Got the first one working. 1300+ bales so far this year, with no help. In good hay, I can pickup 8 bales in under a minute. Then stack 4 high, for a total of 32 bales per trip to the barn. Numbers 2 and 3 are just about done.
Last edited by chma; 08/07/201908:45 AM. Reason: sp
Sonny, 40+ years ago is when they were first made. I seen a picture of one about 2 years ago and that was all I needed to built it. Since then I have seen some on videos, but I have not seen anyone stacking the bales and then picking up the stack. I am going to make a QA for my 3 pt, so I can move 64 bales at one time to the barn. Load one and unhook, load another one and then pickup the first one with the 3 pt. You can go to Cabin Hollow Metal Art on FB to see a video of it working.
The bale sweep gets the hay out of the field, but then I have to get it to the feeders in the winter. I have one of these that holds 16 bales and this one will hold 32 bales. One on the front and one on the back of the tractor, for a total of 48 bales per trip.
When we had cattle, we were lucky enough to have a hay barn that had feeders built around the outer sides, so we just tossed the bales from the barn into the feeders. Later years we went to the 2,000 pound round bales and used the 560 to carry them around with. In bad weather/winter/spring mud/etc. it was a real problem. ---- That was about the time the cattle had to go! --- Never was sorry to see them go either,-- never had livestock of any kind since and have no desire to!
"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."