NH 68 baler

[neal in PA]

Hi, I've found a NH 68 baler about an hour away from where i live and I'm going to go look at it. Are there any particular things about this baler I should know? Does anyone know when these balers were produced? I'm looking to start haying 3-4 acres that I own and expanding later on to do the 10-12 acres that my neighbor owns. I'm just in the process of getting everthing I need to do this. I'm figuring on getting a mo-co and an older tractor. I've been lurking here enough to know that i want a live PTO and probably around 40 hp. any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks Neal
Oh, he's asking $350 and the baler was working as of last season. Does this sound like its in line? thanks again.

 

[Formerly PaMike]

I am in Pa and we have a 68 too. They are fine little balers. 40 HP will do what you need, but that is a little small if your pulling a wagon behind the baler, and you have hills. I dont know any of the specifics to check. I would just make sure it appears in good over all condition. Balers sitting out in the weather dont do well. Also, depending what condition the knotters are in, you can get some money in them to get them working well.

 

[Coloken]

The 68 was a great little baler. Probably just what you need. If it was working last season, 350 sounds good to me.
Check the wheel bearing for grease and tow it home with a pickup.

 

[Anonymous-0]

That was probly nh most popular baler. Thousands of them still in use. they were and are an excellent baler. price sounds fair to me. If nothing is broke on knotters then they can be adjusted to do an excellent job. If you have problems with it just find a neighbor who has one and he can adjust it to work good. sometimes that is better then the manual as manual assumes you have some knowledge of baling. Maybe you do or maybe you don't.

 

[keh]

Look at my post on the 67 NH on page 3 of this forum. The 68 is a better version of a 67. Main difference is that the 68 has a swinging hitch and pto which is long enough to get your tractor to one side of the windrow. If you get the 68, grease wheel bearings like the other post said. My 67 had bushings instead of bearings in both wheels which meant you couldn't pull it very fast on the road. 68 may be different.

KEH

 

[Finn Md]

I have baled with a Super 68 baler and they are a good simple baler for smaller operations, and what you describe it should be decent enough. You might ask the seller, if he's nice enough, to hook it up and run to check everything. These balers have wood slides in bale chamber that need to be in good condition. If it's a 68 and not a S68 I think it will have wheel bushings and not bearings, which may cause problems on road at speed - ask seller to show you how to lube. If the bale chamber has rusty holes forget it. Parts are still easy to find from NH dealers. 350 is good price if it works. I'd suggest at least 45 PTO hp if you have some hills. If you get a MOCO you will need remote hydraulics for your tractor. For a lower budget and your smaller acreage you could get by with a 3-pt sickle mower, like a MF Dynabalance, NH 451 or Ford 515. Lancaster Farming paper & website classifides in PA often has these for sale and other implements and tractors. Plenty of NH side delivery rakes for sale in PA which work great. A good used tedder/fluffer would be made by Pequea (in PA), and should be available in your PA area. Good Luck.

 

[neal in PA]

I appreciate all of the good advice, but when i got ahold of the guy to go take a look, someone had already snapped it up. From what everyone has told me though I'm leaning towards a NH baler simply because i have a NH dealer a few miles from me and it seems parts are pretty prevalant for these units. The only other manufacturer that seems to have a strong presence is JD. I did see a 14T ,but the owner told me its been sitting unused for over 2 years.......that kind of scared me.....I know how things tend to rust up when they are let sit.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction and I'm sure to post more questions as my search continues. Thanks Neal

 

[neal in PA]

I appreciate all of the good advice, but when i got ahold of the guy to go take a look, someone had already snapped it up. From what everyone has told me though I'm leaning towards a NH baler simply because i have a NH dealer a few miles from me and it seems parts are pretty prevalant for these units. The only other manufacturer that seems to have a strong presence is JD. I did see a 14T ,but the owner told me its been sitting unused for over 2 years.......that kind of scared me.....I know how things tend to rust up when they are let sit.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction and I'm sure to post more questions as my search continues. Thanks Neal

 

[Loren in MN]

I've used NH balers for 30 yrs. Easy to work on and many important parts interchange. I plow snow with a Farmall, collect Molines, and bale hay with a Allis D-17. You can't beat the D-17 for baling hay. I've used several Farmalls to rake and bale hay, but found them to be ruff riding but easy to steer. The D-17 is comfortable, low profile, power steering, and live PTO -plus the live PTO with high/low hand clutch, shifts on the go from low to high.