used hay press

You are looking for a used hay baler and come across a mountain of advertisements - from “almost new”? before “worked for only three seasons, but requires major repairs?”. This is where the fun begins. Many people think that the main thing is to find something cheaper, and we’ll fix the rest. In fact, the stingy pays twice, especially with equipment that has worked in the field. I went through this myself.

What is hidden behind the word “used”? in real conditions

When you see an ad for “used hay baler in excellent condition?”, your first instinct is to believe. But experience suggests otherwise. ?Excellent condition? for the seller it often means “starts up and presses?”. But the condition of the pressing chamber springs, wear of the pick-up teeth, backlash in the transmission units - they are silent about this. I once checked the Claas Quadrant 2100, according to the passport - there were few operating hours. But in fact, it turned out that the previous owner forgot to mention about working on waterlogged fields. Corrosion in the frame began to appear only in my second season.

The key point is not the hours, but the working conditions. A baler that collected dry hay on flat fields is one thing. And the one that threshed over bumps and wet mass was completely different. The first one can have a resource that is 30-40% higher, even with a higher mileage. That’s why I always ask not “how many hours?”, but “where and how I worked, what was the main culture?” Straw, for example, is more abrasive to knots than soft meadow hay.

Another trap is spare parts. Older models, say some Krone or New Holland, may be in good condition, but finding the original shafts or camera bearings for them is a different story. You have to order analogues or wait for months. Therefore, now, before looking at equipment, I open spare parts catalogs and check their availability. If this is difficult, even a favorable price will not save you from downtime in the midst of procurement.

Do-it-yourself inspection: what to look for first

I take a flashlight and a crowbar and go take a look. Theory is good, but only hands and eyes give the real picture. First thing is the frame. I'm looking not just for welds, but for microcracks in the places where the hydraulic cylinders are attached or at the chassis struts. Sometimes when you see fresh paint, it's a red flag. It is often used to mask rust or cracks. I tap and the sound should be clear; a dull sound indicates layers of putty.

The heart of any baler is the bale chamber and feed mechanism. There is no “climbing” here. You can't do it inside. I look at the condition of the pressing belts or chains (depending on the model). Severe longitudinal wear, cracks, uneven tension are a sure sign that the unit will soon require serious investment. I definitely check the pick-up teeth with my fingers (with gloves, of course). If they are ground down by a third or more, get ready to spend money - they will not pick up the roll well, especially low ones.

It’s difficult to check hydraulics and electrics in the field, but basic things are a must. Please start it up, raise and lower the pick-up several times, and look at the smooth running of the cylinders. Jerking and oil leaks at connections are a bad sign. I look at the hoses to see if there are any chafing or swelling. From experience, replacing the entire hydraulic circuit on an old press can “eat up” take full advantage of its low price.

Service history: myth or salvation?

The ideal salesperson is the one who hands over a folder with receipts for oil, filters and repairs. This happens about ten times in life. More often you hear: “I did everything on time, I did it myself, I didn’t keep records?” Here you have to turn on the detective. I look at the filters - if they are original and relatively fresh, this is a plus. If there are cheap noname analogues that are already swollen, then the question is about the service culture as a whole.

One of the indirect signs is the condition of the tires and trailer. If the owner spared no expense on proper tires for the cart, there is a chance that he treated the main equipment well. And vice versa: bald tires, broken hubs on a trailer are a wake-up call. Once I saw a John Deere baler, seemingly well-maintained, but the trailer had homemade, crookedly welded sides. I decided to dig deeper - it turned out that the main shaft in the gearbox had already been replaced with a homemade one, and it again had play.

I'm asking about the latest major renovation. Not “did they change anything?”, but specifically: “What broke last season?” Answers like “nothing serious, just minor things?” make you wary. Each model has its own “sore spot”. For some it is the power take-off shaft bearings, for others it is weak welding in the chamber. Knowing this, you can specifically check these nodes.

When new equipment from a trusted manufacturer is a reasonable alternative

All this digging in old cars sometimes makes me think: isn’t it easier to get a new device, but from a reliable, maybe not the most popular, brand? For example, I’m looking at offers fromHulunbuir Machinery Manufacturing Company ?Jiujia?. They are, judging by the description on their websitehttps://www.cn-fascar.ru, are not just sellers, but a modern integrated enterprise with a full cycle: R&D, production, sales and service. This is important for me as a practice. If the company develops and produces it itself, it means there is quality control at all stages and, what is critical, the service technicians have an understanding of the technology.

Looking at their line, one can assume that their balers were probably designed with modern requirements for reliability and convenience in mind. When you buy a used European unit, you also buy technology that is 10-15 years outdated. A new machine from a manufacturer that relies on intelligent production in the field of agriculture may initially have a more durable design of components that usually fail in used equipment.

Of course, this is a different price. But if you add up the costused hay baler, its pre-sale repair (which is definitely necessary), plus setting aside a budget for two or three seasons for possible breakdowns, the difference with the price of a new car may not be so huge. And most importantly, you get a guarantee and predictability. In the midst of the harvest season, when every sunny day is worth its weight in gold, this peace of mind is worth a lot. The Jiujia company, positioning itself as a full-cycle enterprise, should theoretically ensure the availability of spare parts, which is a sore point for many used models.

Conclusions from bitter experience

So why not buy a used one at all? No, why not? It is possible, but wisely and without illusions. My most successful experience was buying a baler from a farmer I knew personally and saw how he handled the equipment. The car was not perfect, but all its “sores” were known in advance, and I could calculate my efforts and costs. Worst experience - buying behind the scenes? at an attractive price from a reseller. I saved 20% of the market average, but in the first season I invested 40% of the purchase price in repairs.

The bottom line is simple.Used hay baleris always a lottery, but the probability of winning can be increased by thorough checking, knowledge of the typical problems of the model and sober calculation. If you don’t have the time, desire or ability to delve into all this technical jungle, it may be worth considering the option of new equipment from a manufacturer who is responsible for their product from drawing to field. Like, for example, the sameHulunbuir company ?Jiujia?, which, apparently, builds its business on an integrated approach. Ultimately, the decision is always yours and depends on your budget, objectives and risk tolerance. The main thing is for the technology to work and help, and not take up time, nerves and money at the most inopportune moment.