McHale 991 high-speed round bale wrapper 2021 Review

Thanks to generous rain this summer, most paddocks in northern Tasmania are lush and green with a thick grass cover. Farmers are therefore capitalising on the extra feed this season by producing baled silage.

Round silage bales are generally the preferred option for most northern Tassie farmers because of their ease of storage and transportation. But hay baling doesn't stop after the bale is released from the baler. Bale wrapping is a crucial final step in the process to ensure silage ferments properly and to prevent spoilage.

With bale wrappers heavily utilised from spring to autumn, purchasing a quality bale wrapper that is efficient and durable is high on many farmers' priority list.

After taking the McHale 991 high-speed bale wrapper for a spin, we think it definitely ticks hay producers boxes because it's loaded with practical features and looks good into the bargain.

In the field, the McHale 991 High-Speed bale wrapper wraps a bale on the move while the tractor operator drives to and collects the next bale. It's efficient, and I was very impressed by the quality of the bale's wrap, which we'll detail a little later.

Shod with 350/50-16 Vredestein Flotation+ tyres, the McHale 991 barely leaves a footprint in the paddock, thanks to the tyres' sophisticated construction and unique profile.

The Dutch-made Vredestein Flotation+ has been designed specifically for tractor implements like the McHale 991. According to the manufacturer, the tyre features inbuilt self-cleaning properties, which enable the tyre to continue to track straight and true even in extreme conditions.

The paddock we utilised for this review was flat so we didn't really put these claims to the test. However, while working in some steeper paddocks a few days earlier, the Vredestein Flotation+ certainly lived up to expectations, the tyres neatly guiding the wrapper behind the tractor without any sideways deviation.

The bale wrapper requires approximately 22l/min hydraulic flow and a working pressure of 170 bar. The CLAAS Arion 600 series tractor was able to meet the bale wrapper's hydraulic requirements perfectly, providing a maximum flow of 98l/min and a maximum pressure of 200 bar.

The wrapping table on the McHale 991 consists of four heavy-duty belts that ensure even bale rotation and smooth handling of loose or asymmetrical bales. A shear bolt was installed on the bale wrapper as an added safety feature to protect the machine's transmission and driveline from breaking should an odd-shaped bale overload the system.

The dual film feed ensures a smooth seal as it delivers a 50 per cent overlap. On the day of the test, we set the film wrap setting to six layers, which means the machine wraps a bale six times over to provide an air-tight seal.

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When it comes to wrapped silage bales, even the smallest puncture can cause significant damage. The large-radius arms and wide belts on the McHale 991 go a long way in minimising film damage during the wrapping process. Additionally, McHale's patented bale damper system's unique drop mat table design allows the bale to be gently lowered to the ground to prevent risk of stubble puncture.

The bale damper mechanism is one of the most significant features of the McHale 991 high-speed bale wrapper. Its gentle handling of the bale not only helps keep film wrap intact, it also eliminates stress on the chassis of the machine.

Once the rotating wrapping table stops and lifts to the tip position, the heavy-duty drop mat with damper raises to cradle the bale while the second arm is lowered automatically, allowing even the heaviest of bales to gently and safely reach the ground.

The cabin-mounted control console makes operating the bale wrapper a breeze. Operators can opt for a fully manual operation or choose auto functionality for certain settings such as bale load, bale tip and number of wrap layers applied to the bale.

When used in automatic mode, operators are still able to adjust the settings to suit changing ground conditions.

When a new bale enters the lift arm, the lifting process commences with the press of a button. The bale is then loaded onto the wrapping table and the lift arm returns to a pre-set position clear of the table before the wrapping starts.

Once the bale wrapping process has been completed, the hydraulically operated cut-and-tie mechanism cuts and holds the film in position ready for the next bale. That way, operators need not manually reattach the film to each bale every time, saving time.

The McHale 991 comes standard with automatic film break sensors, which monitor the plastic film applied to the bale. On the rare occasion that one roll of plastic breaks or runs out, the sensors will detect this and immediately notify the operator via the cabin control box.

Instead of ceasing operations completely, the machine then activates its single dispenser mode that continues to wrap the bale. However, in this instance, the bale rotation speed will reduce while the number of table rotations will increase to compensate, ensuring the bale on the table receives the correct amount of wrap. The machine operator can then proceed to rectify the problem once the bale unloads from the wrapper.

This feature is particularly useful for when an operator might be down to their last roll of film and only have two bales left in the paddock to wrap. This just goes to show how much thought the folks at McHale's design department have put into this machine and its functionality.

Operators can also manually activate the single-dispenser mode if they know they are down to their last roll. Firstly, they need to adjust the film dispenser post height to its maximum position via the height adjustment handle. With the roll of plastic film placed on the dispenser closest to the tractor, the film will apply to the bale centre to ensure the correct overlap. Inside the machine, the operator selects the 'X1' button on the control console to instruct the implement to operate in single-dispenser mode.

When it came time to change film rolls, McHale's efficient lock and load system makes the process quick and straightforward. Remove the empty film roll core and the top-roller locks into the open position. Then insert the new roll, pull the cord and the top-roller releases and locks the roll into position. You're now ready to wrap.

Overall, we were impressed with the McHale 991 high-speed bale wrapper's thoughtful design and its precision-engineered, quality components. It should withstand the rigours of farm life well, and it's also a surprisingly economical machine to own and operate.

Transportation length: 5.7m (19')

Transportation width: 2.45m (8'2")

Height to top of wrapping rollers: 1.25m (4'2")

Total height: 2.46m (8'1")

Weight (unladen): 1950kg (4299lb)

Wheel dimensions: 350/50-16

Lifting capacity at 170 bar: 1100kg (2425lb)

Working speed of table (up to): 30 rotations/min

Attachment to tractor: Tow bar

Protection mechanism: Shear bolt/roll pin

Dispensers (70 to 55%): Two 750mm dispensers

Hydraulic requirements: Min. 22L/min at 170 bar

Hydraulic connections: 2 x ½" male quick-release

Electrical requirements: 12v (from battery or Euro plug)

Control console: RDS Expert