Small square baler price?

[NebraskaFarmer]

I am trying to find a used small square baler for sale as I’m starting a side business of haying some land and maybe custom for others in my area. I’m looking for an older one, but still reliable with minimal maintenance costs. The ones online seem pretty pricey, even for older balers that need some work. What would be a fair price for one, say a JD 24t or something similar in decent condition and working like it should?

 

[DanielW]

Small square balers always seem to demand a hefty price for ones in decent condition. And the problem is, until you really put it through its paces, you may not know how 'decent' the condition is. Don't assume price reflects condition: Lots of sellers will see balers the same model as theirs listed for high prices and assume theirs is worth the same amount, regardless of condition. Not at all true. Something like a NH 273 in top notch condition could definitely be worth $2500+. A worn one stored outside is probably worth little more than $200.

A 24T is a good (okay-ish) baler. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a 336 in the same price bracket however, and a 336 is a slightly stouter baler. Nothing wrong with a 24T, but they're getting up there in age, and a little slow: I don't know that I'd want to strike into custom work with one. But I'd still take a 24T in excellent shape over a worn-out 336.

Although there are lots of balers in the $300 to $800 range, if you want a field-ready plug-and-play baler, I'd expect to pay at least $1500 if it's in okay-ish shape and needs only a little work/maintenance. Probably a bit more $$ for a slightly newer model or one in good shape. Possibly a lot more $$ if it's in top-notch shape. Be sure to go over it really well when checking it out. Check all the knotter mechanisms/linkages for excessive wear/slop. Check the plunger crank arm bushings for play. Look closely at the needles for any signs of damage/repair. Look at the shear bolt area to see if it's been modified, or if there are signs of it breaking a lot of shear bolts. Look at the face of the plunger where it would hit the plunger stop, to see if there's a witness of it coming out of time and hitting the stop a lot. Make sure roller chains are lubed with the rollers still turning and the chain sprocket teeth aren't worn to a small point. If it's a Deere (or similar) style with the auger infeed, check the auger and feel how sharp the flighting is. If it's worn sharp, it's seen a lot of use. If a Deere, check the axles for being bent/repaired and the wagon hitch hole for excessive wear: Deere's were notorious for wrecking axles when they pulled a lot of heavy wagons. Not a big deal to replace, but at least a couple hundred dollars for a new axle (don't buy an axle from Deere - they're pricey and have a sharp-edge stress concentration where it's turned down for the outer bearing, which is most of their problem).

If you don't want to spend a lot of time repairing it and don't want any risk, a square baler is not something you want to cheap out on. If I were doing custom work and/or didn't have a round baler as a backup, or if I didn't like doing my own repair work, I probably wouldn't hesitate to spend at least $4 to $5k on one, and folks who aren't as cheap as me would probably recommend spending even more.

Don't get hung up too much on make: Condition is more important than make/model. Both Deere and New Holland, of course, made an excellent baler. You're probably safest to stick to Deere/NH, but even Massey's were pretty good if tuned up correctly. I have a 90's era Deutz square baler that uses the same Rasspe knotter as Deere's/NH, and it's a phenomenal, heavy-built unit. Got it for $2000 a few years ago, which was a bargain for how good it is.

If you're mechanically-inclined and don't mind a project, the $300 to $500 might be worth it. I have an older 70's era Allis 442 I use at my father's: The Allis's were very good balers and also used the same Rasspe knotters as NH. I got it for $300 about 8 years ago. But it required a plunger rebuild (new rollers with proper alignment) and I had to cut out and weld in new tracks where the old ones were rusted/bowed from sitting in the weather and having water freeze between them. Plus some reel bearings, new roller chain, crank arm bushings, and knotter arm bushings. It probably cost another $500 in parts, but it doesn't miss a beat now: I don't think it missed a single tie last year. I'd probably trust it more than most other balers, simply because I've been over it well and know exactly what I've got. But it took a fair bit of work to get in that condition. The only balers I'd stay away from are the IH or New Idea (rebadged IH). They were actually built very solidly and robust, but they used a wacky, 'All-Twine' brand knotter, not the Rasspe style favoured by most others. If adjusted and run right, they'd work well, but you really had to hold your tongue just right and be persnickety about maintaining knotter adjustment and knife sharpness constantly.

 

[NebraskaFarmer]

That makes sense. I’m not picky as far as brand goes, and over winter a project doesn’t sound too bad! Only thing is, where would I find one for such a low price? Everything I see online is at least $1500 to $2000. I’m willing to work on it and put a little elbow grease into it, but I’d like a relatively low price upfront.

 

[DanielW]

Hmm, I think you probably have to just keep your eyes peeled on marketplace or similar. Now's probably the best time of year to buy one for price, but now's also the time of year where few people are selling them: everyone figures they can get top dollar right before/during haying season. And lots of folks probably have theirs backed into a dark barn, blocked in by other equipment and snow, and aren't too keen to yard it out and put it up for sale.

I have to confess that I might be a little out of touch on prices: It's been a couple years since I've bought one, and the number of city folks who moved to the country in the last few years and want to start a hobby farm has driven prices of smaller/older equipment up like crazy. Even so, if you keep your eyes peeled, something will probably come along in the $500 range that could be a good unit with some work.

One thing I might recommend: If this is your only baler, either have a backup plan, or test it really, really well before relying on. It'd be a bad day if you pulled into a field with a storm coming on and have a catastrophic breakdown 50 bales in. Especially if you're baling for someone else.

 

[SHALER]

This is a very common question here and after having personal experience and reading dozens of posts I will offer a few words. First, prices vary greatly based upon geographical area. Nebraska is a big state and I dont where you live exactly but prices on small square balers seem to be lower in the more rural remote areas. If for instance you live within a 30 mile radius of Lincoln you will be paying a little more. to directly answer your question, a JD24T or similar vintage working baler without a thrower that needs zero or minimal (($500 or less) repairs, New Holland or John Deere would be about $1000 to $1500 in the Pennsylvania Ohio area. You state you have been looking online. Dont know precisely what that means, but a popular proxy is Nebraska's own Tractorhouse site. One mans opinion------I've noticed the Tractorhouse listing prices to be about 20% higher than my area. Keep looking, something in your sweet spot will undoubtedly turn up.

 

[Jim.ME]

That makes sense. I’m not picky as far as brand goes, and over winter a project doesn’t sound too bad! Only thing is, where would I find one for such a low price? Everything I see online is at least $1500 to $2000. I’m willing to work on it and put a little elbow grease into it, but I’d like a relatively low price upfront.

Prices vary by area as well as the baler and condition. If rounds or big squares are the primary bales in your area there likely will not be a lot of small square balers in your area. The prices you see will generally be higher for the same baler model in your area than an area where people still want small squares and there are a number of those balers around. How far you want to travel to get one is a question. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace will likely have the best chance of a lower priced one. I think 1500 to 500 is a reasonable range for a later model one that works without being a whole winter project. In the New England area 2500 to 3000 turns up some JD 328s and 336s along with some of the newer NH ones.

 

[Gwiz]

I am trying to find a used small square baler for sale as I’m starting a side business of haying some land and maybe custom for others in my area. I’m looking for an older one, but still reliable with minimal maintenance costs. The ones online seem pretty pricey, even for older balers that need some work. What would be a fair price for one, say a JD 24t or something similar in decent condition and working like it should?

“A side business and custom for others”. Does not correlate with the price you’re looking to pay. You need to do a bit more research and expect to pay $3,000+.
I used to know New Holland: a 273 is the oldest you should go, and it’s slow (plunger strokes per minute). I would not go older than a 276 - slightly faster than 273. Next NH stepped up the speed to the 315 (maybe too fast, I believe they slowed down after 315). Next was the 316 - considered the best short of the modern balers 570 & 575. There were less known models I did not mention.
You’ll also want a super sweep pickup.
Chances are you will not find kids to buck bales. Better have a do-it-yourself plan.
James

 

[Brendon-KS]

Gwiz makes a number of excellent points here. At least in my area in the central US a $1000 small square baler means you either got extremely lucky or, more likely, have a clapped-out junker with dubious reliability and performance. Hesston in-line balers are probably the most popular around here and a decent one will go for $3000; to get one that's really good add another grand. If you have aspirations of doing custom work you owe it to your customers to have a reliable, well-functioning machine that will make them want you to come back and bale their next cutting. It is definitely true that $500 can buy a functioning baler but almost assuredly it would not be a machine worthy of hiring out for custom work with. However, maybe to get your feet wet you could start with a cheap one to do your own work then, if you like the way the water feels, invest in something more appropriate for doing custom work.

Gwiz's last statement is also very true. Small square bales must be placed under roof as soon as they are made since they have no tolerance for getting rained on. Getting small square bales from the field to the shed requires either lots of manual labor or expensive machinery (it's why some folks call them "idiot cubes") so a plan for how to do that would be necessary.

 

[Jim.ME]

I am trying to find a used small square baler for sale as I’m starting a side business of haying some land and maybe custom for others in my area. I’m looking for an older one, but still reliable with minimal maintenance costs. The ones online seem pretty pricey, even for older balers that need some work. What would be a fair price for one, say a JD 24t or something similar in decent condition and working like it should?

Remember if your mower, rake or tedder break down you either don't put the hay down or you can find more lower priced options to prep it. The one critical thing is when it is ready to bale, you need to bale it and get it in. You may know someone who could bale it if your baler goes down, but what are the chances they won't be trying to bale their own hay at the same time? To me a baler is the biggest risk and worst place to go cheap on quality, chose carefully. Even more critical if you plan to do custom work.

 

[showcrop]

I am trying to find a used small square baler for sale as I’m starting a side business of haying some land and maybe custom for others in my area. I’m looking for an older one, but still reliable with minimal maintenance costs. The ones online seem pretty pricey, even for older balers that need some work. What would be a fair price for one, say a JD 24t or something similar in decent condition and working like it should?

You have good info from Daniel W. there can be pretty much zero correlation between price and condition. Most likely a baler will bring 25% of an advertised price if it is at auction. older balers sometimes get left out in the weather with hay and chaff still in them. look carefully at the floor of the chamber and the top of the chamber under the knotters for rust. when NH and JD knotters have problems it is usuallyeither the tucker fingers or the bill hook wiper. MF uses a different design that has neither.

 

[NebraskaFarmer]

The plan is to hay about 7 acres of our own. Nothing big, but we want to start with small, cheap equipment and slowly upgrade if we like the hay business. You make some good points, the last thing I want is to be stuck with a broken baler or loose bales when haying for someone else. We might just stick to our own land until we upgrade. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[DanielW]

Your 7 acres sounds like a good way to start into it and have fun. Some folks will tell you that for only 7 acres, you'd be financially further ahead to just hire it out. Which is undoubtedly true. But if the only goal was to make money as efficiently as possible, most of us should probably be selling all our antiquated equipment or cash out of farming altogether. Fun and enjoyment have to factor in somewhere.

If you have animals and need the hay, then having equipment that's not going to break down is somewhat necessary. But if you're doing it to get your feet wet and possibly sell a little hay and make a little money for giggles, I'd be starting out with the smaller/cheaper equipment, have fun rebuilding it and fixing it up over winter, and see what happens. For only 7 acres, it's not as if you're losing your whole income stream for the year if something breaks down and the hay ends up getting ruined. But I probably wouldn't advertise yourself as a custom operator until you work all the kinks out and verify your equipment's trouble-free. If you go to bale someone's field, have a breakdown, and the hay gets rained on, that's going to really tick someone off.

 

[NY 986]

I'm late to the discussion but around here I would recommend a JD 336 baler. The accelerated pace of small dairies going out of business has pushed down the price of a 336 to around a thousand dollars for a good unit that may not look very fancy. Parts are readily available from JD, after market, and used. They make a very nice bale to boot. Yes, you could hire it done and be money ahead but what fun would that be? Also, if like around here it is tough to get someone in to bale when your hay is ready.

 

[Tony in SD]

I have a CaseIH 8620 in line baler. It is a very good baler, in fact I can say the best small square baler I have used. I have done custom work with it. So far breakdowns have been minimal. have seen 2 similar balers sell at auction for $18,000 each.

 

[Northvale PA]

Our 336 was $3k over 15 years ago. Good field ready condition with kicker. I got a twin for $1k at auction but had a trash knotter I replaced. If you plan to get the hay in quickly and quality, you want zero breakdowns, period. I spend a fair amount of time going over both every spring.

 

[Northvale PA]

Our 336 was $3k over 15 years ago. Good field ready condition with kicker. I got a twin for $1k at auction but had a trash knotter I replaced. If you plan to get the hay in quickly and quality, you want zero breakdowns, period. I spend a fair amount of time going over both every spring.

 

[showcrop]

Our 336 was $3k over 15 years ago. Good field ready condition with kicker. I got a twin for $1k at auction but had a trash knotter I replaced. If you plan to get the hay in quickly and quality, you want zero breakdowns, period. I spend a fair amount of time going over both every spring.

After regular PM maintenance checks, cleaning, lube, and adjustment mine ties at least a dozen consecutive times before it is ready.

 

[matthies]

New Holland 68 by central city for 800.

 

[flying belgian]

I am trying to find a used small square baler for sale as I’m starting a side business of haying some land and maybe custom for others in my area. I’m looking for an older one, but still reliable with minimal maintenance costs. The ones online seem pretty pricey, even for older balers that need some work. What would be a fair price for one, say a JD 24t or something similar in decent condition and working like it should?

An old, good, reliable baler will cost about $3000. So if you find one for $1000 you can expect to spend $2000 reconditioning it And if you find one for 3000 you can probably just put some twine in it and head to the field. Either way you spend 3000.