Bale spears and hay handling: frame rating versus loader capacity
Bale spears and hay-handling frames must fit the carrier, support the bale at the stated load position and stay within both attachment and loader limits. Land Pride’s BS10 and BS20 use a quick-attach interface, while BSE10 and BSE20 use a Euro-style interface; Series 10 has one main spear with lower spikes, and Series 20 has two main spears. The frame ratings are 1,800 and 2,500 pounds respectively, measured 24 inches from the frame face. Those figures do not become the loader’s available capacity. The BS/BSE operator manual also limits the bale to the smaller of the attachment rating and 83 percent of the applicable tractor or skid-steer loader rating. Identify the correct carrier rating and configuration before applying that instruction, then check the bale’s weight, mounting locks, insertion and travel conditions. A higher-rated frame cannot correct an unsuitable carrier or an insecure bale.
Choose bale spears for hay handling
| Published measurement | BS10 | BS20 | BSE10 | BSE20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attachment weight | 156 lb | 196 lb | 168 lb | 208 lb |
| Main spears | One | Two | One | Two |
| Frame capacity at 24 in | 1,800 lb | 2,500 lb | 1,800 lb | 2,500 lb |
| Probe: frame face to point | 44½ in | 45 in | 44½ in | 45 in |
Which bale-spear models use quick-attach and Euro-style connections?
Land Pride’s 319-062S specification separates the BS10/BS20 quick-attach frames from the BSE10/BSE20 Euro-style frames. The mounting interfaces differ. Match the actual carrier and attachment plate, and complete the prescribed hookup and lock checks before loading; a compatible-looking plate alone does not establish a secured connection.
Is BSE20 a single-spear or a two-spear frame?
BSE20 and BS20 each use two main spears. The single-main-spear arrangement belongs to BS10 and BSE10, which also use lower spikes to control bale rotation. The BS/BSE operator manual gives separate pickup instructions for the two arrangements, so retain the complete model identity when choosing the frame or ordering replacement parts.
What does the 24-inch capacity measurement mean?
The specification gives frame lift capacity at 24 inches from the frame face: 1,800 lb for Series 10 and 2,500 lb for Series 20. The rating point is on the frame reference.
It is neither spear length nor the loader’s hinge-pin point. A bale positioned farther forward needs the applicable approved information; these entries do not authorize inventing a new frame rating by a simple distance ratio.
Does buying BS20 instead of BS10 increase the loader capacity?
The BS20 frame rating is 700 lb higher, but its attachment weight is also 40 lb greater: 196 lb instead of 156 lb. Neither difference increases the carrier’s capacity.
Choose the frame for its complete approved combination. Check machine rating, bale position, height and ballast separately.
Keep the load, reference point and attachment mass separate
How is the manual’s 83-percent loader restriction applied?
The Land Pride manual tells the operator to use the smaller of the spear rating and 83% of the tractor/skid-steer loader’s applicable rated lift capacity. For arithmetic only, an applicable 2,000 lb carrier rating gives 1,660 lb at 83%, below the BS10’s 1,800 lb frame rating.
The 83% comparison belongs to this manual. Use the applicable carrier rating point; other attachments can have different instructions.
Where does attachment weight enter a hauling or load inventory?
Count the actual fitted equipment. In an explicitly assumed example, a 1,200 lb bale plus a 156 lb BS10 totals 1,356 lb before any separately fitted adapter or other hardware. That sum is a mass inventory, not an approved bale allowance; keep the loader chart’s included-attachment conditions with any capacity comparison and avoid counting a component twice.
Are probe length and the 24-inch rating distance the same dimension?
No: the listed probe lengths are 44½ inches for Series 10 and 45 inches for Series 20, measured from the frame face to the point. The rating distance is 24 inches. Specify the complete model and intended bale when selecting parts; an uninstalled replacement tine’s overall length may use another reference point.
Seat the bale before lifting
How far should these spears enter the bale before lifting?
For the BS/BSE models, the manual requires full insertion with the bale against the frame and prohibits scooping a bale. Its Series 10 procedure also requires the lower spikes to engage, while the Series 20 procedure positions the two main spears about one-third below the bale center. Follow the procedure for the actual spear arrangement.
What tilt does the BS/BSE manual specify during handling?
The specified range is 5–10 degrees above horizontal to retain the bale against the frame through the lifting range. The tilt instruction applies to these attachments.
It neither rates a slope nor permits lifting a bale over the operator. Keep people and livestock clear, and use the carrier’s permitted lift, ballast and stability conditions as well.
Move the bale and store the unloaded frame
When should the operator raise or lower the bale for travel?
The manual says to raise or lower the bale while stopped, and to travel at a height that preserves the forward view, keeping the bale low when possible. Resolve obstructed visibility before travel.
Plan the route and arrange assistance where the attachment and carrier instructions require it. Smooth ground does not remove the need to slow for turns and keep clear of overhead electrical lines and other obstacles.
Can the bale spear carry pallets or pull fence posts?
The BS/BSE manual prohibits using the attachment as pallet forks or to pull or pry fence posts, stumps, roots and rocks. The frame rating does not authorize those uses.
Their load cases and forces differ from bale handling. Use the tool approved for the material and operation; compare pallet-fork ratings and load centers for pallet handling.
How should the spear be parked and checked between uses?
The manual calls for secure storage that prevents the attachment falling over and exposes neither people nor livestock to projecting points; its parking instructions point the spears down or against a suitable stable object. Check locks, spears, bolts and pins before use.
Record the model and serial number for parts. Repair defects before loading the next bale.
Use the Front-end loaders: loader-rating reference for height and measurement points and tractor attachments and connection checks for the complete installation. The Attachments: attachment directory covers other material-handling tools.
Choose a handler for the bale and its packaging
A spear, supported forks and a bale squeeze engage a bale in different ways. A spear penetrates it, while another handler may carry or grip it without the same puncture. Establish the bale type and packaging before choosing the attachment.
A tool suitable for an unwrapped bale need not preserve the wrapping on a different product.
Identify the main and stabilizing tines on the proposed spear frame. Their arrangement affects how the bale is retained, but an added tine is not independent permission to carry another bale. Use the stated application and complete rating.
Include the frame, mounting arrangement and installed handler mass with the bale information rather than comparing the bale alone with the loader's headline capacity.
Obtain the bale's weight for the proposed handling decision. Appearance and a general description such as dry hay or silage do not establish the mass of the bale in front of the tractor. The required placement also matters: the loader needs the relevant configuration and rating at the work position, not merely evidence that it can start to lift the bale from the ground.
Include the route and the unloading position
Plan how the loaded machine will reach the storage or feeding position and how the handler will withdraw. Consider the actual surface, clearance, slope and space for repositioning under the machine instructions. Keep people away from the load and the attachment.
A bale held clear of the ground is still a load that can move or fall; a cab or rollover structure should not be assumed to provide every kind of load protection.
Follow the identified handler's insertion, tilt, travel and parking procedure rather than transferring a technique from another spear design. Before purchase, check that the required tines, retaining parts and mount are present and supported for the application. After unloading, store and secure the attachment as instructed, with its projecting tines considered in the storage arrangement.