Half-Scale Baler Looks Like The Real Thing

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #4, Page #43

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

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).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

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

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW