The McHale F5-500 Fixed Chamber Baler Range consists of 4 models;
• F5-540 – Non-Chopper Baler
• F5-550 – 15 Knife Chopper Baler
• F5-560 – 25 Knife Chopper Baler
• F5-560 Plus – 25 Knife Chopper Baler with Film Binding Technology
Offering innovative ideas to allow you to work smarter, whilst achieving more output, the McHale name has become synonymous with the production of robust and reliable machines, making McHale the number one choice for professional users.
Download Product PDFThe McHale F5-550 is a semiautomatic, 15 knife chopper Fixed Chamber Baler, which comes fitted with automatic progressive greasing as standard. It is equipped with a i-Control 5 terminal, which allows the operator to control features such as drop floor and knife position. Bale density can now be adjusted on the terminal in the tractor cab. The machine is fitted with 500/50-17 tyres as standard.
2.1m Profi-Flo Pick-Up | 15 Knife Chopper Rotor | Drop Floor Unblocking System |
18 Roller Bale Chamber |
50mm & 55mm Bale Chamber Bearings* | 1′-1/4″ Chain on the Bale Chamber |
Automatic Progressive Greasing System |
Dual Feed Net System |
Continuous Oiler System |
i-Control 5 Console or ISOBUS (Optional) |
500/50-17 Tyres | 15 Knife Chopper Unit |
Knife Pressure Display | Knife Position Sensor | Drop Floor Sensor |
*Bearings are 55mm double raced on the main load points |
McHale have created their highest output pick-up for the F5 range. The new Profi-Flo pick-up has been designed to increase crop intake through more efficient crop flow and has been engineered to ensure end users are operating with a high-performance pick-up that is designed to suit various working conditions.
Over the last decade, McHale has designed and developed various types of pick-ups. After extensive testing, McHale decided it will offer customers the choice of 2 pick-up options depending on their working conditions:
As standard, a cam operated 2.1m high-intake galvanised pick-up ensures excellent ground cleaning in all types of crop. The cam pick-up runs on a cam track that is fitted with double raced cam bearings to stand up to the most testing of conditions.
All cam pick-ups across the McHale Fixed Chamber Baler Range are fitted with 5 tine bars for excellent ground cleaning and delivery of crop to the bale chamber. A side inspection port allows the operator to quickly check and change the cam bearings if needed.
All McHale cam pick-ups have heavy-duty tine bar supports to ensure long service life. McHale have also developed a pick-up tine designed to lift even the shortest of crop
A 2.1m camless pick-up is available as an option on all machines in the McHale Fixed Chamber Baler Range. Six tine bars are fitted to all McHale camless pick-ups to provide excellent ground cleaning and fast delivery of crop to the bale chamber.
The camless pick-up has been designed to increase output, reduce levels of maintenance and perform better in certain conditions.
All camless pick-ups are fitted with a fully welded tine bar. McHale have also developed a pick-up tine designed to lift even the shortest of crop
The specially designed McHale pick-up is positioned close to the rotor to improve delivery of the crop through the rotor to the bale chamber. Large diameter lateral feed augers help direct crop to the bale chamber ensuring a consistent and even crop flow for producing high density bales.
Over the course of a baling season, machines have to work with different volumes of crop. McHale have designed an adaptive intake which allows the intake area to automatically adjust for light and heavy crops to facilitate a smooth crop flow into the chamber.
A 540rpm Split Drive Gearbox is fitted to all machines in the McHale Fixed Chamber Range as standard. The gearbox design ensures that power is evenly distributed to both sides of the machine.
The rollers in the bale chamber are driven from the left-hand side of the machine and the pick-up and chopper unit are driven from the right-hand side of the machine. This system ensures direct, short transfer paths, leading to optimal power distribution.
In order to optimise machine performance, a 1000rpm gearbox is available as an optional upgrade on all machines in the McHale fixed chamber baler range. We recommend you speak with your local dealer or distributor regarding which gearbox is best suited to your requirements, based on your working conditions.
The star shaped, twin finger feed rotor ensures a high-capacity flow of crop into the bale chamber.
The flights on the rotor are laid out in a spiral formation to achieve consistent crop flow. As crop enters the rotor, rotating flights feeds it to the bale chamber. These ensure high output, while the star layout reduces the load peaks as the machines work in heavy swaths.
Rotor Formation | Spiral |
Flight Thickness | Inner: 8mm
Outer: 12mm |
Number of Knives | 15 |
Selectable Knives | Optional |
Rotor Formation | Spiral |
Flight Thickness | Inner: 6mm
Outer: 12mm |
Number of Knives | 25 |
Selectable Knives | Optional |
To ensure a consistent and even chop quality, two chopping options have been developed for the McHale fixed chamber machines.
The 15 knife chopper unit is the standard chopper unit on the McHale F5-550. A bank of 15 knives provides a chop length of approximately 65mm. | |
Flight Thickness | Inner: 8mm
Outer: 12mm |
Number of Knives | 15 |
Selectable Knives | Optional |
The 25 knife chopper unit is available as an option on the McHale F5-550. A bank of 25 knives provides a chop length of approximately 46mm. | |
Flight Thickness | Inner: 6mm
Outer: 12mm |
Number of Knives | 25 |
Selectable Knives | Optional |
All McHale F5-500 machines have the option to be fitted with a selectable knife system. Various knife configurations can be chosen depending on the knife bank specification.
25 Knife Bank Options0, 12, 13, 25 Knifes |
With selectable knives, the operator can vary the chop length by engaging or disengaging either knife bank. If fine chopping is required, the operator can choose to engage both knife banks. Should a longer chop length be required, the operator can disengage one bank of knives from the comfort and safety of the tractor cab.
When using both knife banks separately, if the first bank of knives become blunt, the operator can lower the first knife bank and raise the second bank. This reduces the downtime and allows the operator to continue working. By having consistently sharp knives, fuel consumption is reduced and the machine always delivers optimum chop.
A new sharp set of knives can be engaged, without the operator having to physically replace knives, ensuring a well chopped crop and continued high output. Should different chop lengths be required the operator can make the adjustments by engaging or disengaging the knife bank without having to leave the tractor cab.
For over a decade, all machines in the fixed chamber baler range are fitted with the McHale Drop Floor Unblocking System, a feature which operators have come to love for it’s simplicity of use and effective unblocking cycle.
Should a blockage occur, the sound of the slip clutch alerts the operator, who can hydraulically lower the floor from the tractor cab. When operating the drop floor cycle, the knives and the drop floor drop together during the unblocking process, giving even more clearance to allow the blockage to be fed through.
This widens the feed channel at both the front and rear of the drop floor where the blockage is more likely to occur. By lowering the front and rear of the drop floor, the blockage can be fed through and effectively cleared when the PTO is re-engaged.
The floor can then be reset to its original position and baling can resume. On the F5-550,F5-560 and F5-560 Plus the drop floor is equipped with a drop floor sensor to ensure the chop quality is consistent by indicating to the operator via the control box if the drop floor is open and the knives are down.
The bale chamber on the McHale F5-550 is comprised of an 18 roller bale chamber. It has a diameter of 1.23m x 1.25m (4′ ½” x 4′ 1¼”) and is formed from heavy duty rollers.
High quality heavy-duty chains ensure reliable operation all around the machine. The main drive chain coming off the gearbox is a high tensile, heavy duty 100H endless chain for maximum strength. All other chains on the drive side of the bale chamber are inch and a quarter (20B). The rotor chain is inch duplex (16 B2) and all pick-up chains are three quarter inch (ASA 60H).
New chain tensioners are fitted on all machines in the F5 range to
allow for a spring to be tensioned by simply tightening a bolt at
the end which replaces the need to manually release the spring
and reattach.
All roller assemblies utilise high quality 50mm bearings on the drive and non-drive side of the bale chamber. On the main load points, heavy duty, double raced 55mm roller bearings are fitted to ensure maximum reliability. This combination provides maximum strength and ensures a long working life.
On the F5-550 balers, bale density can be adjusted from the comfort of the tractor cab via the control console.
The roller ends are fitted with high performance self-cleaning seals that have a unique reverse-thread sealing system, which hinders the crop from getting into the bearings. As the roller moves in one direction, the thread on the seal moves in the opposite direction, ensuring that any crop that tries to find its way into the bearing is automatically threaded out. The seals prevent the grease around the bearings from becoming contaminated by crop.
The McHale fixed chamber range of balers are all fitted with a continuous oiling system. Once the PTO is engaged, the continuous oiling system constantly lubricates the chains to ensure a long lifetime. A lube alarm sounds after 300 bales to inform the operator to refill the oil tank.
The continuous oiling system on the machine is driven off the gearbox and delivers oil to the following chains:
All machines come fitted with a number of manual greasing points which are easily accessible throughout the baler either individually or through a centralised greasing block. The following bearings highlighted below are greased:
With the exception of the McHale F5-540, all machines in the McHale Fixed Chamber Baler Range are fitted with automatic greasing as standard. A pressurised system delivers a measured amount of grease every time a bale is ejected from the bale chamber. Automatic greasing saves time as it reduces the amount of manual greasing to be done by the operator. A lube alarm sounds after 300 bales to inform the operator to refill the grease cartridge.
A high performance netter has been designed and developed for the F5-500 range. A Dual Feed Netting System is fitted to all F5-540, F5-550 and F5-560 machines.
Net Tension Application
Each of the simple, yet effective net binding systems apply net to the barrel of the bale. These systems ensure efficient net usage and that a tight layer of net is evenly applied to the bale. The net tension can be adjusted on the machine or control console to suit operator’s requirements depending on the model.
Net Layer
The number of layers of net being used can be easily adjusted as the machine passes through different crop conditions. On the F5-540 and F5-550, by simply moving the net adjustment handle down, more net will be applied, while by moving the handle up, less net can be applied. On all ISOBUS machines, net/film adjustment can be controlled from the control console in the tractor cab.
Various adjustment of tension to ensure optimum net/film usage and bale shape
Capacity to take rolls of net wrap up to 1300 mm in width and 4500m in length.
The route in which the net feeds
is adjustable and eliminates any slippage when netting.
Net loading has been optimised on the F5-540, F5-550 and F5-560
machines by the rock and roll net loading system.
The operator simply releases the straps on the spare roll of net on the machine platform and rocks the net roll from its storage position over the lip on the platform and rolls it into the net box. Net Loading Assistance Rollers aid the operator when loading net onto the platform. Storage for an extra roll of net is also provided on the baler platform.
Read lessThe F5-550 is equipped with the i-Control 5 control console. This contains a large 5 inch graphic display which allows the operator to control machine features such as drop floor and knife position.
The i-CONTROL 5 Control Console features:
Floor Position | Net Feed Indicator | Knife Position | Density Pressure |
Knife Pressure | Tailgate Position | Voltage Supply | Bale Count |
The F5-550 i-Control 5 Console is also equipped with a lube check alarm, which reminds the operator to check the grease and oil levels. The alarm signals after a set number of bales. The operator can also select from 10 customer profiles and check the machine total either for the day or the machine’s life.
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All McHale F5-550 machines can be selected with ISOBUS as an optional extra. McHale ISOBUS machines can be plugged into any ISOBUS tractor connection and operated via the tractor’s own terminal in the cab.
The machine is connected via the tractor’s ISOBUS connector, which eliminates large cables being routed through the back window of the tractor cab. Alternatively, with an ISOBUS tractor, the operator can use a separate ISOBUS terminal.
Read lessIf the customer wishes to operate an ISOBUS controlled machine with a tractor that is not ISOBUS compatible, they can do so through the optional McHale ISO-PLAY terminal.
McHale offer two ISO-PLAY monitor options.
Customers can purchase a McHale ISO-PLAY 7 or ISO-PLAY 12 control terminal, which can be used to operate the functions of other ISOBUS machines. Should the customer already own an ISOBUS control terminal from another machine this then can be used to control the functionality of the McHale F5-550,F5-560 & F5-560 Plus. Through the ISOBUS tractor’s terminal or McHale’s ISO-PLAY terminals, the operator is provided with clear indicators of machine performance and allows for increased levels of monitoring, through the graphic display.
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McHale machines work in different conditions around the world. To optimise machine performance, we offer a number of options in the McHale Fixed Chamber Baler range. We recommend you speak with your local dealer/distributor as regards the best configuration to meet your requirements.
Options F5-550
ISOBUS / ISO-PLAY |
Optional |
Camless Pick-Up | Optional |
Chopper Unit | 25 knife – Optional |
Selectable Knives | 0,12,13,25 -Optional |
1000rpm Gearbox | Optional |
Crop Roller | Optional |
Air/ Hydraulic Brakes | Optional |
Moisture Meter Kit | Optional |
Standalone Camera Kit | Optional |
Tyre Options | 520/55-22.5 Optional |
ISOBUS/ ISO-PLAY
All McHale F5-550 machines have the ability to be specified with ISOBUS as an optional extra. This allows the operator to control the machine using the ISOBUS screen in the tractor or an ISO-PLAY control console which brings a host of additional functionality.
Camless Pick-Up
The 2.1m camless pick-up runs smoothly, particularly in short crop, and requires less maintenance due to a reduced number of rotating parts. All camless pick-ups in the McHale fixed chamber baler range are fitted with six tine bars to provide excellent ground cleaning and fast delivery of crop to the rotor.
Rotor / Chopper Unit
The 25 knife rotor and chopper unit is available as an option on the McHale F5-550,F5-560 and F5-560 Plus fixed chamber machines and delivers a chop length of approximately 46mm.
Selectable Knives
All F5-550 machines can be specified with electronically Selectable Knives when upgraded to a 25 knife bank chopper unit. This allows the operator to engage and chop with a bank of 12 knives, 13 knives or engage both knife banks which will give a 25 knife chopper system capable of delivering a theoretical chop length of approximately 46mm.
1000rpm Gearbox
McHale machines work in different conditions around the world so in order to optimise machine performance, a 1000rpm gearbox is available as an optional upgrade on all machines in the McHale baler range.
Crop Roller
A small diameter high throughput crop roller is available as an optional extra. This crop roller helps to level out uneven swaths and has the ability to increase baler throughput. A Crop Roller with Spring Tines is also available should it be required.
Brakes
All balers in the McHale F5 fixed chamber baler range can be equipped with brakes as an optional extra. McHale offer the choice of hydraulic or air brakes.
Tyre Options
McHale offer a number of tyre upgrades depending on customer preferences and ground conditions.
Read lessWatch the video for the McHale F5-550, a semiautomatic, 15 knife chopper Fixed Chamber Baler, which comes fitted with automatic progressive greasing as standard. It is equipped with a i-Control 5 terminal, which allows the operator to control features such as drop floor and knife position. Bale density can now be adjusted on the terminal in the tractor cab. The machine is fitted with 500/50-17 tyres as standard.
Length | 4.05 m (13’3″) |
Width | 2.55 m / 8’4″ (2.58 m / 8’6″*) |
Height | 2.45 m (8′) |
Weight | 3500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
*Width will depend on tyre selection |
Working Width | 2100 mm (6’11”) |
Tine Bars | 5 |
Tine spacing | 65 mm |
Short Crop Guard | Standard |
Crop Roller | Optional |
Pick Up Guide Wheels | Standard |
Pick Up Lift | Hydraulic |
Number of Knives | 15 |
Theoretical Chop Length | 65 mm |
Knife Protection | Hydraulic |
Knife Deactivation | Hydraulic from Cab |
Unblocking System | Drop Floor |
Diameter | 1.25 m (4’1”) |
Width | 1.23 m (4′) |
Bale Chamber Feed | 15 Knife Chopper Feed Rotor |
Number of Rollers | 18 |
Diameter | 1.25 m (4’1”) |
Greasing | Automatic Progressive |
Bearings | 50mm & 55mm** |
**Bearings are 55mm double raced on the main load points |
Type | Net |
Control | Manual or Automatic |
Binding System | Dual Feed Netting System |
Binding Roll Capacity | 1 + 1 Storage |
Net/ Film Adjustment | Manual on Baler |
Gearbox | Split Drive |
Main Drive Protection | Cam Clutch |
Pick Up Protection | Slip Clutch |
Chain Lubrication | Continuous |
Control System | iControl 5 or ISOBUS/ ISO-Play (Optional) |
Operation | Semi Automatic |
Density Adjustment | In-cab |
Camera |
Optional |
Axle | 8 Stud |
Tyres Standard | 500/50 – 17 |
Tyres Optional | 500/50 – 22.5 |
Bale Kicker Indicator | Optional |
Minimum Hydraulic Flow | 35 Litres / min at 180 bar |
Hydraulics | 2 Double Acting Spools |
Min. Power Requirement | 67kW (90hp) |