Tractor size for square baling?

[Massey_165]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

 

[flying belgian]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

I bale with 65 hp caseih

 

[sotxbill]

I baled for years with a ford 3000, with a live pto... at 38 pto hp. It was worked but was fully loaded. The live pto allowed me to change gears without having to shut down the baler during the shift, so it worked well when coming to the heavy corners where the winrows were highest and a lower gear was needed. Then allowing a up shift on the straight aways again. BUT.. at 47 engine HP, a bit more hp and tractor size would have be better. I have bailed in a non live pto tractor and it was very bad as a gear change meant that the baler had to come to a stop in order to change gears and you had to then bring it back up to speed again, so it was a very slow tedious process to bale. And there are probably smaller square balers than the ford 545 deluxe baler (1965 model) I used.

 

[560Dennis]

What square baler bale are you making ,tell ,are you going to use ? You loading bales on a wagon also ? , need something with weight and very good brakes and tires in hills

 

[Jim.ME]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

There is more to getting a proper answer than just what size tractor.

What baler? Kicker?

Pulling a wagon (for stacking on or catching kicker bales)?

Flat or hilly terrain?

Older grass field, or fertilized with reasonably heavy growth?

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

For only four acres almost anything will do it. We baled up to 20 with a late JD A and used to use a COOP E3 till the engine just got too weak. The independent PTO was a plus but my wife would drive the A. I would have used the Ford 2000 (3 cyl) for the power steering but the PTO location was too low for the baler to fit. I used the Ford with non-live PTO to run the 1207 MoCo for ten years before I got my Oliver. Don't get hung up on HP for that little.

 

[Russ from MN]

We normally baled with a JD R, 48 hp, but one time it was down for repairs we used the IH B275, 33 hp. It worked, but it was pretty light and ran a little hot. This was a JD baler with a kicker and pulling a wagon. I think one day I baled about 800 small squares with the R, it was a good tractor.

 

[560Dennis]

Power steering if you’re making a lot of turns or the kids or the wife is driving for you as you load . Helpers will and do revolt poor working conditions ,in the contract .

 

[Massey_165]

I baled for years with a ford 3000, with a live pto... at 38 pto hp. It was worked but was fully loaded. The live pto allowed me to change gears without having to shut down the baler during the shift, so it worked well when coming to the heavy corners where the winrows were highest and a lower gear was needed. Then allowing a up shift on the straight aways again. BUT.. at 47 engine HP, a bit more hp and tractor size would have be better. I have bailed in a non live pto tractor and it was very bad as a gear change meant that the baler had to come to a stop in order to change gears and you had to then bring it back up to speed again, so it was a very slow tedious process to bale. And there are probably smaller square balers than the ford 545 deluxe baler (1965 model) I used.

Thanks for the info, I definitely look for live pto!

 

[495man]

If you like MF, 135 Massey be suffice. Anything bigger is fine, less power/weight might be ok if flat ground and not pulling wagons.

Live PTO or IPTO makes job much nicer. I've baled with non live power and it takes a lot more planning and effort.

 

[Bob N.Y.]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

We ran a small square baler for years with a Massey 65. They have live pto.

 

[LSaunders]

I currently bale with 70 HP, but for 30 years I baled with tractors in the 45 to 55 HP range. On hills, with a kicker baler and wagon. With only four acres you don't have to be fussy, other than having live pto.

 

[Destroked 450]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

Noting your user name that’s the tractor I would recommend
A neighbor custom baled thousands of square bales a year with a 135 Massey pulling a 273 New Holland, another neighbor used a 135 with a #12 Massey baler, we had and still have Fords
That said any of the small Massey, Ford or other brands with sweep back front axle design doesn’t lend itself well for loader use
Many have used loaders on those chassis but the heavier straight front axle design is a much better choice
A friend has a 65 Massey like you asked about, I don’t know anything about them but I’m thinking there was something about the hydraulics that made them not a good choice for loader use

Ask a question in the Massey section about that model for loader use
Personally I’d go with a 165, they remind me of my 4000 Ford, great all around tractor size

 

[grandpa Love]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

.

 

[Jeff in ND]

My Dad always used the diesel tractor(s) on the baler even if oversized powerwise. He had issues with the gas tractor governor not liking the pulsating load of the plunger that would cause the engine to race some. Dad was always finicky about engines should not revving so I could understand why that annoyed him.

 

[Pembroke]

Farmall 300 for me

 

[Calfmaster24]

I have about 4 acres I want to bale hay with, also want a tractor with a loader. I’m looking at old tractors like a MF 65, what size tractor or tractor recommendations do y’all have?

I make hay on 3.5 acres and used a ford 8n. Which I had to use an Amish baler since the N didn't have a live pto. It worked great cause I could make hay in any gear with the tractor at an idle if I wanted! Another downside was the tractor isn't heavy and felt loose once the wagon got full. My recommendation is any tractor with a live pto that weighs 3000 pounds or more, somewhere 45hp and up. As far as what, the breed of tractor is whatever fancies you !

 

[Mad Farmer]

I remember an 8N pulling a baler that had a pull start Wisconsin motor.....................

 

[jaoneill]

Back when we had the dairy and a JD 14T baler I baled with everything from a 1948 JD A to a Massey 35, a JD 530, David Brown 990, to a Sweet Allis 6080. By far my favorite baling tractor was an open station Long 560 diesel. 56 hp, comfortable, quiet, handy controls, independent PTO and highly maneuverable, and it would bale all day on an 8 gallon tank of fuel.

 

[Calfmaster24]

I remember an 8N pulling a baler that had a pull start Wisconsin motor.....................