Flatbed Bale Mower Built From Old Combine

Flatbed bale mower built from old combine HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 16-6-10 Big bale mover built by Fairfax, S. Dak., dairyman Benny Baker, out of old combines is unlike anything on the market. A huge hydraulically-controlled grapple arm loads bales onto a flatbed platform positioned close to the ground between two hydrostatically-powered drive axles which were taken from a pair of 1955 Deere self-propelled combines. Baker bought the used machines for $500. He stripped them down to the basics, taking the two drive axles and the best engine and cab to use on his new bale mover. Other miscellaneous parts and structural components were also salvaged. The main frame was built out of 10-in. I-beam and scrap steel. The front axle supports a "turntable" that supports the front of the flatbed hay sled. A hydraulic cylinder pivots the axle from side to side for steering. Hydraulic power for steering and brakes comes from the original pump that was used to raise and lower the corn and grain heads. Baker decided not to power the front wheels since he never moves bales when fields are muddy or soft but he says you could easily activate them by adding an additional hydraulic motor. Rear wheels are driven by combine transmission which is powered by a toothed flat belt off rear-mounted engine. The machine can carry 12 bales on the flatbed and one in the grapple fork resting on the frame above the front wheels. Speeds range from a crawl to about 18 mph on a hard surface. Hydraulic cylinders control the grapple fork and section arm. One cylinder swings the arm to either side and a second raises the first section while a third raises the second section of the arm. A fourth cylinder rotates the fork while a fifth opens and closes the fork. All cylinders are powered by an engine-driven Farmhand hydraulic pump through control valves mounted in the cab. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Benny Baker, Rt. 1, Box 93, Fairfax, S.Dak. 57335 (ph 605 654-2373).

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