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1998 - Volume #22, Issue #5, Page #12

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"No Hydraulics" Bale Unroller

"My no hydraulics round bale unroller eliminates the need for tractor hydraulics to handle big bales," says Larry Davis, North Freedom, Wis., who built the rig using the running gear off an old pull-type Deere hay conditioner.
The 2-wheeled unroller is equipped with an L-shaped steel frame that pivots on a pipe just above the axle. An electric winch, operated from the tractor cab, mounts on the tongue and is used to raise or lower the bale-lifting frame. A pair of lift arms at the back of the frame support a steel shaft, pointed on one end, that goes through the center of the bale. Disk blades mounted on the end of each arm act as spacers to center the bale on the shaft and keep it from rubbing on the lift arms.
To load a bale, Davis inserts the shaft through the bale as well as through both disk blades, then clamps the shaft in place. Then he uses the winch to raise it off the ground. To unroll, he simply lowers it to the ground and drives ahead.
"I've used it for a year with no problems," says Davis. "It's easy to use in cold weather because there are no hydraulic hoses to hook up. I use my 1957 Deere 520 tractor to pull it. Most conventional bale unrollers are 3-pt. mounted and require a much larger tractor than I have. I built it because I wanted a bet-ter way to ration my hay than was possible with round bale feeders. It works great with my rotational grazing system because I can use the same bale to feed small numbers of cattle in different paddocks. I can unroll part of a bale and then use the remaining hay the next day.
"My bales weigh 800 to 1,000 lbs. and are made with a late model New Holland baler which makes bales with a soft center. The winch operates off the tractor battery and the switch for it is located next to the seat. Wire leads from the winch is attached to the switch housing by alligator clips from an old battery charger."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Davis, E9837 Hwy. W, North Freedom, Wis. 53951 (ph 608 522-4824).

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"No Hydraulics" Bale Unroller BALE HANDLING Bale Handling (31B) 22-5-12 "My no hydraulics round bale unroller eliminates the need for tractor hydraulics to handle big bales," says Larry Davis, North Freedom, Wis., who built the rig using the running gear off an old pull-type Deere hay conditioner. The 2-wheeled unroller is equipped with an L-shaped steel frame that pivots on a pipe just above the axle. An electric winch, operated from the tractor cab, mounts on the tongue and is used to raise or lower the bale-lifting frame. A pair of lift arms at the back of the frame support a steel shaft, pointed on one end, that goes through the center of the bale. Disk blades mounted on the end of each arm act as spacers to center the bale on the shaft and keep it from rubbing on the lift arms. To load a bale, Davis inserts the shaft through the bale as well as through both disk blades, then clamps the shaft in place. Then he uses the winch to raise it off the ground. To unroll, he simply lowers it to the ground and drives ahead. "I've used it for a year with no problems," says Davis. "It's easy to use in cold weather because there are no hydraulic hoses to hook up. I use my 1957 Deere 520 tractor to pull it. Most conventional bale unrollers are 3-pt. mounted and require a much larger tractor than I have. I built it because I wanted a bet-ter way to ration my hay than was possible with round bale feeders. It works great with my rotational grazing system because I can use the same bale to feed small numbers of cattle in different paddocks. I can unroll part of a bale and then use the remaining hay the next day. "My bales weigh 800 to 1,000 lbs. and are made with a late model New Holland baler which makes bales with a soft center. The winch operates off the tractor battery and the switch for it is located next to the seat. Wire leads from the winch is attached to the switch housing by alligator clips from an old battery charger." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Davis, E9837 Hwy. W, North Freedom, Wis. 53951 (ph 608 522-4824).

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