New Holland 848 small round baler

[exSW]

Before I bought my own this is what baled for me. No complaints. And no I'm not saying who it belongs to and it's not for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

[Loadstar]

57 minutes ago, Orchard6 said:

I had an 847 for a season. It was ok but I didn’t care for the bale size (4.5’x4.75’). They’re not quite 5’x5’s and to big to be called 4x4’s. 4x4’s and 4x5’s are the standards in my area and anything much bigger than a 4x5 just doesn’t sell well here. If you’re just baling for your own critters it may be a moot point but if you haul on a trailer be aware you will be 9 ft wide. 

On the plus side, New Holland is very good about parts and I was quite surprised that I was able to get most any part I needed either thru the NH dealer or aftermarket dealers that worked with A&I were able to get floor chains and repair links for the main apron chain.

As others have said they will bale just about anything but mine never did good in short dry hay.

My 847 (used) was probably the best 1200 I ever spent as its given me well over ten years of baling for my small herd. Yes, floor sheet metal does wear out but new parts are available. I just replaced a few of the floor chain guides last year. True, the bales are a little smaller than most makes but then so is my tractor and front  end loader. And yes, when it comes to short dry hay (or straw) best to park and come back when there is a little moisture. I"ve baled after dark sometimes for that reason. I've seen a few of the older John Deeres burned down over the years. 

 

[Reichow7120]

I have a question on parts availability on these older New Holland round balers. Everyone has mentioned about the floor chains, guides, bed rollers if it had them and even the upper bar chain.

My question is about the pickup, mainly the tubes that the pickup tines are attached to that rotate. Are those still readily available?, and if so, is there more than one source for them?, or is it strictly through New Holland? 

I have access to a later 850 that would practically be given to me. The problem is that the pickup needs to be rebuilt. 3 of the 4 pickup tubes are broken and won't feed hay into the chamber. If this can be done affordably it could be a project i can undertake. Parts get to expensive it isn't worth the time and effort because the baler isn't worth much anymore considering its over 40 years old now. It's inside so im not dealing with a rust bucket.

[1480x3]

24 minutes ago, Reichow7120 said:

I have a question on parts availability on these older New Holland round balers. Everyone has mentioned about the floor chains, guides, bed rollers if it had them and even the upper bar chain.

My question is about the pickup, mainly the tubes that the pickup tines are attached to that rotate. Are those still readily available?, and if so, is there more than one source for them?, or is it strictly through New Holland? 

I have access to a later 850 that would practically be given to me. The problem is that the pickup needs to be rebuilt. 3 of the 4 pickup tubes are broken and won't feed hay into the chamber. If this can be done affordably it could be a project i can undertake. Parts get to expensive it isn't worth the time and effort because the baler isn't worth much anymore considering its over 40 years old now. It's inside so im not dealing with a rust bucket.

Bet they are available, bet they are expensive. If you got a drill press bet you could punch some holes in a black or galvanized pipe to make it operable for light use on the cheap !

[db1486]

2 hours ago, Reichow7120 said:

I have a question on parts availability on these older New Holland round balers. Everyone has mentioned about the floor chains, guides, bed rollers if it had them and even the upper bar chain.

My question is about the pickup, mainly the tubes that the pickup tines are attached to that rotate. Are those still readily available?, and if so, is there more than one source for them?, or is it strictly through New Holland? 

I have access to a later 850 that would practically be given to me. The problem is that the pickup needs to be rebuilt. 3 of the 4 pickup tubes are broken and won't feed hay into the chamber. If this can be done affordably it could be a project i can undertake. Parts get to expensive it isn't worth the time and effort because the baler isn't worth much anymore considering its over 40 years old now. It's inside so im not dealing with a rust bucket.

Not sure on new ones but I've had to fix the bars on our hesston in a hurry and have just put a pipe or shaft inside the broken tube and drill some holes. Of course it depends how bad of shape they're in.

I dont recall if dad ever put new pu bars on the 851. All I know is it sat since 04 and we pulled it out last fall and was going in no time. Other than putting stuff back on that we took off lol

[Nebraska Cowman]

16 hours ago, sandhiller said:

Sad day when my last 855 was replaced by a 664. If they would make those chain balers new and support wit parts I would go back. Eat hay like no other and my I was proud of the way my bales looked, square shouldered, flat across the top and they stayed that way till I fed them.

You bettcha Sandhiller. I put a new apron chain in my 855 two years ago and intend to run it forever. It will start a bale anytime anywhere and I have been in the field when the belt guys had to quit and go home.

[yellowrosefarm]

15 hours ago, sandhiller said:

Did the 848 have a bed with floor chains behind the pickup? If so, I remember being told, was an area of a lot of wear and it was a great improvement going to the floor rollers. Also with the rollers, they could control the bale chamber better to make tighter bales.  The thought just popped into my head, please correct me if I am wrong. I started with 855's and bought a new one near their last year of production. With auto wrap, I think I paid 15K IIRC.

 

Rollers

[Reichow7120]

6 hours ago, db1486 said:

Not sure on new ones but I've had to fix the bars on our hesston in a hurry and have just put a pipe or shaft inside the broken tube and drill some holes. Of course it depends how bad of shape they're in.

This has already been done on this baler at some point in its history. The pipes are in rough enough shape that the pins no longer will hold it together. Run it a little bit and they shear. Just to much slop in the drilled holes and you would have to go back farther to get to some steel you can work with.

[Reichow7120]

8 hours ago, 1480x3 said:

Bet they are available, bet they are expensive. If you got a drill press bet you could punch some holes in a black or galvanized pipe to make it operable for light use on the cheap !

That's not a bad idea. Just have to attach the brackets that run in the track on the end.

[1480x3]

18 minutes ago, Reichow7120 said:

That's not a bad idea. Just have to attach the brackets that run in the track on the end.

Just checked on messicks, part # is 136554 for $ 176.75 with 3 in stock.  A lot to put in an old baler.  A couple times I recall asking my local dealer parts guy about a part like this and being told "ya we got 2 of em that have been on the shelf for 30 some years, nobody has anything they fit anymore, give me an offer, those need to be gone"   Try that at Litchfield or where ever you deal

[Reichow7120]

1 hour ago, 1480x3 said:

Just checked on messicks, part # is 136554 for $ 176.75 with 3 in stock.  A lot to put in an old baler.  A couple times I recall asking my local dealer parts guy about a part like this and being told "ya we got 2 of em that have been on the shelf for 30 some years, nobody has anything they fit anymore, give me an offer, those need to be gone"   Try that at Litchfield or where ever you deal

Litchfield is where we deal with.

Ive known this has been a issue with the baler since 2011 which was the last time it was used. Been in a barn at my uncle's place ever since ( its his) When his construction company got busy he had us do his hay. We've been baling with our 311 square baler for years now.

If the baler wasn't free i wouldn't even consider it and even with it free it's borderline if we want to do anything with it or not. 

[Gearclash]

11 hours ago, Reichow7120 said:

I have a question on parts availability on these older New Holland round balers. Everyone has mentioned about the floor chains, guides, bed rollers if it had them and even the upper bar chain.

My question is about the pickup, mainly the tubes that the pickup tines are attached to that rotate. Are those still readily available?, and if so, is there more than one source for them?, or is it strictly through New Holland? 

I have access to a later 850 that would practically be given to me. The problem is that the pickup needs to be rebuilt. 3 of the 4 pickup tubes are broken and won't feed hay into the chamber. If this can be done affordably it could be a project i can undertake. Parts get to expensive it isn't worth the time and effort because the baler isn't worth much anymore considering its over 40 years old now. It's inside so im not dealing with a rust bucket.

They will most likely be wildly over priced if they are available from NH.  I made my own tine bars for the BR series balers last year.  Its not that hard.  If NH hasn’t changed over the years the tine bars will be made of 3/4” schedule 40 pipe.  I used sch 80 for mine.

Edit to add:  Most likely the tine bars are broke right by the arm for the cam follower bearing.  In that case I would just repair the old tine bar.  You may need to add a short piece of pipe to replace the mangled end.  It a “1-800 Finney” project LOL!.

[Big Bud guy]

18 hours ago, dale560 said:

Dad’s  first baler was a McKee built like a soft core caseih. He traded for a new vicon baler the same principle in 1991. My brother and I bought a 605 f Vermeer made 800 bales with it in 1998 and got rid of it for a 8480 Case Ih we made about 25,000 with that baler and it probably had 20000 on it when we bought it. We bought a 06 567 with 13000 bales now it is at 30000 it is going to hit 40000 at least while we have it. All the soft core balers were okay but this JD is cats meow if it just had net wrap it would never leave

Long ago I used to see a few balers sitting on lots around here that used nothing but rollers.  I assumed they were soft core balers.  They were a Deutz type green.  We used to run a JD 457.  Neighbor has it now.  Those 7 series were a game changer around here since they could bale ground up rotary straw which was a big deal in AF country. At one time my JD dealer had over 15 NH balers on their lot and most of them were the RBs.   

[Matt Kirsch]

4 hours ago, Reichow7120 said:

That's not a bad idea. Just have to attach the brackets that run in the track on the end.

Messicks lists the tubes at $176 each, 3 in stock.

[dale560]

1 hour ago, Big Bud guy said:

Long ago I used to see a few balers sitting on lots around here that used nothing but rollers.  I assumed they were soft core balers.  They were a Deutz type green.  We used to run a JD 457.  Neighbor has it now.  Those 7 series were a game changer around here since they could bale ground up rotary straw which was a big deal in AF country. At one time my JD dealer had over 15 NH balers on their lot and most of them were the RBs.   

OMC or owatonna machine. Then Deutz allis bought them. They were open throat and a chain ran all those drums. Was quit a few of those drum balers here to. Dad leased a Krone baler once from dealer for a 100 bales it was a soft core with a chain like new holland. I have seen newer ones rebranded as M&W balers they were horrible to use and metric plus unreliable.

[Reichow7120]

3 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said:

Messicks lists the tubes at $176 each, 3 in stock.

That's a lot for a baler that might be worth a $1000 at most. Its needs 3 for sure.

[Matt Kirsch]

16 hours ago, Reichow7120 said:

That's a lot for a baler that might be worth a $1000 at most. Its needs 3 for sure.

I agree. It was just for reference because you were pretty sure you couldn't get the parts.

Most likely Messicks could order a fourth, but now you'd have almost $800 into parts for a $1000 baler...

[ny bill o]

5 hours ago, Matt Kirsch said:

I agree. It was just for reference because you were pretty sure you couldn't get the parts.

Most likely Messicks could order a fourth, but now you'd have almost $800 into parts for a $1000 baler...

....but the pickup bars will be in excellent shape....?

[Orchard6]

23 hours ago, dale560 said:

OMC or owatonna machine. Then Deutz allis bought them. They were open throat and a chain ran all those drums. Was quit a few of those drum balers here to. Dad leased a Krone baler once from dealer for a 100 bales it was a soft core with a chain like new holland. I have seen newer ones rebranded as M&W balers they were horrible to use and metric plus unreliable.

I’ve had good luck with my M&W so far. It makes a better bale than my old 847 ever did! They’re pretty simple and although parts are pricey they are available thru krone. The netwrap setup is hokey but I don’t think anyone else even offered in in 1983!

[Orchard6]

On 3/5/2019 at 8:55 PM, Loadstar said:

My 847 (used) was probably the best 1200 I ever spent as its given me well over ten years of baling for my small herd. Yes, floor sheet metal does wear out but new parts are available. I just replaced a few of the floor chain guides last year. True, the bales are a little smaller than most makes but then so is my tractor and front  end loader. And yes, when it comes to short dry hay (or straw) best to park and come back when there is a little moisture. I"ve baled after dark sometimes for that reason. I've seen a few of the older John Deeres burned down over the years. 

 

Don’t get me wrong, the 847 is a decent baler and I would’ve kept it if I was just baling for myself. When I bought it I had intended to just bale rounds for myself and square bale the rest but I quickly learned about the labor savings of round bales and that most people in my area prefer a 4’ wide bale.