Half-Scale Baler Looks Like The Real Thing

Half-Scale Baler Looks Like The Real Thing BALERS R W Prinkey built a half-scale bale wagon but it didn’t look right without a baler to match So he built one to match with an electric motor that powers the flywheel-driven pickup plunger and more     “When I finished the wagon I joked to my dad a former Deere dealer that the scaled down hay wagon needed a hay baler to go with it ” recalls Prinkey “I started thinking about a rough imitation baler with a ground drive chain turning the flywheel One thing led to another ”     As Prinkey got into the project he decided to try and make it as detailed as possible It went from a kid’s toy to something close to an exact working replica With the exception of the knotters all major parts and drives work as they would on a real baler powered by a 12-volt electric gearmotor The biggest difference is that 60 percent of the materials are wood     Prinkey first used 2 identical gearmotors powering different portions of the baler However that created timing problems between the feeder forks and the plunger head One motor proved sufficient using a hidden jackshaft to transfer power     “This change created a phenomenon that I am probably most proud of ” says Prinkey “The timing of the plunger head and feeder forks is now accomplished by using the exact procedure described in the operator’s manual and dividing that measurement in half ”     Prinkey used steel for the main frame tongue and wagon hitch The remainder is mostly wood with some plastic and aluminum The current knotters are wood and accurate enough that people ask him what machine they came from Miniature straw bales in the bale chute and on the wagon make it look even more authentic     “At shows I enjoy when the older crowd ask if I really baled those bales with it ” he says     All major dimensions were taken from a Deere 24T manual and downsized 50 percent Prinkey attaches the baler to the 110 for shows or pulling around his yard However he admits the scale is not quite right     “I’m now considering building a half-scale 10 or 20 series tractor built from a 140 Deere garden tractor ” says Prinkey     Other miniatures planned include a combine and a hay loader He has already built a stagecoach for his 2 young grandchildren     For more details on the baler and the estimated 400 hours of work over 6 months see Prinkey’s article in the May 2015 issue of Green Magazine www greenmagazine com     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup R W Prinkey 27777 Newton Perkins Rd West Mansfield Ohio 43358 ph 937 355-8302; barebonesgarage@embarqmail com

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