The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[mrmikey]

I'd like to meet the fella that designed the knotter, the mechanics of it amaze me. No doubt you'd like to meet him for a different reason HD .

 

[EddieWalker]

I can't imagine what it's like to farm full time. One of the biggest realizations with my small farm is that being a mechanic seems to be the thing I do the most. There is always something to wrench on, and I can't count how man hours I've spent trying to figure out what's wrong with a tractor or attachment. Fix one thing, two other things still need fixing!!!

 

[Hay Dude]

I'd like to meet the fella that designed the knotter, the mechanics of it amaze me. No doubt you'd like to meet him for a different reason HD .

So here’s what broke. The twine finger on the back of the billhook. Fairly common, but only the 2nd one for me in 15 years.

Here’s a brand new one. As big as a large square baler is, it’s got fragile parts in some places.

 

[Hay Dude]

A few raking & baling scenes from today:

Raking tractor parked off to the side.

Baler needs a good cleaning….

Decent bale weight, but I would prefer more. Driest hay season I have seen in a long time.

Headin’ home. More hay to bale tomorrow.

 

[Carl_NH]

Here’s a brand new one. As big as a large square baler is, it’s got fragile parts in some places.

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A baler knotter is like a large industrial sewing/knitting machine with some of the most complex mechanics in a very tough environment.

Kudo's to getting it running again.

We made 3000 small bales a season in PA growing up and always used the same brand twine as my dad said - stick with what works.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

HD,

That picture of the broken twine finger makes it look like it was made out of cast goose grease, but if they last that long, it must be "premium" cast goose grease.

 

[Hay Dude]

HD,

That picture of the broken twine finger makes it look like it was made out of cast goose grease, but if they last that long, it must be "premium" cast goose grease.

Priced like its made outta GOLD, too!!!
Those knotter twine fingers are pretty delicate.

 

[Hay Dude]

Today, we wrapped up first cutting. It went about 10 days to 2 weeks longer than anticipated. Kind of bittersweet. I’d love to keep baling, but need a break.

Ever bent a bale spear like this????
Hit a rock…..

Baled a 20 acre flood plain today. This stuff is way past its prime…

Caught some rafters on the river trying to cool off. Sometimes they will come up into the field and offer me a beer or 2…

Finally done!!!

Taking bales across the tracks to stack them.

Heading back out onto the road with the baler

Bales stacked near RR tracks

Heading home in the comforts of the Ram

 

[mrmikey]

Ever bent a bale spear like this????

Bet that stopped you in a hurry.

This stuff is way past its prime…

What determines when it's past it's prime?

 

[Hay Dude]

Bet that stopped you in a hurry.

Sometimes I’ll spear low on the bottom bale when I am carrying 2 bales to help carry them better. If you get too low, you spear under it in the dirt. I hit a boulder buried just below the surface. Bent the spear like a pretzel. Tractor never really felt it.

What determines when it's past it's prime?

Old grass that went to seed and part of the top of the stem turns brown or been sitting too long after it was cut. It was both in this case. Around here, if you don’t get to it by around the 4th of July, it’s too old to make feed hay.