EXHIBIT 32



CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO 18
U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Annual Report of Baldor Electric Company (the Company) on
Form 10-K for the period ending January 3, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, John A. McFarland, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §
1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:



| | (1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
| | --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | (2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| | --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                          |  |                                                                     
|-------------------- |  |  |  | --- |  | ------------------------ |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------
|                     |  |  | 
|Date: March 18, 2004 |  |  |  | By: |  | /s/    JOHN A. MCFARLAND
|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                          | 
|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                          |  | John A. McFarland Chief Executive Officer of Baldor Electric Company



CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED

PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



In connection with the Annual Report of Baldor Electric Company (the Company) on Form 10-K for the period ending January 3, 2004, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
(the Report), I, Ronald E. Tucker, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:



| | (1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
| | --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | (2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
| | --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                         |  |                                                                    
|-------------------- |  |  |  | --- |  | ----------------------- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------
|                     |  |  | 
|Date: March 18, 2004 |  |  |  | By: |  | /s/    RONALD E. TUCKER
|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                         | 
|                     |  |  |  |     |  |                         |  | Ronald E. Tucker Chief Financial Officer of Baldor Electric Company