Ford 542 baler

[Southernspeed]

I’ve finally got this baler knotting and packing bales pretty tight but ….. no matter what I try the twine is never tight around the bale. So if you pick the bale up by the two twines, it really sags.
If I put more tension on the bale as it packs it, it breaks the twine. If I put more tension on the twine feed from the twine box, it breaks twine. I have the twine tension set pretty much as manual says.
It’s as if it’s packing the bale tightly but then ties it loosely so the bale then relaxes.
Any suggestions on adjustments or did these balers just make loose bales??

 

[Hay Dude]

How old is the twine. Is it the right break strength? Are the twin tensioners set correctly?

 

[Southernspeed]

It’s new sisal twine. I forget the weight but it was the same as what was in it. I researched it at the time and it was correct. I think I have some more at the house so I’ll check later.
I tried messing with the twine tension, tightening the clamps up to see if it would help but it didn’t seem to make any difference until the point where it snapped. Same deal with adjusting the bale compression screws ( probably wrong terminology!)

 

[zzvyb6]

The baler is probably WAY out of time. Your situation can/will come up if the plunger has long retracted from the bale case when the needles rise to make a tie. This means that the compaction of a newly formed bale has released when the tie is completed. The needle pressure can NOT replace the plunger's compression ability. Most operators don't realize that the needles actually pass thru the plunger head during a tie.

To check it, roll it over by hand (easiest with all hay removed), trip the knotter, and watch the needle rise sequence. The tips should just barely follow the plunger face. Pull the chain and reset it as your manual should describe it.

If the needles rise in front of the plunger head, you risk breaking them because a charge of hay will push against them and they won't be able to clear the knotter frame, hence they get smashed.

You might have to back off the compressors once this is done because now the bale being formed will remain compacted.

 

[Southernspeed]

The baler is probably WAY out of time. Your situation can/will come up if the plunger has long retracted from the bale case when the needles rise to make a tie. This means that the compaction of a newly formed bale has released when the tie is completed. The needle pressure can NOT replace the plunger's compression ability. Most operators don't realize that the needles actually pass thru the plunger head during a tie.

To check it, roll it over by hand (easiest with all hay removed), trip the knotter, and watch the needle rise sequence. The tips should just barely follow the plunger face. Pull the chain and reset it as your manual should describe it.

If the needles rise in front of the plunger head, you risk breaking them because a charge of hay will push against them and they won't be able to clear the knotter frame, hence they get smashed.

You might have to back off the compressors once this is done because now the bale being formed will remain compacted.

Thanks for the info. I thought I’d checked everything….. several times, but can’t actually remember checking that.

 

[Southernspeed]

How old is the twine. Is it the right break strength? Are the twin tensioners set correctly?

This is what I’m using.

 

[Hay Dude]

Has you checked the tensioners that feed the knotter?

Is the twine loose immediately after bale is made, or after bales sit a while?

Is there tied bales in the chamber for the baler to push the new bale against?

Do you have the chamber doors set correctly to create pressure?

 

[Southernspeed]

Has you checked the tensioners that feed the knotter?

Is the twine loose immediately after bale is made, or after bales sit a while?

Is there tied bales in the chamber for the baler to push the new bale against?

Do you have the chamber doors set correctly to create pressure?

Yes the twine tensioner after the twine box is what I kept increasing until twine broke/ pulled from disc.
Twine is loose immediately whether there is a bale ahead of it or not.
Not sure what you mean by chamber door. I’ll have to investigate that!

 

[Hay Dude]

You can increase the bale chamber pressure. Yours may be too loose causing soft bales. Are the bales all soft? Or are the bales tight, but strings are loose?

 

[5030]

All I can say is, I'm so glad I sold my NH575 on Tractor House. Got what I asked and it's not here anymore. 4x5 rounds in net are so much easier to make, handle and in my case sell.