NH BB balers

[Rodney R]

I was thinking of getting a 3x3 baler. I know that hesston invented the big baler and are good, but what about the NH? My dad has me looking at a BB940 - an '02 model with 27K bales on it, tandem axle, and rotocut. I know almost nothing about them, as I had never paid much attention. I can also get a CIH 8575, an '00 model, 34k bales. The NH is $35K and the CIH is at $39K. I know that the CIH is basically a hesston 4755 under red paint, and I know the previous owner. Both have good paint, metal, and an applicator.

I plan on only making 4-500 bales per year with this machine, so a new one is out of the question. I'm not going to be able to have the hay custom baled, so I have to get my own machine...... The NH is cheaper and has less bales, but has the rotocut - I assume they require more $$$ to operate, and I don't need it. Generally speaking, how much is it going to cost to run a machine like that? I know that the CIH is getting ready to have some $$ spent on it, but I don't know where, what, or how involved. I'm clueless. Help?

Rodney

[Production Acres]

we have 2 new holland 3x3 balers - and if the machine you are looking at has 27,000 bales through it, it must be working pretty good;.) Put one side by side with a rd baler and you won't want to see another rd baler in the field. I would not be afraid of either machine.

[cmsc]

We have a NH BB940A with the roto cut in it. We hae not had hardly any problemswith ours. i had a stuffer arm finger get bent and had to replace and that was all we have done. The roto cut is nice since you can size the length of cut and its very easy to operate and change the knives to you liking of the length of cut or you can just run it with out the knives. like the guy stated before you will never want to run a round baler after having a big square baler. We kept round baler for one year after buying a big baler and i only baled 250 round bales with it for a neighbor and i wanted to drop it over a clift. I would go with the lower bales cheaper baler if you only going to bale a few bales a year. i would have the dealer go though it before you buy it. just make sure you get all the knives blanks for the cutter and sharp ones. the roto ccutter will take my horsepower to run though.

[Rodney R]

From what I learned today about 35-40k bales is the max you can expect before you have to do a little rebuilding, but that ought to be years out for me. I'd rather not have the rotocut, unless there is some big advantage - all of the hay that goes through this baler will be dry, and it will all be sold...... unless the dog suddenly starts to like alfalfa. From what I understand it does have some blanks in it, and I know that I saw some blanks and knives in the storage area.

Rodney

[mtrancher1]

You might look for a used krone, they are pretty impressive. I also think the prices of those two balers are too high. I would look around a little more if it was me. The Hesston/ case ih baler is a better baler if you choose between the two.

[tburkgren]

Any opinions on single axle versus tandems on the BB940?

[gwillie44]

If you are only doing your own, a single axle is fine. Doing custom work, I recommend the 2 axle machine, for rough fields and road traveling. Going with one axle also requires one less hydrolic connection to the tractor.

[haybaler101]

Tandem axle is the only way to go. Rides smooth and less stress on drawbar. Tandem only requires 2 hydraulics on tractor, same as single axle. One remote for pickup lift, one remote for bale chute, eject, and axle steer.

[tburkgren]

How much hydraulics required for the BB940? Will open center work? My largest tractor is a IH 1086.

[haybaler101]

You need 2 remotes on the standard or packer cut model. I think a rotocut needs 3 but I am not for sure. 1086 should work fine, I pull mine with a 7220 CIH, which is a half 86 series on the back end and Case on the front end.