Tractor Sizing...

[mml373]

I have a "late model" New Holland Workmaster 120 that was purchased with the thought that I would eventually do larger-scale hay production (including some custom work). As it turns out, my circumstances have changed and I am doing small squares with 60 year old equipment that is paid for, and no longer believe I "need" a 120hp tractor. I would rather spend my time doing other things than haying for other people.

I think reality is that I might be doing 35-60 acres of hay which could potentially include round bales in the future. A round baler uses plenty of hp, but a disc cutter and wheel rake do not approach a need for 100 PTO horsepower. What would be an appropriate-sized tractor this this kind of thing, and would I need the 120 for putting down fertilizer (for example).

Can anyone help me make a case for keeping a 120hp tractor? Will it break implements that require a "minimum" of "only" 50hp or less? A lot of farmers have multiple tractors (lower power, middle, and higher). I just did hay using a sickle bar mower, rake, baler, and tractor that are all 50-60 years old and maybe older (sickle bar mower). All adequate and pretty reliable (baler is getting more reliable with use). I love the Workmaster 120--it is comfortable and very useful (loader, hay spike) but am finding that for small square bale hay work an open-station tractor (instead of cab) is preferable and wonder if it is worth finding a smaller cab tractor for everything else or if I'm likely to take too much of a loss on the 120 to make it worthwhile.

Thoughts?

 

[rrlund]

I don't know New Holland model numbers, but something in the 80 horse range would be plenty.

 

[Janicholson]

If you will do round bales, keep the New Holland, and add a Massy 165 or its equal. Jim

 

[mml373]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. A concern is tearing up smaller implements...though I don't know if that's a legitimate concern. For example, I have a tiller and hiller that run fine with 38hp.

If you will do round bales, keep the New Holland, and add a Massy 165 or its equal. Jim

Thank you guys. The Massey 165...another beautiful tractor and gets me another 20hp...though I wonder if something a bit more would be appropriate. Believe the baler would be the biggest demand (suitable for the New Holland WM120) but all else could be handled by the 165 or an 80hp tractor.

 

[wh]

All ready have it. Know it. Keep it. No such thing on farm as too much horsepower. If concerned just slow down.

 

[Jim.ME]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. A concern is tearing up smaller implements...though I don't know if that's a legitimate concern. For example, I have a tiller and hiller that run fine with 38hp.

Thank you guys. The Massey 165...another beautiful tractor and gets me another 20hp...though I wonder if something a bit more would be appropriate. Believe the baler would be the biggest demand (suitable for the New Holland WM120) but all else could be handled by the 165 or an 80hp tractor.

An 80HP tractor will handle many round balers. Look at the specs for some balers you think you might like and see what the HP requirements are. HP isn't all you need to consider. The size bale you want to make can require a heavier tractor or ballast/weights on the rear of a tractor.

An operator has to pay close attention if using a high HP on light equipment. Properly set slip clutches can help protect implements.

 

[G1000VISTA]

Shear pins and slip clutches and a decent operator that knows how to run equipment with some sense wont have any trouble. A hundred horse can run a JD 14t and not cause problems if run correctly I would keep the tractor.

 

[mml373]

Shear pins and slip clutches and a decent operator that knows how to run equipment with some sense wont have any trouble. A hundred horse can run a JD 14t and not cause problems if run correctly I would keep the tractor.

Much appreciated. Shear pins are appropriately sized for the equipment and I am gaining experience with the lower-powered equipment. Only sheared one pin doing hay this season (so far)...have to stop forward movement on the tractor in heavy hay to give the baler time to munch what's picked up and send it to the chute for packing. With all the rain here in southern MO this spring/summer, we have a lot of thick hay areas in the pastures.

Tough to beat the creature comforts of a cab tractor when doing hay in the heat of the summer...as long as the baler keeps tying reliably.

 

[gf in S.IL]

I suggest keeping your current tractor and looking for a second tractor that has just enough hp to run the future round baler. I sold hay for quite a few years and would hate to depend on just one tractor. For most things I used a jd 3020. It had a major engine failure a few years ago. Took 6 months to get the parts and repairs done. Used a 4440 (way too much tractor) the rest of year. Yes, it did look kind of odd that size tractor pulling a 9' foot rake. You're sure right about the cab and a/c being nice.

 

[G1000VISTA]

Do you rake double windrows? We raked singles and baled with a ford 631 workmaster to save having to shift and stop the tractor. Maybe an option.

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

Much appreciated. Shear pins are appropriately sized for the equipment and I am gaining experience with the lower-powered equipment. Only sheared one pin doing hay this season (so far)...have to stop forward movement on the tractor in heavy hay to give the baler time to munch what's picked up and send it to the chute for packing. With all the rain here in southern MO this spring/summer, we have a lot of thick hay areas in the pastures.

Tough to beat the creature comforts of a cab tractor when doing hay in the heat of the summer...as long as the baler keeps tying reliably.

I think you would take too much of a loss downsizing. Unless you find a buyer that's willing to pay. I would imagine a current year model is several thousand over what you paid. 120hp would handle any implement/baler you would ever want to run. And if you ever had to replant, change hay crops the 120 would allow more leeway if you had to borrow tillage implements

 

[ss55]

I have a "late model" New Holland Workmaster 120 that was purchased with the thought that I would eventually do larger-scale hay production (including some custom work). As it turns out, my circumstances have changed and I am doing small squares with 60 year old equipment that is paid for, and no longer believe I "need" a 120hp tractor. I would rather spend my time doing other things than haying for other people.

I think reality is that I might be doing 35-60 acres of hay which could potentially include round bales in the future. A round baler uses plenty of hp, but a disc cutter and wheel rake do not approach a need for 100 PTO horsepower. What would be an appropriate-sized tractor this this kind of thing, and would I need the 120 for putting down fertilizer (for example).

Can anyone help me make a case for keeping a 120hp tractor? Will it break implements that require a "minimum" of "only" 50hp or less? A lot of farmers have multiple tractors (lower power, middle, and higher). I just did hay using a sickle bar mower, rake, baler, and tractor that are all 50-60 years old and maybe older (sickle bar mower). All adequate and pretty reliable (baler is getting more reliable with use). I love the Workmaster 120--it is comfortable and very useful (loader, hay spike) but am finding that for small square bale hay work an open-station tractor (instead of cab) is preferable and wonder if it is worth finding a smaller cab tractor for everything else or if I'm likely to take too much of a loss on the 120 to make it worthwhile.

Thoughts?

The spec on a NH Workmaster 120 are:

TractorData.com New Holland Workmaster 120 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Many of us may be thinking it was a 120 hp, 12,000 to 14,000 pound rowcrop/tillage tractor, as I was.

At 100 PTO HP (120 gross engine HP), with a 207 CID 3.4L turbocharged aftercooled diesel engine, and 7800 to 8600 pounds, 4WD utility tractor might not be all that far oversized for haying. A smaller 1960s tractor won't have the 3 speed power shift x 4 range transmission or 4WD that will be handy for handling big round bales in the future. They certainly won't have as nice of a cab.

 

[jhwis]

A 9ft. discbine requires a minimum of 80 horsepower... minimum.

 

[showcrop]

You need to state whether your "disc cutter" is cutter only or mower conditioner. Puling a disc mower up grade can easily use all of 100 HP.

 

[rrlund]

The spec on a NH Workmaster 120 are:

TractorData.com New Holland Workmaster 120 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

Many of us may be thinking it was a 120 hp, 12,000 to 14,000 pound rowcrop/tillage tractor, as I was.

At 100 PTO HP (120 gross engine HP), with a 207 CID 3.4L turbocharged aftercooled diesel engine, and 7800 to 8600 pounds, 4WD utility tractor might not be all that far oversized for haying. A smaller 1960s tractor won't have the 3 speed power shift x 4 range transmission or 4WD that will be handy for handling big round bales in the future. They certainly won't have as nice of a cab.

Well if that's what it is, it's probably 80 drawbar, so keep it.

 

[Ray,IN]

Much appreciated. Shear pins are appropriately sized for the equipment and I am gaining experience with the lower-powered equipment. Only sheared one pin doing hay this season (so far)...have to stop forward movement on the tractor in heavy hay to give the baler time to munch what's picked up and send it to the chute for packing. With all the rain here in southern MO this spring/summer, we have a lot of thick hay areas in the pastures.

Tough to beat the creature comforts of a cab tractor when doing hay in the heat of the summer...as long as the baler keeps tying reliably.

We pulled a sq baler with a MF165 and still had to stop at times to allow the baler to catch up. We nearly always used double windrows, occasionally triple for 3rd cuttings.
We used the gas MF135 for mowing and raking, the MF165 seemed too awkward.
I vote to keep that tractor and buy a <50HP for light work, it's more nimble while using less fuel

 

[jddrawbar]

A 9ft. discbine requires a minimum of 80 horsepower... minimum.

Local hometown hay baler used a '52 A to pull a 9' haybine for years...... until he was hit head on moving between fields. After recovery from a broken neck, he bought a 1650 Oliver. The 2 teenage girls in the car that hit him did not survive. Mom babysit the one girl till she started school & I was a pallbearer at her funeral......saddens me to this day!

 

[paul]

Kinda think you have about the right sized tractor. Would likely cost you a bunch to downsize.

You might get by with a 60 pto hp tractor, but then you will be on the low end for the bigger jobs. I’m real happy doing hay with my Ford 5200 and NH Workmaster 75, but the big round baler is all it wants on a hill, and same for getting into heavy thick wet grass hay with the 10 foot disc mower. For commercial work I’d rather have a little bigger horse on them.

Both of them pull the old NH 270 baler fine for small squares. I suppose your tractor does feel a little big for the small square baler, but you might have a newer model that has better hitch/ pickup and needs a little more hp than mine.

Paul

 

[trackrat]

pull a 468 jd round baler with a 2355 jd 60ish hp it does not like it but it works

 

[mml373]

I suggest keeping your current tractor and looking for a second tractor that has just enough hp to run the future round baler. I sold hay for quite a few years and would hate to depend on just one tractor. For most things I used a jd 3020. It had a major engine failure a few years ago. Took 6 months to get the parts and repairs done. Used a 4440 (way too much tractor) the rest of year. Yes, it did look kind of odd that size tractor pulling a 9' foot rake. You're sure right about the cab and a/c being nice.

Yikes on that 4440!