6 Best Clevis Drawbars For Small Hay Balers Old Farmers Swear By
Discover the top 6 clevis drawbars for small balers. These time-tested models are trusted by veteran farmers for their superior durability and safety.
There’s a moment every hay season when you back the old tractor up to the baler, and everything hinges on one piece of steel. That connection—the drawbar—is more than just a hitch point. It’s the critical link that determines safety, equipment longevity, and whether you spend the afternoon baling hay or fixing a broken PTO shaft. For small square balers, especially when paired with classic tractors, getting this connection right is one of those simple things that makes all the difference.
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Why Your Old Tractor Needs the Right Drawbar
The drawbar on your tractor does more than just pull the baler. It dictates the geometry of the entire operation. Get it wrong, and you put immense stress on your baler’s tongue, the tractor’s transmission case, and most importantly, the Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft.
Many older tractors, like the beloved Ford 8N or a Ferguson TO-30, were not designed with modern PTO-driven implements in mind. Their original drawbar setups are often too high or too close to the tractor. Hooking a baler to one of these can cause the PTO shaft to run at a dangerously steep angle, leading to chattering U-joints, binding, and eventual failure. A catastrophic failure here can send metal flying.
This is where a proper swinging drawbar becomes essential. Unlike a fixed drawbar that’s bolted solid to the three-point hitch arms, a swinging drawbar pivots from a point underneath the tractor’s differential. This allows the baler to track smoothly behind the tractor during turns, keeping the PTO shaft straight and preventing side-loads. For anyone baling in small, irregularly shaped fields, a swinging drawbar isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for preventing damage and frustration.
SpeeCo S07020700: The All-Around Workhorse
When you just need a solid, no-nonsense piece of steel, the SpeeCo forged drawbar is a go-to for a reason. It’s a simple, brutishly strong bar designed to attach across the lower lift arms of a Category 1 three-point hitch. There are no moving parts to wear out, just thick, heat-treated steel that can take a beating.
This drawbar is the perfect fit for a tractor that already has a well-configured three-point hitch and is being used in relatively straight, open fields. It provides a stable, non-swinging pull point that’s great for implements that don’t require sharp turning, like a hay rake or a small disc. For baling, it works, but you have to be disciplined. You must make wide, sweeping turns at the end of each windrow to avoid putting the PTO in a bind.
The main tradeoff here is versatility for simplicity. It’s not the ideal solution for tight headlands or navigating around obstacles. But if your hayfield is mostly straight shots and you value a rock-solid connection with zero slop, this drawbar is an affordable and incredibly durable option that will likely outlast the tractor it’s attached to.
The Classic Ford 8N Swinging Drawbar Kit
If you own a Ford N-series tractor, stop right now and check your drawbar setup. Using the original "stay bars" or a simple three-point drawbar to pull a baler is asking for trouble. The geometry is all wrong, creating a high pull point that can lead to instability and puts tremendous stress on the tractor’s rear end. The correct and safe solution is a dedicated swinging drawbar kit.
These kits are specifically designed to replicate the factory-optional swinging drawbar. They bolt underneath the tractor’s differential housing, creating a low, centered pivot point. This setup ensures that the pulling force is applied where the tractor was designed to handle it, dramatically increasing stability and reducing the risk of a rollover on uneven ground.
The swinging action is the real game-changer for baling. As you turn, the drawbar pivots, allowing the baler to follow naturally instead of being dragged sideways. This keeps the PTO shaft aligned, protects the U-joints, and makes for a much smoother, less stressful operation for both the operator and the machinery. For any N-series owner pulling a baler, this isn’t an upgrade; it’s essential equipment.
CountyLine Universal Clevis for Versatility
Walk into any Tractor Supply, and you’ll find the CountyLine universal clevis drawbar. This is the jack-of-all-trades option, designed to quickly and easily attach to the lower arms of a Category 1 hitch. Its main selling point is convenience. If you’re constantly switching between a hay rake, a small trailer, and a landscape box, this type of drawbar is incredibly handy.
It’s typically built to a price point, which means you need to be realistic about its capabilities. While it can certainly pull a small square baler, it’s crucial to inspect it for wear and ensure the rating is appropriate for the constant push-and-pull shock load of a plunger. The "universal" fit can sometimes result in a bit of slop or play where it connects to the lift arms, which isn’t ideal for the precise alignment needed for PTO work.
Think of this as a great secondary drawbar. It’s perfect for moving wagons or general utility work. For the dedicated, repetitive task of baling, a more purpose-built, non-adjustable drawbar often provides a more secure and reliable connection. But if you have one tractor for a dozen different jobs, the sheer versatility of the CountyLine clevis is hard to beat.
Agri-Supply Heavy-Duty Forged Steel Drawbar
At first glance, the heavy-duty drawbar from Agri-Supply might look similar to other fixed drawbars, but the key is in the details: forged steel and specific dimensions. Forging aligns the grain structure of the steel, making it significantly stronger and more resistant to fatigue than cast or welded alternatives. When a 2,500-pound baler is surging with every stroke of the plunger, that extra strength provides critical peace of mind.
This is the drawbar for the farmer who knows exactly what they need. Agri-Supply often carries a variety of lengths and thicknesses, allowing you to find the perfect bar to achieve the PTO spacing recommended in your baler’s manual. Getting that distance right—from the end of the PTO shaft to the hitch pin hole—is one of the most overlooked aspects of setting up a baler correctly.
Choosing this option is about deliberately overbuilding your setup for safety and longevity. If you’re working on hilly terrain where the baler is constantly pushing and pulling on the tractor, or if you’re running a slightly larger "small" baler like a New Holland 273, the investment in a superior-quality forged bar is a wise one. It’s the opposite of a universal solution; it’s a specific choice for a demanding job.
A&I Products Drawbar for Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson tractors, like the classic MF 35 or 135, have their own unique drawbar systems that are quite different from the Fords. Trying to make a generic drawbar fit often leads to compromises in height, stability, or safety. A&I Products specializes in high-quality aftermarket parts that are designed to be direct, OEM-quality replacements.
Opting for a brand-specific drawbar from a reputable source like A&I ensures you’re using the tractor’s engineered pull points. These drawbars are designed to mount correctly under the axle or to the factory mounting brackets, providing the correct pivot geometry and strength. This eliminates guesswork and ensures the PTO alignment will be spot-on, which is crucial for the longevity of both the tractor and the baler.
This is the path for the restoration-minded farmer or anyone who believes in doing the job the "right" way. While a universal bar might get you by, a purpose-built drawbar restores the tractor’s original functionality and safety features. It’s a testament to the idea that the engineers who designed the tractor probably knew what they were doing.
Hitch-N-Go Adjustable Drawbar for Odd Jobs
The Hitch-N-Go, or similar multi-hole, adjustable drawbars, are the problem-solvers you keep in the corner of the barn. Their design allows for multiple hitch points and sometimes even height adjustment, making them incredibly useful for hooking up to old, non-standard equipment. Need to move that old ground-driven hay rake with its strange loop hitch? This is the tool for the job.
However, its strength—adjustability—is also its weakness when it comes to heavy, dynamic loads like a baler. Every hole is a potential stress riser, and any adjustable component is a potential point of failure under the constant shock of a baler’s plunger. For this reason, it’s not the first choice for your primary baling drawbar.
The best way to view this tool is as a "get out of jail free" card. It’s perfect for low-speed, low-stress tasks and for moving equipment around the yard. Having one on hand can save the day when faced with an oddball implement, but for the hard work of making hay, you want a solid, single piece of forged steel connecting you to the baler.
Matching Drawbar Strength to Your Baler’s Pull
Ultimately, the best drawbar is the one that correctly matches your specific tractor-baler combination and your field conditions. It’s not a one-size-fits-all decision. The forces involved are more complex than just the dead weight of the baler. Every time that plunger compresses a flake of hay, it shoves the baler forward, and on the return stroke, it yanks back. This creates a powerful, fatiguing shock load on the drawbar.
Before you hook up, run through a mental checklist:
- Is the pull point right? For most older tractors, a swinging drawbar that pivots from under the differential is the safest and most effective setup. It keeps the pull point low and allows for stress-free turns.
- Is the PTO angle correct? Measure the distance from the end of your tractor’s PTO shaft to the drawbar’s pin hole. It needs to match the baler manufacturer’s recommendation (usually found in the owner’s manual) to prevent binding.
- Is it strong enough? Hilly terrain and heavy bales demand a stronger drawbar. Don’t take chances. A heavy, one-piece forged steel bar is always a safer bet than a lighter, multi-piece universal model for serious baling.
Don’t oversimplify this connection. A flimsy or improperly configured drawbar is the weakest link in your haying operation. Taking the time to get it right ensures your equipment works together as a system, which is the key to a smooth, productive day in the field.
The humble drawbar is easy to overlook until it fails. Choosing the right one isn’t about spending a lot of money; it’s about understanding the forces at play and respecting the design of your old machinery. A solid, safe connection between your tractor and baler is the foundation for a successful hay season, letting you focus on the weather instead of worrying about your equipment.
