"Old" Baler Back On Market

"Old" Baler Back On Market BALERS Balers 31-2-3 An old favorite of small square bale hay producers is back on the market. The "Green Baler" is a heavy-duty remake of the old 468 John Deere, a dependable design that's now even better. "The Green Baler is a direct copy of the 468 with a few enhancements and is being made with Deere's permission," says Duane Huppert, Haytools, Inc., Ellensburg, Wash. Huppert is a former Deere dealer and recalls selling 20 468's a year until hay producers switched over to big bales. Some dairy producers in Huppert's region stayed with their old balers. Others let him know they would like to switch back, but Deere no longer makes the 468. With the company's permission, Huppert began building the baler using nearly all John Deere parts, the exception being changes he made that make the baler even more heavy duty. "I worked with a technician at my former dealership who had 30 years experience working with balers," explains Huppert. "He pointed out areas where heavier metal or extra gussets would make a difference. The biggest changes came in the bale chamber." Huppert added four-way tension to squeeze the bales from all four sides. This allows a heavier bale without it becoming banana-shaped. He also added replaceable liners in the bottom of the bale chamber and under the feeder where the auger feeds hay. "We put the replaceable liners where the old 468 used to wear out," explains Huppert. "We also replaced the original lights with halogen lights for night baling. Tandem wheels on the right side are available as an option." The Green Baler, with a suggested retail price of $27,000, is marketed to hay producers in central Washington through Liberty Farm & Lawn, a regional Deere dealer. Hay producers in other areas of the U.S. and Canada are encouraged to contact Huppert directly. "I will contact their local Deere dealer and explain how they can order a baler for their customer," he says. "We will warranty the baler, but the local dealer will provide parts or service since the gear boxes, knotter, pickup and most other parts are all from the existing Deere 348 small square baler." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Duane Huppert, Haytools, Inc., 1740 Payne Rd, Ellensburg, Wash. 98926 (ph 509 929-2572).

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