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Baler trouble....my luck has run out!

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Jim.UT

06-23-2002 09:43:04




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Some background: I'm city raised and don't have much mechanical background when it comes to most farm equipment. When I decided to start cutting and baling my own ground, I pretty much bought whatever cast-off equipment I could afford. I have a Massey Ferguson 124 twine baler. In reading this forum I realize this is not the most desireable baler out there, but it has worked great for 3 years so I guess I've been lucky. Now It won't make a bale. This is the first cut this year. It worked great last year. I'm reading the manual about the knotters, etc, but it seems to be written for people who already know how it should work. The twine is breaking on both sides. There was a large wad of twine wound around the base of the right side knotter. I got that mostly cleaned up...still a few strands that my fingers can't get to. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I should look for? Can you explain it in small words.....kind of like explaining it to a ten year old? Thanks.

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Jerry D in NC

06-23-2002 18:58:54




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 Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 09:43:04  
OK Jim, A baler that has baled fine for three years in a row sitting stored outside is not running out of luck and can be considered a GOOD baler. OK with that said, Craig is right, go get new twine. I am assuming you are using sisal and not poly and I bet you have not changed it in the three years you have owned it..... Next, is it tying a knot and breaking else where or is it breaking in the knot? If it is breaking away from the knot then let off the tension on the bale chamber and see if the hay is too damp. Also most balers like 20-30 bale cycles to wipe off the rust first run of the season. The tension on the twine may be too tight because it had not slicked up yet. Let us know where the breakage is occuring so we can help more.

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Craig MO

06-23-2002 18:33:10




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 Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 09:43:04  
Are you using the same twine as last year? You keep the baler outside with tarp covering it but the twine will draw moisture and weakin it. Usually when it breaks both twines its either baling too tight bad twine or dull stripper arm knives. Change twine if not new this season and sharpen twine knife with file. You might even back off bale tension untill you get a few bales through and the chamber starts to shine up.

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Michael Soldan

06-23-2002 18:02:04




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 Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 09:43:04  
Jim, I am not great with balers but we run a Massey Fergusson#10 baler for our small operation. I have found that the knotter must be clean so get all the fibers out and have it clean, rust free even if you have to take emery cloth to it. We have problems with the knotter when the hay is too moist, when the hay is just right it seems to work fine. Also there is a small clutch at the side which is involved in the tripping of the bale and we were having a terrible time one day and after tightening the three little bolts on the clutch the baler baled like a dream. I am suspicious that it is something simple as you said the baler worked fine when you put it away. Be sure your hay is good and dry. We have found that we keep our windrows small and the baler seems to work smoother and in a 20 or 30 acre field it only means a couple of more trips. We baled the hay in the yard today ..only 46 bales and it was a little tough and we had three misses in a row with the knotter..too damp! Good luck with the baler..Mike in Exeter Ontario

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peter

06-23-2002 14:14:02




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 Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 09:43:04  
the mf 124 is one good baler is it shed kep when not in use?



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Jim.UT

06-23-2002 17:46:46




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 Re: Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to peter, 06-23-2002 14:14:02  
It is not shed-kept and from the looks of it, probably never has been. It gets a tarp thrown over it and tied down every fall and by spring the tarp is in shreds. One fine day I'll have a shed to keep my stuff in, but for now it's gotta live outside.



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paul

06-24-2002 10:08:43




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 Re: Re: Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 17:46:46  
There's your problem. Knotters are finicky. They don't like rust & dirt & the elements. You'll need to get it all cleaned up, _all_ twine bits off, shiny, and so on. Do you grease regularly, these old balers want to be oozing in grease?

--->Paul



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thurlow

06-23-2002 13:19:11




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 Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to Jim.UT, 06-23-2002 09:43:04  
Not familiar with M-F balers, but..... there is a trip mechanism there somewhere which starts the tying cycle. With tractor off, operate the baler by hand, trip mechanism to start tying cycle and observe the action of needles, knotters, etc. May have to do it several times; should be able to diagnose problem.



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Loren

06-23-2002 21:44:15




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 Re: Re: Baler trouble....my luck has run out! in reply to thurlow, 06-23-2002 13:19:11  
"several times" may be the understatement of the year. Geez, I wish figuring out my problem child took only "several times". LOL I found out that one needle was rubbing on the knotter assy. and adjusted it down a touch. Worked great...long enough to forget that that may have caused a problem. Got that figured out, kinda, and after a while the thing starts doing the "tying but the knot pulls open on most bales" deal. 3 days and 10 years off my life I figure it's because the knotter is worn and can't grip the string well. We file a smidge off the finger end and she works beautiful again. A day later it starts tying a good knot on only one end of the string again. The same symptom as the needle adjustment problem. I'm kinda stumped on the next step, I really don't want the needle so close to the assy. it rubs. Scares the heck out of me it'll smack it and break parts on something almost noone has heard of. Isn't this fun?

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