We had one for a couple of years before moving to big square bales. Yes, the knitters did play up, but the packs were unstable and not great when working on slopes, they would fall over. The biggest problem was if a bale jammed. The machine hydraulics would stay under pressure, so you weren’t sure if you would be swiped by the arm, lifted or compressed. After one such near miss it was unhitched and never used again…..
Hi i am trying to find info in the McConnel bale slave, grab for the frond loader, picked up 6 bales at a time, trying to create a 3D model! got some rough measurements but could do with better ones, and some photos to.
Someone was still using something similar as seen when Jeremy Clarkson was told to move bales from a shed where the tillage was supposed to go, can’t mix the two apparently incase of fire.
I'd say it was the price. Larger operators who could afford this probably moved to large square or round bales pretty quickly when they first arrived so that left a market that couldn't afford the machine I'd say.
@@jeffjefferson3364 The weakness was often the baler between the tractor and the balepacker itself, it could break it trying to pull that thing behind it especially going up hills.
So cool! This kit was well ahead of it's time...... from the swrath shredder to the bale lifter!!! I wonder was there many used/sold
And powered by proper tractors 5000&7000
We had one for a couple of years before moving to big square bales. Yes, the knitters did play up, but the packs were unstable and not great when working on slopes, they would fall over.
The biggest problem was if a bale jammed. The machine hydraulics would stay under pressure, so you weren’t sure if you would be swiped by the arm, lifted or compressed. After one such near miss it was unhitched and never used again…..
Actually I have just been reading on Facebook about someone almost getting killed by one when he was working on it.
All ok on the big flats lands , but here in NE Scotland on the steeper farms it was basic bale sledges if lucky , and loading trailers by hand .
Hi i am trying to find info in the McConnel bale slave, grab for the frond loader, picked up 6 bales at a time, trying to create a 3D model! got some rough measurements but could do with better ones, and some photos to.
My Uncle, Chris Jeffery was with McConnel for very many years. I believe he was chief engineer or something similar.
It used the same twine as used by The Howard Bigbaler. 😉
Someone was still using something similar as seen when Jeremy Clarkson was told to move bales from a shed where the tillage was supposed to go, can’t mix the two apparently incase of fire.
@@glennlingard7851 No they were big square bales.
@@Mackeson3 cheers I’ll take a second look and get back to you, this particular scene I’m referring to was when the lorry’s turned up with fertiliser.
@@Mackeson3 look at the first episode Clarksons farm, 17 minutes in, thoughts?
Bloody hell you wouldn’t won’t the knotters playing up 🤣
The Howard Bigbaler (Which came out at the same time) was notorious for knotter problems . Don't ask me how I know! 🤬
You’d have to keep looking back or else you’d have some mess if a few broken bales went into that contraption.
Wow, I'd not seen one of these. What was the weakness?
I'd say it was the price. Larger operators who could afford this probably moved to large square or round bales pretty quickly when they first arrived so that left a market that couldn't afford the machine I'd say.
@@jeffjefferson3364 The weakness was often the baler between the tractor and the balepacker itself, it could break it trying to pull that thing behind it especially going up hills.