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Windrow Maker For Big Round Bales
It takes time to retrieve big round hay or straw bales scattered helter-skelter through-out the field. Canadian farmer Glen Reil, of Tofield, Alb., makes the job faster and easier with a windrow maker that mounts behind his big baler.
The tag-along cradle allows him drop bales off in rows as they're made, making
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Windrow Maker for Big Round Bales HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Accessories 15-5-3 It takes time to retrieve big round hay or straw bales scattered helter-skelter through-out the field. Canadian farmer Glen Reil, of Tofield, Alb., makes the job faster and easier with a windrow maker that mounts behind his big baler.
The tag-along cradle allows him drop bales off in rows as they're made, making it easy to pick them up when the baling's done.
"I use a tractor-loader and truck to re-move bales from the field. With the bales aligned in windrows, I can clear a field in one third the time it used to take when bales were dropped randomly," Glen told FARM SHOW. "When I bale slough hay, I take one bale on the trailer and one in the baler and haul them to high ground so, if it rains, they don't stand in water."
Reil has patented (pending) his "wind-row maker" invention and is looking for a manufacturer. Meanwhile, he and his partner Alton Olson are custom building the windrower for interested farmers.
It bolts to the frame and axle and is a solid, integral part of the baler. It's equipped with two 8 in. dia. caster wheels and follows the baler around corners and over ditches. "You can even back up with a full bale on the cradle," Glen points out.
A short ( 4-in.) stroke hydraulic cylinder tips the cradle to unload the bale. "With a little practice, you learn when to hit the lever so the bales drop off on the go in a straight, neat windrow," says Glen.
He notes that some balers with low slung rear ends don't provide enough slope for bales to roll out of the baler and onto the cradle of the windrow maker. "To solve the problem, we use a hydraulic cylinder to lift the rear of the baler about 12 in. While the bale is being tied, the operator activates the lift cylinder. When the tied bale rolls out of the baler, it's on enough slope to roll onto the cradle," Glen points out.
Approximate cost of custom-built wind-row makers is right at $2,500 (Canadian), not including the optional lift cylinder.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Glen Reil, Box 218, Tofield, Alb., Canada TOB 4J0 (ph 403 662-2624).
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