equinekingdom

Hi everyone!

I just got a bucket loader hay spear for my Ford 4000 tractor (55 hp), since we just got a hay barn put up that's nice and tall, so we can stack and store our round bales in it.

We got hay from several different sources, and the tractor stacked up the 5x6 orchard grass round bales just fine, 2 high, 3 wide. However, it's unable to pick up the 4x5 fescue bales. Like, it can't even pick them up off the ground. Any advice? we have a front end loader with a bucket, and the spear is two-pronged, 48" spikes.

It lifts them up about a foot off the ground, but you can't tilt the bucket at all when the spear is in the bale, and once it reaches the highest it can lift it, the bucket and arms and bale start dropping back down until it hits the ground. Makes moving and stacking them pretty darn hard. I think the bales weight about 1200 pounds, but i'm honestly not sure and have no way of weighing them, realy.

Would putting a counterweight on the back of the tractor, like a bush hog, help? It's a HUGE tractor, the back tires are about 5' tall but I don't think they're weighted or have fluid in them (how the heck do you get fluid in tractor tires??).

Also we think there might be a leak in the hydraulic fluid line. would that prevent the loader from being able to lift something that heavy? and why would it work for the orchard grass bales but not the fescue?

I'm sure I left pertinent details out, so if you can help me and you have other questions, please let me know!!!! it's raining tomorrow so I won't have to go out and move them until thursday or friday or saturday, so please, advise away!!

Thanks so much!!