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Western Oregon | The local lawn and garden store doesn't stock the Freeman parts. When Allied first bought Freeman they would not let you pick parts up at the factory any more. I buy parts from Robbins at Baker City (which is not out of state) I got a little wound up.
I've had a love-hate relationship with the old 200's. We were pushing them pretty hard for a specific market. Heavy 2-tie perfectly clean wheat straw bales which went to Canada. It really wore out the balers. But you really can't kill the baler. I've put new liners in the chamber several times, welded up the plunger, put a new top in the bale chamber. I've toured the factory a couple times when it was J.A. Freeman in downtown Portland. They were basically a really big fabrication shop.
The 200 model has some issues with the feed system resulting in bent bales in certain crops and conditions and requiring lots of adjusting to fix, but otherwise is a good design.
They are the only really heavy duty 2-tie baler, possibly the only 2-tie baler with an engine.
You compare this little Hesston 7115 with a Freeman and you can't believe the Hesston doesn't fly apart! The old Freeman will also handle pretty huge windrows-as long as they are not too wide.
And the Freeman can make really nice bales-if they are not bent. The alfalfa bales I made were nice and square and stacked really good. I was trying to make lighter bales and it did very well. Plus, when I baled too dry it kept the leaves on much better than the Hesston. I think if I use the Freeman I will not have to stay up till 3 a.m. to bale my 20 acres of alfalfa... | |
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Freeman small balers
