loose bales

[xcsp]

Hi I baled some grass mix hay yesterday and i was getting loose bales tightened tension and was still not able to get twine tight on the bales.
The grass was soft and when I used the baler (565) last year to bale alphalpha/timothy the bales where perfect.
I was wondering if I could not get tight bales it was because of the texture of the hay ???????????????????//

 

[zzvyb6]

Clean the bale case out (empty the baler), and be sure to clean the hay restrictors in the bottom and sides of the bale chamber. Chances are that these "teeth" are all plugged with dead hay, mud, and a poltice of who knows what. The other option you have is to crank down the tension on the bales using the spring loaded compressor.

Before you do this, make sure that the guy riding the wagon isn't kicking them around to make his job easier. (Shouldn't at least one of the tires on that hay rack be a whitewall).

Very nice set of equipment you have there. It should last a lifetime and will make a high value inheritance for someone.

 

[RickB]

Clean the bale case out (empty the baler), and be sure to clean the hay restrictors in the bottom and sides of the bale chamber. Chances are that these "teeth" are all plugged with dead hay, mud, and a poltice of who knows what. The other option you have is to crank down the tension on the bales using the spring loaded compressor.

Before you do this, make sure that the guy riding the wagon isn't kicking them around to make his job easier. (Shouldn't at least one of the tires on that hay rack be a whitewall).

Very nice set of equipment you have there. It should last a lifetime and will make a high value inheritance for someone.

Good advise. As there is a fair bit more adjustment on the tension springs, I'd crank on them first. Grass hay requires more tension than alfalfa hay. Buildup along the corners of the chamber and in front of the wedges more often leads to overtight bales and related misties than loose bales.

 

[bill in ny]

one thing i noticed is how small you're winrows are. when the hay is that light, you need to double or triple your winrows. you need to keep that plunger full of hay. that will make a tighter bale. that baler has quite a big capacity.

 

[Duffster]

one thing i noticed is how small you're winrows are. when the hay is that light, you need to double or triple your winrows. you need to keep that plunger full of hay. that will make a tighter bale. that baler has quite a big capacity.

I was thinking the same thing

You couldn't drive fast enough the way it is

 

[xcsp]

Thanks for all information ,i was looking at manual and they are saying same thing last year I had big windrows and the bales where tight and perfect ,I cut early this year to check out my equipment and make sure everything is ok for my big field.I should have doubled the windrow thanks for the good advice.

My timothy/Alphalpha field is getting high now will be ready soon the weather here in ohio was dry for 5 days so i thought i would give it a cutting.

thanks again
Greg

 

[RickB]

Thanks for all information ,i was looking at manual and they are saying same thing last year I had big windrows and the bales where tight and perfect ,I cut early this year to check out my equipment and make sure everything is ok for my big field.I should have doubled the windrow thanks for the good advice.

My timothy/Alphalpha field is getting high now will be ready soon the weather here in ohio was dry for 5 days so i thought i would give it a cutting.

thanks again
Greg

Just remember in humid climates such as yours (and mine) there is some drying that must happen after raking, especially with legume crops. Windrows too large can lead to hay not dry enough to bale and keep safely. To mitigate the challenges of small windrows, gear up and throttle back a little to help keep the chamber more full at a given ground speed. You can run the baler a little below PTO speed with good results. Additionally, crank down on the tension rails; that's what the adjustment is there for.

A gentle suggestion: there is no 'p' or 'h' in alfalfa. You are making my hair hurt.

 

[WTA]

When I bale my bermuda field I do it in the middle of the night to get a little more moisture on it from dew. It helps them stick together in the baler a lot better and come out a more consistent weight. Your hay actually looked a little too green to bale in the pictures but it could be an optical illusion on my part.
I baled about 80 acres of alfalfa two nights ago and that was a chore even with my baler. I started about 5 PM and couldn't get the bales over 45 pounds no matter how much I moved in the restrictor doors or hydraulic pressure I put on the tensioner on back. By midnight my bales were a perfect 55 pounds and perfectly shaped. By 7 AM they were either too heavy or when I loosened up a bit on the hydraulic pressure the strings were too loose. I started out baling at less than 8% moisture and was running around 13 at midnight. It was getting up to about 16 at 7 AM. Not enough to mould but sure was enough to make them heavy!

You really should get a moisture meter on your baler like I have. My bermuda likes to be bales right about 12 % the best. It's not too much different than your grass. To make perfect looking bales around here though it does have to be done in the middle of the night. On your tractor that means mosquitoes I'd imagine. Thankfully I have a cab but even so I can barely see out the windows sometimes for all the blood suckers buzzing around the lights.

 

[RickB]

When I bale my bermuda field I do it in the middle of the night to get a little more moisture on it from dew. It helps them stick together in the baler a lot better and come out a more consistent weight. Your hay actually looked a little too green to bale in the pictures but it could be an optical illusion on my part.
I baled about 80 acres of alfalfa two nights ago and that was a chore even with my baler. I started about 5 PM and couldn't get the bales over 45 pounds no matter how much I moved in the restrictor doors or hydraulic pressure I put on the tensioner on back. By midnight my bales were a perfect 55 pounds and perfectly shaped. By 7 AM they were either too heavy or when I loosened up a bit on the hydraulic pressure the strings were too loose. I started out baling at less than 8% moisture and was running around 13 at midnight. It was getting up to about 16 at 7 AM. Not enough to mould but sure was enough to make them heavy!

You really should get a moisture meter on your baler like I have. My bermuda likes to be bales right about 12 % the best. It's not too much different than your grass. To make perfect looking bales around here though it does have to be done in the middle of the night. On your tractor that means mosquitoes I'd imagine. Thankfully I have a cab but even so I can barely see out the windows sometimes for all the blood suckers buzzing around the lights.

That's fine advise for your locale. No one bales dry hay "here" without a preservative more than about 30 minutes after the dew starts falling. That can be as early as 6:30PM even in midsummer. A moisture meter is a great tool.

 

[xcsp]

I have a handheld moisture tester and was thinking about the ones to put on the tractor seems like it would be a lot easier.
I was getting a reading of 12 - 13 % on meter while baling.

thanks for you reply
Greg