Soft hands bale handler

cz527

Witch is the best lad

Sam Kade

Which witch is which
It depends what size tractor you have how fast the hydraulics are etc. They'll all do the job I have a paddle handle it does the job but if you had a lot of bales it would be a nightmare.

cz527

Sam Kade wrote: »

Which witch is which
It depends what size tractor you have how fast the hydraulics are etc. They'll all do the job I have a paddle handle it does the job but if you had a lot of bales it would be a nightmare.

398 massey with a q940 loader and I've a thousand bales a year

Reggie.

cz527 wrote: »

398 massey with a q940 loader and I've a thousand bales a year

Similar outfit to my own and I use a mchale soft hands. No bothers to her here anyways


image hosting site

Sam Kade

Reggie. wrote: »

Similar outfit to my own and I use a mchale soft hands. No bothers to her here anyways


image hosting site

You've her well polished up, there's no way I could follow that with a picture of my tractor.

Greengrass1

Sam Kade wrote: »

You've her well polished up

Bet reggie put the handler on just fir the photo :P

onyerbikepat

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Bet reggie put the handler on just fir the photo :P

And polished the tractor aswell.

cz527

Reggie. wrote: »

Similar outfit to my own and I use a mchale soft hands. No bothers to her here anyways


image hosting site

How much are they new

Reggie.

onyerbikepat wrote: »

And polished the tractor aswell.

Believe it or not that tractor hasn't been washed in 4 weeks. Needs a good scrub whenever I get the powerwasher back.

Reggie.

cz527 wrote: »

How much are they new

I think €1500 but I talked them down to €1400

cz527

Reggie. wrote: »

I think €1500 but I talked them down to €1400

Not to bad.and does any one no much about the quicke one

GiveMeStrength

They seem like a great job. I'm going to buy a handler for the loader in the next week or two and initially I was going for the one with the pipes but I read comments in an earlier thread about how much better these were, hence much research on you tube.

The only concern I'd have is for loading and unloading the old style 6 bale trailer with the pipes (bales loaded on the round). The 4 bales up front, would it be difficult to unload these with the soft hands type. I'd be drawing the bales unwrapped.

I'd prefer this type of handler as you can stack the bales on the ends. The elephant trunk type handler seems very good also, grabs the bale at either end. There is a yellow one advertised on done deal at the moment and I rang about it 1200 and I supply the loader brackets.

Carrigogunnell

if ur unloading unwrapped I don't think it would be a problem. Reggie that photo is doing the rounds definately saw it on 1 if not 2 other treads ha ha. The reason I have one is simply there quicker to load and unload a trailer and don't have to be in line to load off load I leave slight gaps between bales and the vision is much better so in out gone. Draw all bales wrapped.

Reggie.

Carrigogunnell wrote: »

if ur unloading unwrapped I don't think it would be a problem. Reggie that photo is doing the rounds definately saw it on 1 if not 2 other treads ha ha. The reason I have one is simply there quicker to load and unload a trailer and don't have to be in line to load off load I leave slight gaps between bales and the vision is much better so in out gone. Draw all bales wrapped.

Its the only one I have of the soft hands

Farmer

Reggie. wrote: »

Its the only one I have of the soft hands

You've whet our appetites now. We're eagerly awaiting the "How to load / unload a bale trailer in 2 minutes" video

Zr105

GiveMeStrength wrote: »

They seem like a great job. I'm going to buy a handler for the loader in the next week or two and initially I was going for the one with the pipes but I read comments in an earlier thread about how much better these were, hence much research on you tube.

The only concern I'd have is for loading and unloading the old style 6 bale trailer with the pipes (bales loaded on the round). The 4 bales up front, would it be difficult to unload these with the soft hands type. I'd be drawing the bales unwrapped.

I'd prefer this type of handler as you can stack the bales on the ends. The elephant trunk type handler seems very good also, grabs the bale at either end. There is a yellow one advertised on done deal at the moment and I rang about it 1200 and I supply the loader brackets.

You can stack them on their ends with the elephant trunk type as well, you just need somewhere to rest the bale down then catch the top corner with the front part of grab and you can roll it back towards you then squeeze it gently the other way to stack it, but more handling alright but gets there

Reggie.

Farmer wrote: »

You've whet our appetites now. We're eagerly awaiting the "How to load / unload a bale trailer in 2 minutes" video

That involves a tipper

yellow50HX

Reggie. wrote: »

That involves a tipper

My cousin did up a video of me loading a 20ft bale trailer with the digger. Was able to put up 20 bales of straw in about 8 mins. Had the bales in 2's and would put up 2 at a time as he drove the trailer to each pick up point. Average loading time was about 15 mins but we had them all close to the trailer for the 8 min job. Can unload the bale trailer and stack straw in his shed in 10 mins.

IH784man

GiveMeStrength wrote: »

They seem like a great job. I'm going to buy a handler for the loader in the next week or two and initially I was going for the one with the pipes but I read comments in an earlier thread about how much better these were, hence much research on you tube.

The only concern I'd have is for loading and unloading the old style 6 bale trailer with the pipes (bales loaded on the round). The 4 bales up front, would it be difficult to unload these with the soft hands type. I'd be drawing the bales unwrapped.

I'd prefer this type of handler as you can stack the bales on the ends. The elephant trunk type handler seems very good also, grabs the bale at either end. There is a yellow one advertised on done deal at the moment and I rang about it 1200 and I supply the loader brackets.

Did you buy,

I think the roller bale grab is a more useful option because you can lift bags of meal and meal bins,then you can take of the roller yoks and take two hay bales at the time if your at hay.

Reggie.

IH784man wrote: »

Did you buy,

I think the roller bale grab is a more useful option because you can lift bags of meal and meal bins,then you can take of the roller yoks and take two hay bales at the time if your at hay.

A normal double bale spike will lift two bales also

Nobbies

for anyone using a soft hands bale handler, do you stack one bale completely on another bale or is it partly on a 2nd bale? ie like if you were stacking tin cans.

Reggie.

Nobbies wrote: »

for anyone using a soft hands bale handler, do you stack one bale completely on another bale or is it partly on a 2nd bale? ie like if you were stacking tin cans.

Either really. Depends on farmer

RobinBanks

Good timing that this thread was resurrected.

I am in the market for a bale handler for the font loader. I have a JX90 with a Quickie Q10 loader. Some points that would effect my decision on the type to buy.

I draw home the bales wrapped, are some types better suited to carrying wrapped bales or is it all down to the driver.

My tractor struggle to lift bales 2 high onto normal flatbed trailer using the standard pipe bale handler. Would soft hands be even more difficult because its a higher lift for the loader.


I want to buy pallet forks for the front loader but thought the standard bale handle where you can remove the pipes would do the same job.

There is allot more pro's and cons for all types but what are peoples experiences and what is the preferred type?

adne

RobinBanks wrote: »

Good timing that this thread was resurrected.

I am in the market for a bale handler for the font loader. I have a JX90 with a Quickie Q10 loader. Some points that would effect my decision on the type to buy.

I draw home the bales wrapped, are some types better suited to carrying wrapped bales or is it all down to the driver.

My tractor struggle to lift bales 2 high onto normal flatbed trailer using the standard pipe bale handler. Would soft hands be even more difficult because its a higher lift for the loader.


I want to buy pallet forks for the front loader but thought the standard bale handle where you can remove the pipes would do the same job.

There is allot more pro's and cons for all types but what are peoples experiences and what is the preferred type?

Seeking same advice. Leaning towards quicke roller type

RobinBanks

adne wrote: »

Seeking same advice. Leaning towards quicke roller type

I got lend of a Quicke Flexibal handler when i was doing the bales. Loaded all the bales wrapped and I had no trouble at all so i am now buying one. Another benefit of this type is that the lad i am buying from said they can be used to split open a bale in the winter.

The one draw back of this design is that it is difficult to load and unload onto a pipe trailer, i tried and found it too slow because i couldn't really see. The soft hands would work better when using this type of trailer.

maidhc

The quicke handler looks very light! Id buy a Rossmore or something, they are far stronger.

Panch18

Apparently the TR3 elephant nose handler is the only way of handling large amounts of bales - and is way easier for loading and unloading a trailer

It's on my wishlist

mr.stonewall

Panch18 wrote: »

Apparently the TR3 elephant nose handler is the only way of handling large amounts of bales - and is way easier for loading and unloading a trailer

It's on my wishlist

Have one now in it's 3rd season. Super piece of kit, well designed and built. Super quick loading and unloading trailers, with no damage. Worth every penny over the soft paws or the pipe type. You'll have it for over 25 years with the build quality.

adne

RobinBanks wrote: »

I got lend of a Quicke Flexibal handler when i was doing the bales. Loaded all the bales wrapped and I had no trouble at all so i am now buying one. Another benefit of this type is that the lad i am buying from said they can be used to split open a bale in the winter.

The one draw back of this design is that it is difficult to load and unload onto a pipe trailer, i tried and found it too slow because i couldn't really see. The soft hands would work better when using this type of trailer.

Is it only an issue stacking wrapped bales on trailer?

RobinBanks

adne wrote: »

Is it only an issue stacking wrapped bales on trailer?

Ya just wrapped. Other that that it's fine. They are well built. Poster above said Rossmore but if ya want heavy duty then prodig is the strongest.

Have to consider what tractor handler will go on. TR3 great for big 6 cylinder tractor but for the lighter farmyard tractor it is a bit much in my opinion.

st1979

RobinBanks wrote:

Have to consider what tractor handler will go on. TR3 great for big 6 cylinder tractor but for the lighter farmyard tractor it is a bit much in my opinion.

It weighs 220kg for tr3 according to there website. Is it that the bale is further forward than a normal handler.
I was not convinced about them before. But now I am and will buy one. Only negative i see is the normal handler is handy to use to move pallets when you remove rollers plus great yoke for loading 2 bales of straw at a time.
My McHale is probably ready for retirement and will be used for those jobs but I think the tr3 looks great.

GrasstoMilk

st1979 wrote: »

It weighs 220kg for tr3 according to there website. Is it that the bale is further forward than a normal handler.
I was not convinced about them before. But now I am and will buy one. Only negative i see is the normal handler is handy to use to move pallets when you remove rollers plus great yoke for loading 2 bales of straw at a time.
My McHale is probably ready for retirement and will be used for those jobs but I think the tr3 looks great.

One of those is on the wish list here too. Have the McHale roller type one for 16 years now and still going well, but have a second loader tractor and it means borrowing a stacker to have 2 tractors drawing and stacking. Dont like borrowing things more than a few times.
Maybe next year!

White Clover

st1979 wrote: »

It weighs 220kg for tr3 according to there website. Is it that the bale is further forward than a normal handler.
I was not convinced about them before. But now I am and will buy one. Only negative i see is the normal handler is handy to use to move pallets when you remove rollers plus great yoke for loading 2 bales of straw at a time.
My McHale is probably ready for retirement and will be used for those jobs but I think the tr3 looks great.

Would the trunk damage the plastic on bales of soft short grass? Would you have to squeeze the bale too much?

mr.stonewall

White Clover wrote: »

Would the trunk damage the plastic on bales of soft short grass? Would you have to squeeze the bale too much?

You're grabbing the bale where there is the most plastic on the ends of the barrel. There is usually 20 layers of plastic here. With the pipes or the soft paws, you have have 4 or 6 layersof plastic. Baled some surplus Monday. (Pancake wet bales) had one left in field as it was uneven number for the trailer runs. Between the hops and trots, only picked it up on Thursday. No damage moving it to yard with the handler. Would have used 3 rolls of tape with any other handler.

Find that weight of bale is closer to tractor. You would want approx 110hp. Like with all bales and loaders, counterweight of some form

davidk1394

RobinBanks wrote: »

Good timing that this thread was resurrected.

I am in the market for a bale handler for the font loader. I have a JX90 with a Quickie Q10 loader. Some points that would effect my decision on the type to buy.

I draw home the bales wrapped, are some types better suited to carrying wrapped bales or is it all down to the driver.

My tractor struggle to lift bales 2 high onto normal flatbed trailer using the standard pipe bale handler. Would soft hands be even more difficult because its a higher lift for the loader.


I want to buy pallet forks for the front loader but thought the standard bale handle where you can remove the pipes would do the same job.

There is allot more pro's and cons for all types but what are peoples experiences and what is the preferred type?

Have the standard bale handler and soft hands, both are rossmore. Soft hands used the whole time even for feeding. The other one is only used for loading hay or straw.

Soft hands will hold the bale out further. Best thing that came into the yard. You can handle any type of bale. Load or stack them anyway you want.

Mooooo

Just on the bale handler where you can remove the rollers, they aren't suitable as pallet forks unless it's a light load as the prongs would bend under a heavy load on a pallet.

Panch18

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

One of those is on the wish list here too. Have the McHale roller type one for 16 years now and still going well, but have a second loader tractor and it means borrowing a stacker to have 2 tractors drawing and stacking. Dont like borrowing things more than a few times.
Maybe next year!

Are ye still doing all yer own bales Grass or is contractor doing most of it now?

adne

RobinBanks wrote: »

Ya just wrapped. Other that that it's fine. They are well built. Poster above said Rossmore but if ya want heavy duty then prodig is the strongest.

Have to consider what tractor handler will go on. TR3 great for big 6 cylinder tractor but for the lighter farmyard tractor it is a bit much in my opinion.

How does quicke compare to rossmore and prodig in cost.

I thought quicke/alo was the strongest build

mycro2013

adne wrote: »

How does quicke compare to rossmore and prodig in cost.

I thought quicke/alo was the strongest build

There all in around the same price. 1300 Inc vat +/- 100.

GrasstoMilk

Panch18 wrote: »

Are ye still doing all yer own bales Grass or is contractor doing most of it now?

Doing about 500 bales and 70 ish acres in the pit for the dry period.
Contractor doing a good bit of the work now. I convinced dad this year to let the contractor do the big baling jobs and he could do the few surplus pddks and straw ourselves.