Hay bale spear attachments - how long do the spears need to be?

[LarkspurCO]

I am looking at this type of attachment for my tractor, to move 3x3x8 bales of grass hay (700 lbs). The bales are actually 32 inches wide across the short side that I will be spearing.

http://www.palletforks.com/unitedattachments/united-attachments-skidsteer-attachments/uaqahs-s27c1-hay-bale-spear-attachment.html

I borrowed a similar implement to make sure my tractor could lift the bales, but the one I borrowed had longer spikes than I need (44 inches of the tines exposed). I was able to lift the bale with only a little more than half of the spear poking in but didn’t try moving or stacking it.

I believe the 27 inch spear length includes the sleeve, so only about 22 inches of the spear would be extending from the frame. Is that long enough or do I need to order longer spears? They also have 32" and 39" lengths.

Because I am destructive and accident-prone, I do not want the spears poking out the other side of the bale, and I’ll only be moving one bale at a time and stacking no more than two high.

Thanks for any input.

[Simkie]

I think you want the leverage of the spear all the way through the bale (but I could be wrong.) Longer spears are also super handy for OTHER things…we have a wooden deck that goes over for moving big, heavy objects.

I thought three spears would be better than two, but two is better. Less force required to get the spears into the hay. The middle spear comes off when we do hay here.

[LarkspurCO]

Ah, I was wondering about the number of spears. Maybe I should start with two. If they poke past the bale I am guaranteed to have holes in the side of my barn. :lol:

I measured how deep the borrowed spears went – about 27 inches. I lifted the bale as high as I would ever want to lift one. I am thinking I will need the 32" spears. I guess I will call and talk to them about it.

I can see how this tool could be useful as a pallet fork type implement, though I can’t think of what I would be moving. I like the idea of tractor jousting.

[airhorse]

If you are considering moving 2 at a time, get a bale spear with a higher back to keep the top bale from rolling back on to you.

http://www.hayspear.com/product/JD400_500_3_SP_39_HR/John-Deere-quich-attach-200cx-300-400-500-hay-fork-w-3-39-spears.html

[LarkspurCO]

I can only move one at a time with my tractor, but thank you.

[crosscreeksh]

Take a pool “noodle” and slip over the spear before you stab the bale and you will have an idea how far in to push the spears jn…just a thought. Two spears would probably suit you better.

[Bluey]

I use standard flat pallet forks, not spears, two of them and they work fine for all big bales.
They are 36" long and I have extensions that make them 5" long if necessary, that I can slip over them, but would not be as good to spear a big bale with them.

Standard pallet forks are better, because you can use them for, well, pallet forks also and safely carry pallets with all kinds of stuff on them.

700 is small for a big bale, ours run closer to 1500 the biggest ones.

[Tom_King]

I like one spear, and that not one of the fat ones. Depending on the bale, you often don’t need to go all the way through. I wouldn’t count on always getting bales exactly the same. Longer is often better too.

[Tom_King]

Depending on how the spear is attached, it shouldn’t be too hard to change it to a different length later. I built my attachment using a spear from Agri-Supply.

http://www.agrisupply.com/product.aspx?p=49601&sid=asf10&eid=Easf10&utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchAdv&zmam=77232640&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=49601&gclid=CjwKEAjw8e2sBRCYte6U3suRjFESJAB4gn_gIocqxGgcxLlcSpZqYXqXZ4YP0vl5K3XUiTLV7tnbAxoCBpbw_wcB

[LarkspurCO]

Tom, what sort of bales are you moving with only one spear? Rounds?

I chatted with the people at Titan Manufacturing today. They had sold out of the other model I was looking at but had a similar one that is less expensive, so I ordered it with three 32" spears:

http://www.palletforks.com/skid-steer-attachments/hay-spear-attachments/hd-skid-steer-universal-hay-spear-attachment.html#.VZyYuPlVhBc

I’ll probably attach two of the spears and if that works well just keep the third as a spare. If they aren’t long enough I will kick myself and exchange them for longer spears. But I’m pretty sure these will do, and I need to maneuver in a tight area, so I opted for shortest useful length.

My tractor won’t handle anything larger than a 3x3x8, and that is mostly what is available here, so I won’t be needing a bigger tool. The farmer I am buying from is young and from a farming family that’s been growing hay way out in BFE for many generations. Hopefully he will outlive my horses and I will never have to buy from anyone else!

I will let everyone know if I end up impaling any horses or goats or adding unplanned ventilation to the barn.

[Bombproof]

Get the longer spears because you may need them someday. Then buy two pieces of galvanized pipe big enough to slip over the spears and put flanges on them. Like this: http://www.supplyhouse.com/Jinan-J-BLFF-05-1-2-Black-Floor-Flange?gclid=CjwKEAjwlPOsBRCWq5_e973PzTgSJACMiEp2GvhzNwGguIx0WbCEzuvHP5h7c4HRV0iyy29LJfIvFhoCSCbw_wcB
Slip the pipe over the spear with the flange toward the tip to limit how far the spear penetrates. If you need a longer spear, pull the pipe off.

[tangledweb]

[QUOTE=Bombproof;8220153]
Get the longer spears because you may need them someday. Then buy two pieces of galvanized pipe big enough to slip over the spears and put flanges on them…[/QUOTE]

No. If you are already marginal for tractor lifting capacity, you want the bale as close to the center of gravity of the tractor as you can, not spaced out.

Short spears will be fine. If things ever change and you need to move 6’ deep bales and they seem droopy you’ll be able to buy longer spears and replace them.

[Tom_King]

Yes, rounds. I can stack them higher sometimes by only partially inserting the spear, so that the spear can rotate and the bale mostly stay level, or at least level enough to place it. Then that row of bales can be taken down the same way. Having only one allows you to roll the bale a little one way or the other stacking.

Tractor can lift 2500 lb. I never pay much attention to how much the bales weigh, just quality in net wrap is what I look for.

[Bombproof]

[QUOTE=tangledweb;8220256]
No. If you are already marginal for tractor lifting capacity, you want the bale as close to the center of gravity of the tractor as you can, not spaced out.

Short spears will be fine. If things ever change and you need to move 6’ deep bales and they seem droopy you’ll be able to buy longer spears and replace them.[/QUOTE]

True. Did he say he was marginal on lifting capacity? I missed that part. You don’t want the lever arm to be too long if your tractor is already struggling.

[LarkspurCO]

[QUOTE=Bombproof;8220910]
True. Did he say he was marginal on lifting capacity? I missed that part. You don’t want the lever arm to be too long if your tractor is already struggling.[/QUOTE]

Yep, she did. Tractor is small, but mighty. The bale stabber came by FedEx today and worked perfectly. It was awkward at first but once I got the hang of it I got the hay unloaded and stacked without any casualties.

The short length is perfect, and I only used two spears.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;8223926]
Yep, she did. Tractor is small, but mighty. The bale stabber came by FedEx today and worked perfectly. It was awkward at first but once I got the hang of it I got the hay unloaded and stacked without any casualties.

The short length is perfect, and I only used two spears.[/QUOTE]

Good for you!

FELs are life savers, are they, especially with the right attachments.

[Simkie]

Yay!

FWIW, we have the hay forks from Titan, too, and have been very happy with them for our little tractor that can also just do a 3 x 3 large bale

[LarkspurCO]

Yes, my new tractor and loader are turning out to be very handy indeed. I rarely used the old tractor for anything other than mowing because it was falling apart and difficult to operate.

Good to know you like the Titan forks Simkie. The first one I was looking at had skinnier tines. These are fatter and looked like they might be too fat but seem to be working okay. I think it will also be handy for moving corral panels around.