PRACTICAL TEST: The McHale 998 wrapper is designed for wrapping big square bales – at speed. It uses its own independent hydraulic system and conveyor loading to generate sufficient performance to keep up with high-output big square balers
If size was the only criterion, then the McHale 998 would certainly top the wrapper pile. A veritable whoppa, she stands 3m wide, more than 6m long, 3.5m high, and weighs in at almost 3,900kg.Why so big and bulky? Well, McHale puts this down to the amount of metal and sophistication needed to wrap two bales in the one package. Other than that, to the casual observer the 998 operates in much the same way as most other square bale wrappers that employ a substantial pair of rollers, twin satellite arms and two film dispensers. There are differences, though. For starters, the 998 applies layers of film according to the size of each individual bale – by measuring the physical dimensions of each bale with potentiometers, located on both sides of the machine. Most other makers count the number of times the satellite arms spin past a particular point.
Another distinguishing feature is the 998’s conveyor loading system – the key to impressive 998 output performance and a further reason
for the machine’s hefty all-up weight. From the front, a drawbar mounted ram swings the machine into an offset position, and it’s in this position that the conveyor is ready to start gathering up bales. Control of both the drawbar and conveyor comes from the powering tractor’s hydraulics.
