Skid Loader-Mounted Hay Accumulator

Skid Loader-Mounted Hay Accumulator TRACTORS Skid Steer Loaders 31-3-28 "It has no moving parts on it so there's nothing to tear up or get out of adjustment," says Len Cagle, Canton, Georgia, about his new hay accumulator that's designed to mount on front of any skid loader or tractor. The patent pending "Out-Front" hay accumulator handles 8 to 10 small square bales of hay. Made from rectangular tubing, the unit is open on front and is divided into four compartments. Each compartment can hold two bales. To load bales, the operator simply lines up with a bale as he drives forward. Once all four compartments are full, two more bales can be added to form a tie stack by bumping one end of each bale with the unit's center divider, which causes the bale to turn sideways. The operator simply backs up to unload the stack. To pick up the bales, Cagle offers a quick-tach, loader-mounted bale grabber. "I came up with the idea because I'm in the custom hay making business and was looking for something better," says Cagle. "Most commercial accumulators are designed to pull behind a baler or tractor, but with my machine you never have to look back. Also, it maneuvers better on rolling ground and in thick hay. Pull-type accumulators don't work well if the hay is too thick and the bales too close together, because there isn't enough time for the different bale-loading mechanisms to work properly. That can cause the machine to plug up, and then you have to stop and straighten the bales out. "Pull-type accumulators have spring-loaded gates which often don't work well on hillsides. The springs get out of adjustment because the weight of the gate is pulling one way or the other which affects how well the gate works. And pull-type accumulators can slow the baler down so much that it's hardly worth using them. You can buy ground-driven models designed to pull behind a tractor but they have problems, too. They can be too wide for transport, and they also don't work well on steep ground." Another advantage of the simple design, says Cagle, is a less expensive price tag. "It sells for about $3,000 compared to $6,000 or more for pull-type models," he notes. The bale grabber also sells for $3,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Len Cagle, 1463 Curtis Road, Canton, Georgia. 30115 (ph 770 377-4158; ltcagle@alltel.net; www.out-fronthay.com).

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