I was using it a couple years ago and I did something very stupid and broke the spears on it. It was all my fault. I was considering replacing the spears on dad's cobbled and welded together mess but then I found these and these were much more cost effective to buy than fixing dad's. They also go in the bale easier and dad's old spear used to bend quite a bit.

I handle between 300-350 round bales a year with them, multiple times of course. We have 5'x 5' New Idea softcore bales. I am not sure the weight, but my estimate is 1000 to 1200 lbs each depending on the hay. With dad's old homemade one we used to handle 6'x5' hard core Vermeer bales, and as I said his attachment was not near as strong as this.

I like the bale in-front of the bucket for its increased reach. I am constantly reaching over bales in the shed to get a bale from the row behind, unloading/loading trailers/wagons from one side, and putting bales in feeders with cows in front of the tractor that will not move. And the real advantage to the reach is you can use the reach to your advantage to stack bales higher in your shed (if your shed is made taller). The disadvantage it lowers the lift capacity of you loader because bale is so far ahead (hydraulic capacity and rear weight of tractor). But if your tractor/loader has the capacity it works great.

Below is picture of some bales I stacked with mine in my shed. In the picture the loader is at its full raised position. As I said there is trick to getting them that high...and it isn't actually unsafe once you know the trick as you would think.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto4801.jpg">

Hope this helps,
Dan W

Nice stacking!

Yes the chain on spear extends reach, good at some times, not so good on a 2wd in mud and snow.

 

[SVcummins]

You lift bales that high with a bale just sitting on the pallet fork

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 05:52:16 02/11/20) You lift bales that high with a bale just sitting on the pallet fork

Several yrs back I baled some rd bales for a "wheel chair bound" neighbor that accidentally allowed a rd bale to roll back on him after lifting rd bale with forks under bale.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 11:46:26 02/10/20) But my bales are the 6X6 bales and come in around 1500lbs plus.

May I ask what brand/model rd baler you have that makes a 6X6 rd bale? Very few rd balers were ever manufactured that made a 6X6 bale. Do you weigh your supposedly ""1500+ lb rd bales"" or just guesstimate similar to a lot of other rd bale operators?

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I bale with a NH 851 about the maximum weight I ever get is a little over 1000lbs if the hay is dry and in baling condition.Think estimated weight on bales both round and square is sort of like estimated fish length.(LOL)

 

[rrlund]

I remember seeing something like that on one of those emergency shows hosted by William Shatner. It was a doctor in that case. He went out,in a hurry,laid a chain on the ground and pushed the bale over it. He threw the chain over it and chained it to a material bucket. When he rolled it back in to the bucket and raised it up,the chain came unhooked and the bale rolled right over the loader and down on to him. Broke his back.

I cringe when I read these posts and there's any mention of a chain involved. Maybe I don't understand exactly what's going on since I've never owned one of those bucket spears. I suppose if there's a ratchet binder involved so the chain is tight as a banjo string and the whole thing goes back under the bucket and mounts solid somehow so it can't possible let up any slack,it might be OK,but it'd still make me nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs if the spear wasn't pinned on solid.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

The chain and top link hold the spear tight no movement plus the spear has a flange over and under the edge of the bucket,never had mine come loose at all.That said its not as good as having a regular bale spear on the front of the loader especially for being able to see.I don't stack bales with mine just load and unload off a trailer so height isn't an issue.A lot better than forks,I despise to handle bales with forks.

 

[old]

Well when you try to lift a bale up and you have one of the rear tires on the tractor come of the ground but with the same machine you have lifted up a small car then you know that bale is heavy. I have lifted a Datsum B210 with that tractor with no problem but back then when I tried to lift a bale the rear tire came of he ground you know the bale is heavier then the car

 

[495man]

(quoted from post at 08:42:08 02/11/20) I remember seeing something like that on one of those emergency shows hosted by William Shatner. It was a doctor in that case. He went out,in a hurry,laid a chain on the ground and pushed the bale over it. He threw the chain over it and chained it to a material bucket. When he rolled it back in to the bucket and raised it up,the chain came unhooked and the bale rolled right over the loader and down on to him. Broke his back.

I cringe when I read these posts and there's any mention of a chain involved. Maybe I don't understand exactly what's going on since I've never owned one of those bucket spears. I suppose if there's a ratchet binder involved so the chain is tight as a banjo string and the whole thing goes back under the bucket and mounts solid somehow so it can't possible let up any slack,it might be OK,but it'd still make me nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs if the spear wasn't pinned on solid.

I remember seeing that episode, the guy lifted the loader all the way to cradle the bale ON the bucket.

With the chain on spears you'd have to have the loader up all the way and bucket tipped all the way back, but the chain wouldn't be under tension either so it couldn't snap.

 

[Case30Deutz06]

No, bale is not sitting on the spears.

You sit the bale on the ground on its end, and then stick the spears in at the front corner of the bale, angled down maybe 30 degrees. Really the least angle the better as long as you can still get enough of the bale not to tear it apart. Then angle the bucket back all the way to pick up the bale. As you approach the stack raise the loader all the way. The bale will then be angled up. As long as you can get the front end of the bale high enough to get into where you want to sit the bale you have it made. Then just push the bale in. The entire spears are against the back of the bale so it cannot fall back. Depending on how high it is, as you push the front wheels of tractor may (or will likely) come off ground; no big deal. After pushed back all the way with tractor you can push that individual bale back further with spears by un-tilting the bucket. Then to get the spears out you just let the tractor back up (usually just releasing brakes, slowly). Likely will have to adjust bucket angle and loader on the way down too.

Dad had the shed built taller on purpose, so we utilize the space. Really the shed should be higher. Rafters seem to always be where I want to sit a bale. Someday I want to get a telehandler as it would make things much easier. But I did not win the lottery yet.

Dan W

 

[SVcummins]

I didn?t think a pallet fork could Stab a bale

 

[SVcummins]

I weighed every load of hay and straw bales we hauled on a certified truck scale and they average 45 pounds just like clock work . Hay bales were 65 . The 2x3 bales weighed 700.

My 4x4x8 weighed 1500

If you think a chain Is bad I attach my bale fork with 3 two inch ratchet straps

 

[Case30Deutz06]

I don't think a pallet fork could stab a bale, but never tried.

I use spears to handle round bales.

 

[SVcummins]

Thanks . When I clicked the link all that I could find was pallet forks 🤬

 

[Case30Deutz06]

Hmmm...

Try this link. Takes me to exactly what I have.

I am still learning every day how to do things.
Bucket Mounted Bale Spears

 

[ArleninOr]

Wow !!! 2100 lbs for a Datsun B210. Them is some heavy bales if he can pick up the Datsun but his bales weigh more than the Datsun.

 

[SVcummins]

I?ve made out of a 535 John Deere that were a shade over a ton

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 02:10:07 02/12/20) I?ve made out of a 535 John Deere that were a shade over a ton

What type hay(legume or grass) were you rd baling ? I'll guess you're referring legume hay. Daylight & nighttime difference in weights of rd bales of each type hay

 

[VicS]

I have a 3 point spear mounted on top of my bucket kinda pointed up at a 30 deg angle. You can leave it on and still load dirt brush gravel etc.

 

[rrlund]

Just the sight of that makes me chuckle a little. A neighbor and I were changing a grain drill tire last week. He's got a spear like that on his loader. He brought the other tire and wheel in to the toolshed in the loader bucket and backed up just a little after I rolled it out of the bucket. I told him I was going to watch it,I didn't want to get that thing in my ear. I don't think it was two minutes before he walked in to the side of it. Nothing was hurt but his pride. LOL

 

[SVcummins]

I found it that?s a pretty nice fork for that price and it?s held up pretty well for you .

 

[SVcummins]

We bale at night most of the time so we have a little
dew my old 855 would make ton bales or a shade
heavier too but it blew itself to pieces in under 50
acres and I?ll never own another one especially
after using a belt baler . Then I made the mistake of
buying a hesston talk about a complicated pos two
computers to run it 13 miles of wire and a stack of
hydraulic solenoids . A John Deere 435 - 535 you
hook the pto up and one set of hoses and bale
baled many thousands of bales with a 435 and 535
and the 435 never had a monitor that worked
because the cows ate the wiring wish I could have
afforded that one but I couldn?t .

 

[SVcummins]

Always make sure whatever you?re lifting can fall to the ground and not roll back down the loader towards you
Loader safety video