Why the John Deere 447 Round Baler is a Great Used Pick out

john deere 447 round baler

The particular john deere 447 round baler will be one of these pieces of equipment that just seems to hang around forever, and for great reason. If you're running a smaller cattle operation or just need to place up some hay for a several horses, you don't always need the particular biggest, flashiest, brand-new baler on the particular lot. Sometimes a person just need something that's going in order to start up every early morning, take those windrow, and spit out the decent 4x4 bale without providing you a headache. That's precisely where the 447 fits into the mix.

It's part of that 7-series family that Deere put out years ago, which really strike a sweet spot in terms associated with reliability and ease of use. Whilst there are definitely newer models along with more bells and whistles, the particular 447 includes a bit of a cult following among people who appreciate the machine they could actually work on themselves.

A Strong Mid-Size Machine That Just Works

Whenever we talk about the john deere 447 round baler , we're talking about the machine made to produce a bale that's 4 feet wide and up to 4. 5 ft in diameter. Regarding a lot of people, that 4-foot width is the "Goldilocks" size. It's easy to maneuver around with a smaller tractor, it suits perfectly on a standard trailer if you're hauling hay down the road, and it's workable within the barn.

The beauty of the 447 is its simplicity. It's a vertical chamber baler, which means it starts the core of the bale immediately. This helps in making those tight, dense bales that shed water well if you have to leave all of them out during a call intended for a bit. In the event that you've ever treated with a "soft-core" bale that turns into a mushroom the second it hits the ground, you know the reason why a good starting chamber matters.

Why the four wheel drive bale size is definitely so popular

Most of us aren't farming thousands of acres. If you've got a 50 or 60-horsepower tractor, you might struggle with a huge 5x6 bale. The particular john deere 447 round baler doesn't demand a massive power flower to run. A person can hook this thing as much as an utility tractor plus it'll hum best along. Plus, those smaller bales are just easier in order to handle when it comes time in order to feed. You don't need a massive skid steer to proceed them across the feed lot; a smaller spear will do the key just fine.

Twine vs. World wide web Wrap: The 447 Options

One particular of the huge things you'll run into when looking at an used 447 is the covering system. Back when they were being offered new, you could get them with just twine, or you can opt for the "CoverEdge" world wide web wrap system.

If a person find one along with net wrap, you're probably going to be a great deal happier at the particular end of a long day. World wide web wrap is simply faster—plain and easy. You spend less period sitting in the seat waiting for the twine arm to shift backwards and forwards, and even more time actually baling hay. However, twine-only models are away there and they're usually a bit cheaper. If a person aren't in the substantial rush and wish to save some money upon the initial purchase, a twine-only john deere 447 round baler isn't a bad strategy to use.

Having said that, the net cover on these older Deere machines is usually surprisingly reliable. It isn't as finicky as some of the early systems from other brands. This stays tight, covers the edges from the bale well, and makes for a much prettier product if you're preparation on selling several of your surplus existe.

Looking Underneath the Side Panels

If you're away looking at a good used john deere 447 round baler , you've got in order to be a slight private eye. These machines are usually tough, however they aren't immortal. The first thing We always tell people to look at is usually the belts.

Exploring the devices and laces

The belts are usually the heart of this machine. You want to look for any kind of fraying along the sides or deep cracks in the silicone. More importantly, appearance at the laces (the metal videos that hold the ends of the belts together). When the laces are looking thin or the pins are around to snap, that's a job you'll be doing in the field under a sizzling sun—which is never ever fun. If the particular belts are weathered and "alligatoring, " you might be looking at a few thousand dollars to replace the whole set, so maintain that in mind when you're haggling within the price.

The pickup reel and teeth

Next, take a look at the particular pickup. The john deere 447 round baler provides a pretty durable pickup, but those teeth take a beating, especially if the prior owner liked to operate the header lacking in rocky floor. Check for missing teeth and discover if the camera tracks are worn out. In case you listen to a loud "clunk-clunk-clunk" when the pickup is spinning, that's a sign that will the bearings or the cam fans are on their own way out. It's not really the finish of the particular world to correct, yet it's an oily, tedious job.

Real-World Operation: Exactly how It Feels in the Field

Driving a tractor with the john deere 447 round baler behind it is usually a pretty straightforward experience. One associated with the things Deere got right with this particular series was the monitoring system. The BaleTrak monitor is usually pretty intuitive. It gives you all those little bars that will tell you if you need to steer a bit more to the particular left or right to fill the particular bale evenly.

If you've never baled hay before, that may sound like a minor thing, but it's actually huge. In the event that you don't "weave" and fill all those edges, you finish up having a bale that seems like a giant marshmallow—fat in the middle and skinny within the ends. Those bales don't stack well and they drop apart easily. The particular 447 makes it quite easy to obtain a nice, square-shouldered bale every time.

One more thing you'll notice could be the "shucking" of the bale. When that gate starts and the bale rolls out, the 447 usually clears it well without having needing a bale kicker, though a few models ask them to. It's a smooth operation that doesn't feel as if the machine will be straining itself in order to death.

Upkeep Suggestions to Keep Your 447 Spinning

I can't stress and anxiety this enough: grease is definitely cheap, steel will be expensive. The john deere 447 round baler has a number of grease zerks that actually need attention each day you're in the field. Especially the bearings on the main rollers. If one of these seizes up, you're not just stopping for the day time; you might be looking at a fireplace if things obtain hot enough.

Also, monitor the particular chains. A bit of string lube goes the long way. You want these to possess just a little bit of slack but not a lot that they're slapping the particular casings. I always maintain a few spare links and the chain tool in the john deere tractor accessories sale just in case.

Lastly, blow it out! At the end of the day, consider a leaf motorized inflator or an air compressor to the within the machine. Hay dust and skin like to settle within the areas around the twine hands and the net wrap rollers. Maintaining it clean doesn't just prevent fire; this also keeps the particular moisture from sitting against the metal plus causing rust during the off-season.

Is the 447 Right for Your Farm?

So, should you pull the trigger on the john deere 447 round baler ? In case you're searching for a dependable, no-nonsense machine that will makes a four wheel drive bale, it's hard to beat. It's an excellent "entry-level" baler for someone who is usually sick and tired of paying the particular neighbor to bale their hay yet doesn't want in order to spend $40, 000 on a brand-new 450M.

Certain, it doesn't have a touchscreen or automatic greasers, but it has something better: a successful track report. Parts are obtainable at pretty much every John Deere dealership within the country, and just about any old-school mechanic knows how to timed the string arms.

In a world where everything is becoming overly complicated with sensors and software, there's some thing really satisfying regarding the mechanical simplicity of the 447. It's a workhorse, basically. Treat it right, retain it greased, and it'll most likely still be producing bales long after the newer, "smarter" machines have been traded set for some thing else. If a person find one that's been kept below a roof plus hasn't had ten thousand bales tell you it, jump upon it. You won't regret it.