How to pick a beauty – not a beast
How to pick a beauty – not a beast
Considering changing the
round baler before this
years silage season? Here,
we focus on a used Welger
RP200 with David Nicholson
of Stalham Engineering
providing the buying tips.
Andy Moore reports
Considering changing the
round baler before this
years silage season? Here,
we focus on a used Welger
RP200 with David Nicholson
of Stalham Engineering
providing the buying tips.
Andy Moore reports
GREATER bale density, better silage quality and increased reliability were considered to be the main selling points for Welgers RP200 round baler when it first rolled off the production line in 1992.
Superseding the RP12, the RP200 Farmer was equipped with more bale formation rollers to raise bale volume by 10% inside a fixed chamber.
"The RP200 is a vast improvement on the RP12 which was deemed unsuitable for baling straw," says David Nicholson of Stalham Engineering, based near Norwich. "The RP200 has 17 ribbed rollers which offer better grip for producing straw bales with greater density."
Although the baler received a number of mechanical tweaks over its six-year life, Welger says it is equally adept at producing high density hay and silage bales.
The baler produces a 1.25m x 1.23m (4ft x 4ft) bale with weights for hay and silage rated at 220kg and 400kg to 720kg, respectively. For those seeking even more density, Welger offers the Mastercut model which is armed with a 2m pick-up and chopping unit.
What are the main factors to consider when buying a second-hand RP200? "Choosing the best baler will inevitably come down to crop throughput and the type of material baled," says Mr Nicholson. "Some machines may have clocked up 3000 bales a season, with others seeing off as many as 20,000."
For this buyers guide, we concentrate on a three-year old RP200 which is in good nick, having knotched up about 17,000 bales.
When viewing a second-hand RP200 at an auction, farm or private sale, all the usual ground rules apply. "A quick glance over the balers exterior including panels, pick-up, drawbar and tyres will soon indicate whether the machine is a beauty or a beast," says Mr Nicholson. "If the baler has a healthy external appearance, peak underneath its panels to discover the state of its mechanics."
To ensure the baler is one of the later models, look out for a range of modifications, advises Mr Nicholson. These include beefier bearings and housings for the rollers, together with grease nipples fitted to tailgate catches and bale density linkage rods.
Further upgrades comprise a foam roller on top of the tying units to achieve more even net distribution, together with a beefier drive shaft going out of the main gearbox.
The accompanying pictures and captions indicate the key areas of the baler to look at when giving a second-hand RP200 the once-over. *
This tidy example of a Welger RP200 Farmer has clocked up about 17,000 bales over its three-year life. The machine should fetch about £5500 after two days and £1000 spent on it in the workshop.
The main drive chain is altered by three spring tensioners with adjuster bolts. Excessive chain wear will cause the spring to expand. Little thread left on the bolt may indicate the main drive chain needs replacing. Cost of a new one is £199.
Dont forget the basics… Paint still visible on the top of the pick-up will give an indication of the balers diet and crop throughput over its lifetime. Also check for broken or bent pick-up tines. Pick-up tines cost £1.92 and bushes £1.64.
Check the hinge between the baler body and the tailgate for any sign of cracks which can be caused by excessive vibration and bolts becoming loose. Cracks on this machine have been patched up with weld.
Give the twine tying assembly a good once over. Check chain tension on the twine tying unit, rollers for free-play and the twine flickers are not seized up. Make sure the net cutting knife pivots and is sharp.
Look for extra grease nipples. Later models have them fitted to tailgate catches and bale density linkage rods to prevent components seizing up.
Find out if the baler has an integral bearing fitted at the end of the drive shaft from the main gearbox. Earlier models were fitted with an external bearing which was weaker in construction.
The bottom tailgate roller can receive a lot of punishment from bales which do not roll clear of the chamber. Remove the drive chain and rotate the roller along with the others to ensure they run smoothly without any whine. Cost of two new bearings and roller is £343.
WELGERRP200 FARMER
Chamber Fixed
Bale size 1.25m x1.23m
Pick-up 1.50m*
Min horsepower 50
Silage 400 to 700kg
Tying Twine/net
*2m available on Mastercut model.
What to pay*
Throughput
High £2,000 to £3,500
Medium £5,500 to £6,000
Low £9,500 to £10,000
*Prices should be treated as a guide and will vary greatly according to machine condition.