<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009342</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDOR ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129715</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MESSEY ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13318 WOOD STONE COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63141</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>3240</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>13.25</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>15692</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>2330</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>22.33</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>13362</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1927</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>SEP Account</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>362</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>IRA Account</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-employee stock option</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>13.25</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>3240</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1994-01-31</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-01-31</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3240</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>
    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J. Messey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

