small square balers

[Anonymous-0]

Which would you prefer jd 338 or nh 570 small square baler? will be using a 85 hp tractor to operate the baler with thrower wagons. Will be baling 8-10 thousand bales hay ,straw per year Currently have a nh310 , too small behing 35ft straw windrows of today.
thanks Donny from Ontario.

 

[Josh in WNY]

I think they are both good bailers and they are comparable in their capcacity. I personally would lean towards the JD since the design they have hasn't changed much over the past 30 or so years. They have tweeked it here and there, but never really changed it. NH hasn't been using the feeder fork style for as long as JD, but I don't think there are any problems with what they have.

I currently run a 336 and am happy with it, although I would like to upgrade to something a little newer.

A couple things I like better on the JD are that the opening behing the pickup head is much bigger making it easier to see what's going on and the pan kicker does a better job of getting bales up and over a pile of bales in the middle of the wagon to finish off the back.

That being said, the kicker is also much more dangerous on the JDs than the NHs if you aren't careful. Always use the safety lockout when you are around it. The only time the safety lock on mine is off is when I am kicking bales in the wagon.

Josh in WNY

 

[formenwhogrow]

If it were me, I would try and find a NH 316. We run a 316 and I have run it next to a 570 and it will out-bale it. It is a good rugged machine that gets 9-10k bales of hay and straw put through it every season with little or no problems. My problem w/ JD balers is the pan kicker. Although I like the way it throws bales and no belts to fiddle with, I DON NOT feel comfortable hitching and unhitching wagons unless the tractor is shut down. I have seen these pans trip inexplicably, I shudder at the thought of being in that pan w/ my head down when it goes off. Just my 2 cents.

 

[NY 986]

Can't really go wrong either way. I prefer the pan type ejector used on the Deere. They always seemed to be easier on the bale going into the wagon.
Do yourself a favor and look at those that have recently been serviced by a dealer. Too many things can go wrong in the field if you consider yourself limited on baler maintenance knowledge. If you know it has not been recently dealer serviced, contact a dealer to see what a service inspection would cost. Allow room in your offer to do this and maybe just a little more for any wear parts that would be recommended to be replaced.
Balers can often look excellent in appearance but still need work based on the amount of acres they have been over. Always good to find one near by that you can be confident in its history.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I owned a new 570 and traded it after 3 seasons. It could not compare to JD for my money. I think if you look how many late model used 570's are for sale it tells the tale.

 

[61-4010]

That"s a real good point Josh in regards to the kickers. Many people don"t realize that these kickers still have pressure and can eject even with the machine off. Never assume....always hit that safety on when working around the back of the baler. I"ve witnessed these ejectors first hand ejecting while someone was removing a bale from the machine even with it off. Not pretty...

 

[Ian Jones, Nanaimo, Can]

If you have 85 HP go for the 348 JD. Little faster and little heavier drive line. Had one for the last 4 years and get about 350 bales per hr in prime conditions.

 

[tom burlingham]

I've owned them both with throwers. I wouldn't go back to a deere thrower after having the 570 with belts. The 570 also has much more capacity,92 spm vs 80 for the 338. Either made nice firm bales.