Hugh- What do you know about a IH 241 baler?

Overall Performance: Overall functional performance of the International Harvester 241 round baler was good. Ease of operation was fair while ease of adjustment was good. Operation of the twine wrapping mechanism was good.

Capacity: Average field speeds varied from 6 to 16 km/h (3.8 to 10.0 mph) while average throughputs varied from 1.7 to 7.5 t/h (1.9 to 8.3 ton/h). Maximum instantaneous feedrates up to 18 t/h (19.8 ton/h) were measured in heavy, uniform hay windrows. Ground speed was usually limited by pickup loss and not by baler capacity. Feeding was aggressive in most crops. In short wheat and barley straw, feeding was hesitant causing occasional plugging in front of the compression rollers.

Bale Quality: Bales were well formed and neat. The International Harvester 241 produced bales with an average length of 1.5 m (59 in) and an average diameter of 1.9 m (75 in). Hay bales weighed from 590 to 731 kg (1300 to 1610 lb) with an average density of 140 kg/m³ (8.7 lb/ft³).

Resistance of bales to moisture penetration was good. Peak power take-off requirements were about 19 kW (25 hp) in hay and straw on flat firm fields. More power was needed on soft or hilly fields.

Leaf Loss: Leaf loss was comparable to that of other large round balers. In heavy conditioned windrows at optimum moisture content, bale chamber loss was 2% while pickup loss was 1%. In light, dry unconditioned hay an average bale chamber loss as high as 15% and pickup loss of 16% can be expected. Heavy windrows, proper conditioning and baling at the maximum permissible moisture content all were important in reducing bale chamber loss.

Operator Safety: The International Harvester 241 was safe to operate if the manufacturer's safety recommendations were closely followed.

• Baler reviews

When I bought the 241 I debated quite a while as to whether it was the right move. I had been running a New Holland S-69 with thrower for close to 16-17 years. When I thought IH baler all I could visualize was the old IH 45 and all the troubles it gave. I didn't particularly like the idea of the NH round baler as I thought those chains would be just a source of unecessary noise as it got older. I procrastinated quite awhile on that one. By that time my farm was probably a 70% silage feeding system. Just had to get rid of the square bale labour or the lack of it.

There are numerous balers out there working on the principle of using low hp. I am not going to make any suggestions as I am out of touch, with what is good and what is not. I really can't see any need of any big round baler requiring big hp. I guess the only reason I can think of is to sell big hp. Amazing how we got it all done when Farmall M was a big tractor.

If you do happen by chance to find a good old 241 and the price is right. I have my original operators manual, I'll never use it now, send me an e mail, with your mailing address, if you need the manual. I may cross the lakes and the states to deliver.

Being involved a bit over the past 10 years in the trucking industry. I can say I hate over width loads. I think most people in the industry will say the same. None of us mind hauling an oversize load if the bucks are there. There will always be some over width loads, but I don't think the time is far off when the rules across North America are going to say, " If a commodity can be packaged 8 feet wide you will not be allowed to haul it over width."

I think you will find big round bales are already being watched very closely by authorities. I have never heard of a highway accident involving them, but periodically you see bales on roadside. No one ever claimes them. I guess the hauler decides if no one saw him loose it, no point in giving it away after the fact by reclaiming the bale. The penalties for loosing items off a truck are quite high, and so they should be.

• Baler reports.