You Don't Need a Big Tractor to Bale Hay! | Ibex TX31 Mini Hay Baler

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Cutting hay with a Sickle Bar Mower: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnXQh6umedp7d68 Baling hay with this baler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4Ktf3lprKugY7c Hay equipment provided by Tractor Tools Direct: tractortoolsdirect.com/ @Tractortoolsdirect Cutlass Mower Blades cutlassblades.com/shop-cutlass-blades/ Discount Code: BRB123 New way to fence your land! Cat's Claw Fasteners. Use code PGFREE for free shipping! fencingstaples.com/ Or Amazon Affiliate Link: amzn.to/4dDcaJ7 QC-Mate X-Boom Hydraulic Coupler Clamp: www.skidsteersolutions.com/ Use PINEYGROVEHOMESTEAD for 5% off anything on the website! This is our Amazon store with affiliate links to products we use on the channel. It doesn't cost you anymore and it helps support the channel, THANKS! www.amazon.com/shop/pineygrovehomestead-tractorsandoutdoors Some of our favorite products on Amazon (affiliate links): Mower Blade Sharpener Guide: amzn.to/4dGYZa5 Dewalt 20V Cordless Grinder: amzn.to/4bF2trS Flap discs: amzn.to/3UKEzo0 Grinding wheel: amzn.to/3K95ipi Proven Industries Trailer Lock: amzn.to/3WVzytv Flex Tape: amzn.to/3R4MdWm Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf Titan Post Hole Auger: amzn.to/3toHEx2 Ratcheting Fence Tensioner: amzn.to/3aEfSX0 Pope and Pipe Level: amzn.to/3tqUhHX Fence Post Puller: amzn.to/3QbcNhy T Post Manual driver: amzn.to/39dwt3J Come Along Winch: amzn.to/3aQMqND Clip bending tool: amzn.to/3xlqrG0 Mechanix Leather Gloves: amzn.to/3HjoZZf 6’ Digging and Pry bar: amzn.to/3vH5Agx Dewalt 20V ½” Impact Wrench: amzn.to/3UOcXNH Dewalt 20V brushless Leaf blower: amzn.to/3zwJcYm Dewalt 20V brushless ½” drill: amzn.to/3HGXJ7z Welcome to our channel! 🎥 What to Watch Next: Fixing Leaky Pond: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHbahIedZsaCjcU Transforming Our Property: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5uleHiPf8qUZ7s Clearing Thick Brush with Mini Excavator: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4exmqqFfbiKmtE Mowing Large Acreage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYm5Znadh9hmpM0 ➤FOLLOW US on Social Media: Facebook - facebook.com/PineyGroveHomesteadAndMiniFarm/ Instagram - instagram.com/pghomestead/ TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@pineygrovehomestead Our Story: We are six years into a seven year effort of transforming 20 acres of "Piney Grove" in Northwest Florida into our dream homestead/mini farm to be filled with animals and joy. We plan to have a variety of miniature critters on our pastures, raise free-range chickens, grow fish in our pond, garden, plant fruit and nut trees, and harvest wild game. Our goal is to escape the stresses of corporate life and embrace all that country living has to offer as we enter the next chapter of our lives. Follow along on our journey! Thanks for watching and please Like and Subscribe to help our channel!! Brad & Deb

[@aaronburford5701]

Brad once again, you are on your game. I absolutely love when you receive new equipment and you explain how to use it and go thru the technical side of the attachments. You are so knowledgeable and capable which provide great results! Thanks for sharing and you and Piney Grove are moving forward!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I appreciate that! We are cutting hay today if the sun stays out!

[@aaronburford5701]

@@PineyGroveHomestead Your passion and energy towards each video and project comes thru each and every time!

[@donaldpedigo296]

.. Blue-Tooth "Bale-Ejection Alarm" to Your Phone & Ear-Buds Would Be Very Helpful - So You Don't Have to Keep "Looking" at the "Bale-Size" Graduated Color Indicator Stick .... Excellent Demonstration .. 💛💙

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Here is another model baler we used last year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXcioavapWWnac

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

That is some awesome equipment! Really looking forward to watching the whole process.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks brother! Need you to come buck the hay!

[@brandonlarsen3815]

So happy that you’re making these videos! Keep them coming.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Glad you like them! Glad you like them.....waiting for the sun to dry the grass and get that drum mower going!

[@tommywise1702]

We love our TX31 ibex baler. A draw bar is worth the money for sure. We have made over 500 bales and have only broken 1 sheer bolt. Setting the drop arm is easy after you figure it out, but a small challenge the first time. These balers are very durable, keep them greased and the chains oiled. Our salesman, John, was a great guy. Had all the answers and recommendations.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Awesome. Hope to use it this week!

[@richardbennick3120]

Any issues using standard rolls of twine? Heard there's an issue fitting it thru the front door.

[@tommywise1702]

@richardbennick3120 a full-size roll will fit, but you have to remove two (or 4) bolts from the top cover - the lid of the twine storage area - place the full size roll (or 2) inside. Then replace the bolts. It's a pain, but it's really not an issue. Do it once or twice season. We use the 16k feet roll and that will make about 200 bales each. I have a video on my channel that shows how to do that - easy.

[@richardbennick3120]

@tommywise1702 thank you Sir, will watch your video this evening.

[@richardbennick3120]

Also, do you have a link to the video?

[@justinauman5438]

I’ve been researching mini balers and small farm hay and I believe these are what i will be getting when I get into it I would prefer net wrap for personal preference though I can’t wait to see the videos of this equipment in use

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Here is the video of the net baler I borrowed last year. From what I can see, it's the same baler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXcioavapWWnac

[@CPUDOCTHE1]

It is funny that 70 years ago they had the technology to make round bales without electricity. Now they have to make it really complicated.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

They do it so that you don't need rear remote hydraulics on your tractor.

[@koabd4351]

Rotobaler by Allis Chalmers the original small round baler .

[@chrisastin184]

Lol and the bales are far superior

[@fhuber7507]

@@PineyGroveHomestead The rear remotes cost less than the cost of putting the electrical system on the baler... And those rear remotes are VERY useful for a lot of things. I don't have one of the old mini balers yet (if I find one I will) but I put the rear remots on and have been very happy with the $650 spent. The hydraulic top link alone is a huge help.

[@markfair7648]

It's called accounting engineering, not mechanical engineering 😂

[@kbm3944]

Like your video but from an economical standpoint and the size tractor you have and the flat land. You could buy a great used square baler NH or JD with tons of parts availability and local farmer experience for repair purposes then a used rake tedder and mower cheaper than you purchased this equipment for. Again it is your farm and your decision but for the money... Also the sickle mower lays the hay out flat and flat hay spread over a 7ft swath dries faster than the bunched up windrowed of hay the drum mower leaves, You will most likely have to ted or flip the windrows to get them dry. I say this part from experience with a drum mower for 10 years + . It will be very interesting to watch your future baling videos. **Note I edited this after watching the rake video and found out you didn't buy this equipment...So for you that is even better, but others should consider used equipment and research before jumping into this small foreign made equipment and questionable parts availability. Tractor tools direct seems to be legit as i have studied them for several years now. But I definately would not Buy this stuff off ebay or amazon You will need a good dealer to get parts in the future.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Hay is more of a science than most know...I didn't! The belt rake we have can also ted hay. Thanks for watching.

[@jpoppinga8417]

That's just it. For the cost of the equipment and the scale of production. You will never break even

[@musicgroopie1]

That's the one reason I did not buy a Kubota. The fel capacity is not great and the tractor doesn't have enough weight in the chassis. I bought a TYM 4820r . Weighs 4000 lbs without loader and the fel capacity is 2700 lbs to full height at the pins. I don't bale my hay. I just cut and rake it with a regular landscape rake and the push the hay into big piles. Then I use my grapple to load the hay into a trailer and store the hay in the barn

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Kubota and John Deere are not known for their lift capacity! Thanks for watching.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

Brad nice Job. Looking forward to watching your process. I would really like to try a mini baler on my 2515.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

TYM 2515? I just did a review last night on one of them! The 2515 will handle everything we have just fine except for the drum mower. That thing is a beast....just cut my hay with it today! Thanks for watching.

[@TheRustyGarageandHomestead]

@@PineyGroveHomestead Yes Sir TYM 2515. Those machines are impressive on the loader after seeing Brocks video. i think the 2515 would excel with a sickle bar mower. I Hopefully will get my hay mowing/baling videos out this week.

[@fhuber7507]

Problem with those compact balers is they're $10,000 + Then the hay rake, tedder and mower for hay to go with it are also high dollar. The small farms that actually want small scale hay equipment could buy hay for 10 years before they pay as much as the cost of the mini equipment. Or get an old square baler and old Farmall with the old rake, tedder and haybine... for under $5000. 50 to 80 year old equipment that just keeps working.

[@fhuber7507]

You quote it as a $3000 baler... It's $8000 at the linked site. Don't BS us. I've looked at these things before many places and this is the first time I've seen one listed below $10,000 But Tractor Tools doesn't include shipping and the others did.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Small price to pay for haying independence. Not everything is about "money" or "cheap"

[@jpoppinga8417]

Finally some one gets it. You will never break even on equipment like this. The cost of the equipment and the scale of your operation. You're better off buying hay. Now if you have money burning a hole in your pocket. By all means whatever makes you happy. But call it the toy that it is. As already said you can buy a lot of hay for the cost of this. And the beauty of buying hay is you can pick what you buy. Or spend $20k to screw around and take whatever hay you get.

[@privers5227]

A couple shims in the hydraulic pressure relief valve to preload the spring so that it makes the relief pressure higher and your loader will lift more. These things are engineered past what they are capable of out of the box. Obviously do at your own risk.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes, you can boost the lift capacity, but I don't want to do that. I'd rather buy a tractor that lifts more!

[@tacomas9602]

I don’t see the point I round bales this tiny. An old hayliner would be my personal choice but I cannot deny that little baler is awesome. Seems to work good

[@robertlong7033]

I agree. An awful lot of money tied up in a very load yield setup. Can't possibly be profitable if a person actually had to BUY this junk.

[@c46236]

I use a similar baler, chinese production. First they are expensive for the results, especialy that it did not proved to be reliable, and has alot of small issues that you need to know the workarround for. However this branded model may be better, due selected supply source(some of this balers are better), also due especially the selections of parts spare that are readily available.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I get lots of comments that people are baling 1000s of bales without issue with these balers.

[@floridagunrat1625]

I'm curious to see how well bahia grass will bale?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Here is our video from last year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXcioavapWWnac

[@King_TuTT]

looks nice...but something with less moving parts and is more basic may have better reliability?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

These have a good reputation....they use them for pine straw baling too! Thanks for watching.

[@thomasthorn1011]

Yes you can trip it by hand

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

Good thing you had Rim Guard loaded tires!!!

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes sir.....that was the difference!

[@davidkendall589]

Wouldn't a scissor jack work just fine for installing those wheels?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Yes, but at some point the whole unit has to be picked up to get it out of the crate. You can't hook your 3pt hitch to it because of the way it's mounted on the angle iron.

[@wildbill23c]

Yes.

[@idaueding1825]

That is so cool. Love 💕 it

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardbennick3120]

Sir, getting ready to buy one of these mini balers next week. Looking at the IHI unit in your other videos and the Ibex you are showcasing in this video along with the Farm Maxx unit. Any comments or thoughts going forward for a person trying to decide between them? Thanks.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Honestly, I don't have enough time with the IHI or the IBEX to guide you but that IHI seemed to be very finnicky. Could have been all my fault, but that was a frustrating baling day. I feel like Tractor Tools Direct will support you the best out of all the other retailers because this is not only their business but their passion. I don't get a commission so it doesn't help me to say that.....I just have to make videos. I just used the IBEX drum mower today and it worked flawlessly.

[@richardbennick3120]

​@PineyGroveHomestead Thank you, Sir. If you gain any experience within the next week with that new unit, I would love to hear it.

[@guillermosanchez5826]

I personally own the IHI. It is an amazing machine. It can be finicky. I use it for pinestraw. The conditions are worse than in hay. And the baler is holding up good. I have made close to 90k+ bales in those two years. I haven't used the ibex but they seem similar.

[@richardbennick3120]

@guillermosanchez5826 thanks for the feedback. Was gonna order the IHI unit the other day but heard about the hurricane that is working its way to Texas....where I'm ordering from. Will wait a few days, and hopefully, the storm doesn't do much damage.

[@guillermosanchez5826]

@richardbennick3120 the guys at small farm innov. there in Texas are good. I use them to get all my parts. I bought mine in GA. They are supplied from them in Texas too

[@Kingfisher62]

Why not a square baler ?

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Expensive.

[@wildbill23c]

@@PineyGroveHomestead Those Ibex balers, rakes, and mowers aren't cheap either. You can find a used square baler for less money, or if you live in a farm town you probably could just borrow the neighbor's LOL. Those mini-implements are ridiculously priced....for a niche market of sales it makes no sense for most people to buy those types of implements, unless you have some sort of special reason, regular sized implements make more sense, plus being able to get parts locally is a huge deal too. The only thing with those tiny bales is younger kids can pick them up and move them around VS the regular square bales that require more muscle to move...square bales are easier to stack too. Another issue with those tiny round bales...THEFT....if you bale you better be out there picking them up at the same time, otherwise they'll find their way off your property overnight in some places...that's why quite a few farmers where I live switched to the big square bales and big round bales...you ain't picking them up and walking off with them like you can the small square bales, or those mini round bales.....hay theft became a pretty big problem in my area a few years ago as hay prices skyrocketed. I always wanted one of those mini round balers though they didn't exist back when I had horses....at that time I had 2 acres, and called the place a mini-ranch....would have been fun to have a mini-baler at the time, but it don't make any financial sense to have something like that for small hobby farms I don't think. A regular square baler would make more sense in terms of money spent I would think.

[@mycenae2]

LOL, the baler hanging from that chain costs a lot more than 3-5 thousand dollars...

[@JosephBigsky]

I like hay bailers😅

[@zetamale7952]

A couple years ago, IBex baler was around $14,000. Currently they're around $7,000. Still too expensive to get into it with the cost of the other implements needed. A lot of work and learning required also. Yep. Talked out of it again. I have about 4 acres of unkept hayfield which is another bit of work to get into shape, a lot of small trees and pricker bushes. Too many projects going on already. You'd think all the time in the world would be yours after you retire. That's not true kids. The older we get the faster time goes then after retiring the weeks go by like days.

[@samson1090]

Nice well made video other than seeing it function. On the fence between new or used, it would bale my 40 or so acres of hay field on the farm well enough for my needs most of my farm is an 11 acre pond woods and 4 paddocks. Thinking new it should last until I am to old to use it. My tractors are 40 H.P. Ford 2110, 60 H.P. closed station 2660 Mahindra. 75 H.P. Ford 5000. 2110 to cut 5000 to rake 2660 to bail. Like my A/C. Need this before cattle previous owner had 100 head I want less than 6 head. Its hayed now they get about 175 half ton bales plus or minus a dozen or so per year 1 fall cut. Should have been born rich work 50 years 37 so far get all you need and want then your to danged old to use it. T.M.I. anyway liked the review.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We baled with it on the 4th of July (video coming soon). It was flawless.

[@JosephBigsky]

I mean I,like watching hay bailers😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Don't miss this one then! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4Ktf3lprKugY7c

[@JohnSmith-lw2bm]

Maybe show it baling???

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

We baled on July 4th.....video coming soon.

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

Why would you not just cut the front metal brackets off that pallet and then connect it to the 3pl to lift it.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

That's a lot of cutting and then it would fall forward unless you held up the front of the baler.

[@Marcs-Adventures]

I would have had to use a hydraulic jack with a piece of wood and lifted one side at a time and then the front last. :) Great video as always.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I hear you but not sure how that gets it out of the crate!!! I'm just glad the Kubota lifted it. Thanks for watching!

[@Marcs-Adventures]

@@PineyGroveHomestead True. Not that I have a need for a baler but I would have put it on the 3pt and lifted it out if there was room. If not, then yes only choice is the bucket. I always seem to be using the Mcgaiver route. LOL

[@DarylRosenberg01]

a WHOLE video and no footage of it working

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

works like this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXcioavapWWnac

[@benwillmoth2957]

If this was a sponsorship, ok. But this will never make sense vs buying older equipment suited for making real bales for a fraction of the price.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Not everyone wants to work on old equipment. They sell enough of these that it's their core business.

[@thomashanke6750]

Enough with the drama, just lift the damn thing.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

That was 30 seconds of the video......

[@calamitycoccyx2127]

We rolled 58 net-wrapped 4x5s yesterday afternoon (June 28th). At 725lbs each, that's 21 tons of hay. That will feed a lot of livestock. To bale, we required three operators, three tractors, and three machines (a tedder, a rake, and a baler). However, with the miniature equipment in this video, we would have still required three operators, three tractors, and three machines, but we would have produced, what, perhaps one ton of hay? This is not economically feasible. This miniature equipment might suit eccentric millionaires or hobbyists determined to be self-sufficient or those who are intimidated by big machines, but economically feasible haymaking requires a resource-intensive, cooperative effort-- haymakers working together diligently with big machines to cover big tracts of land to realize big yields.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

2 totally different purposes. The problem us small acreage farms have is that we can't get the custom balers to come work our 5-20 acres. They want big 100 acre tracts where they can make money....and I don't blame them. So it's either buy hay or be self-sufficient with the satisfaction of knowing where your hay came from. There is room for both in the world!

[@calamitycoccyx2127]

@@PineyGroveHomestead I understand the problem, and I understand the longing for self-sufficiency. Haymaking equipment, full-sized or miniature, requires constant maintenance and a steady stream of repair parts, which makes the owner beholden to the manufacturer(s) and probably one or more mechanics. Therefore, merely owning all the necessary equipment provides only the illusion of self-sufficiency. Since haymaking requires multiple operators and a lot of expensive equipment (multiple tractors, mower, tedder, rake, baler), most hobbyists would be better off either (1) buying their hay, or (2) allowing professional haymakers a split of the hay for their services, or (3) forming a cooperative with neighboring, like-minded farmers and hobbyists. If, for example, four hobbyists each purchased (and maintained) just one full-sized piece of equipment and one tractor, then they could reduce their costs and work together to make hay. Each haymaker could then concentrate his (or her) efforts on learning how to maintain just one tractor and one piece of equipment. Each farmer's dependency for repair parts would be limited to one piece of equipment and one manufacturer. Furthermore, each farmer would only need barn-space to store one tractor and one piece of equipment. To remove single-points of failure, it would be optimal if each coop member owned TWO machines. Haymaking machines will almost always breakdown while haymaking and bring the operation to a complete halt. With redundancy, a coop member can go retrieve the backup machine and get the operation moving again. A one-day delay due to equipment failure can bring in rain and total loss of the hay (plus the need to clean up the ruined crop). For sure, there is no easy solution, for haymaking is complex and resource-intensive, but cooperation & teamwork historically produces better results than a quest for self-sufficiency.

[@nickc7320]

Why couldn't you use one tractor and just take your time getting it together if it's a small pasture? Minus weather conditions of course.

[@koabd4351]

Small farm solution, much cheaper than needed stuff Allis Chalmers D14 ( with loader) sickle mower or small 7' cut haybine, old New Holland 56 rake , and a small square baler . Boom 1 tractor ,1 operator , tons of bales in short time

[@calamitycoccyx2127]

@@koabd4351 A full-size, small-square baler is (in my opinion) far superior to a miniature round baler. It requires only 25HP to operate, so even a small tractor can power it. Small squares and small rounds weigh about the same (roughly 40-50 pounds), but the small squares stack better on a trailer as well as in the barn. With just one tractor, the haymaker must rake out the entire pasture, drop the rake, hook up the square baler, and then make squares. If the dew burns off at 11am and returns at 7pm, then this haymaker has an 8-hour window to make quality hay; he can rake for 2 hours, spend .5 hours swapping machines, and then bale for 5.5 hours. On the other hand, with two tractors & two operators, the rake man can begin raking at 11am, and the baler operator can immediately fall in behind the rake and bale for the full 8 hours. The first scenario is risky in that the haymaker must accomplish all his raking before he can begin to bale. So he has 2 miles of windrows in the field... when a popup summer shower comes along and rains on all of it. Now what? I hope he has a tedder so he can swap machines, spread it all out again, and try to bale it tomorrow, because now it's getting dark and the dew is setting. With two tractors, the rakeman need only stay 50 yards ahead of the baler operator. Haymakers have zero control over the weather. Therefore, it is best to plan for the inevitable, which is unexpected midday precipitation.

[@onceANexile]

Wheres the beef, i mean bales??

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

baling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpXcioavapWWnac

[@ScottButler-q1h]

The cost of "little" is so extreme....ugh

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Nothing farm related is cheap!! But you can't put a price on freedom....well, maybe you can!

[@robertlong7033]

An awful lot of money tied up in a very low production setup. No way this would be profitable if a person actually had to BUY this junk rather than have it given to you to use to make videos.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

The bale is similar sized to a square bale. Thousands of these balers are sold every year. Just because you don't like it or understand it doesn't make it junk.

[@robertlong7033]

@@PineyGroveHomestead Show me how it's profitable in direct head to head competition in the hay market where sales are based on tons not just individual bales. Not just the niche market Oh and BTW. Did you actually pay full market value for that stuff?

[@jpoppinga8417]

​@@robertlong7033 These mini balers are a fun toy but that's about it. You'd have to bale 1500 bales just to break even on the baler. And that's not the cost of the rake or baler. And if you're putting up that much hay there are better options. For that matter hire it baled.

[@ricknaegele2144]

That’s not a tractor. It’s a boat anchor.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Thousands of happy Kubota owners would disagree.

[@ricknaegele2144]

@@PineyGroveHomestead years ago maybe. You want to pay 8000 more go ahead. TYM, Kioti, all kicking their butt.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

@@ricknaegele2144 Actually, they are not. John Deere and Kubota are out-selling all of those manufactures.....it's not even close. Personally I don't care what tractor anyone buys, but facts are facts.

[@fullers1966]

You guys every now and then mention about God just wondering maybe you could put a Bible verse at the end of your videos like a few others are doing

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Deb usually has a bible verse or saying on her shirt! Thanks for watching!