Deere Round Baler Drive Chain

I've noticed almost every 530/535 I've looked at has a patch on the left front where the drive chain ate the sheet metal so it seems to be a very common issue.

The even with a new chain and sprockets, the main roll drive chain doesn't seem to keep much tension on the slack side and just doesn't look like a hearty design.

I'm wanting to redesign the chain tensioner and was wondering if anyone else had already done it and which method they used. I'm leaning towards the 566 style that has a single idler near the top sprocket and a double guide block.

Richard

The chain tensioner isn't the real problem. Operators not putting sufficient chain lube on chain which allows chain to wear faster causing breakage of chain or a baler plugging with a slug of hay. When chain breaks it most always double wraps around lower sprocket damaging the shield. JD has no opted for a 2 piece shield on that side so only lower part requires replacement from chain failure.Yes over the years JD has altered the tensioner design. The blocks & tensioner on a 566 are better.

make sure your slip clutch works and you will not break chain

Really sorry pictures, sorry for that. My cell phone used to take
great ones but in the last few days it appears to be focused but
when you get the picture it's not. Tried everything including
read the book.

The first pic is what you are talking about. This baler is a 375,
built like the 530 and all, but all mechanical, no auto this and
that.

The chain drive is different and does not have the wooden block
Jim mentioned. It rather has a gear at the top that was on the
forward side of the chain and was spring loaded to pull the front
side of the chain back.

This action caused the chain to rub on a "landing" about 10"
below where the chain meets the top gear and was wearing out
parts of the chain and making a pair of groves in the landing.

I got a piece of 3/8 all thread and a spring off an auto engine
valve assy, moved the gear to the rear of the chain rather than
the front getting it away from rubbing on the landing. I slid the
spring down over about 1" of all thread and put a washer and
locking nuts to hold it.....I wanted the gear to be able to move a
little as the chain came by. I attached the other end to the
bracket that was there to hold the end of the original spring and
using a couple of nuts, put pressure on the chain to take the
slack out of it. The white thing is just a nylon tie wrap that ran
through an existing hole in the bracket to help to stabilize the
rod. Real simple and works great.

The other thing I highly believe in is Chain Lube and ww sells it
under the lubriplate badge. It has moly and sticky elements that
work slick on motorcycle chains and any chain for that matter. I
lube a heck of a lot of things on the farm with it in the spray
can. On the chains, I get it running and just spray the heck out
of the chain and the ends of the rollers where the "sealed"
bearings are. It works its way under the seal and rejuvenates old
lubricant.

HTH.

Mark

(quoted from post at 08:33:39 07/15/12) make sure your slip clutch works and you will not break chain

Click to expand...

I beg to differ with you. If operator lets chain gets too worn it will break good operating slip clutch or not. I saw several bulged shields when I worked for a JD dealer when 430/530's were sold new.

Mark
Actually the only similar things about a 430/530 and your 375 is green & yellow paint. They are quite different and 375 is younger.

TxJim has it right. IF you keep the chains well lubed and replace them before they junk the sprockets then the shield does not get bent. I have owned 16 JD round balers since the 535s came out. We usually bale 15,000 bales a year. None of any of my balers have the shield bent.

Also I install a Lubeminder system on all of my balers. Then you oil the chain everytime you dump a bale. Yes it makes the sides of the baler messy but chains/sprockets last twice as long.

Really not sir. I have a smaller bale diameter, yes; 4ft vs 6ft and
is lighter and doesn't need the higher hp tractor.

The auto tie is missing as is the monitor box that goes in the cab
on the 530. My monitors are on the side of the baler as is an
indicator telling me where my tie arm (I removed one and yes the
530 only had one) is in the tie cycle which my 530 didn't have.
The gate had a hydraulic valve to lock the gate up whereas mine
has a piece of metal that falls down over the hyd cylinder ram.

But other than being taller, they look almost identical from all
other aspects including belt routing, gate opening functionality,
pickups and all that.

Yes it's a '91 rather than a '70's model.

But you knew that. Grin

Mark

JDseller
I ordered a new JD 435 with an automatic chain oiler when they were first introduced. Because the the sandy soil here I couldn't keep chains on my baler. I stopped putting oil in in the oiler and changed to motorcycle chain lube and have never gone back to messy oil.

(quoted from post at 11:14:59 07/15/12)
But other than being taller, they look almost identical from all
other aspects including belt routing, gate opening functionality,
pickups and all that.

Yes it's a '91 rather than a '70's model.

But you knew that. GrinMark

Click to expand...

Mark
Look at these photos and then try to tell me the 2 different models balers are almost identical. First 3 photos are of your baler. 2nd three photos are of 530. If that doesn't convince I'll provide more differences between the 2 baler models.



530 photos

:wink:

Well TxJim they both are Green and yellow so they are the same to a lot of people.

Mark The 375 and 385 where JD economy balers. They used a completely different hydraulic system and drive than the 430/530. They might have a few sprockets that could be the same but the chain tighteners are in completely different places. The gate cylinders are positioned in a different manner too.

JDseller
I think it's amusing that people can paint an old piece of other brand equipment green & yellow and a lot of prospective buyers think it's a JD.

Ok guys I give. Grin

Now that you point out all the differences, they just looked a lot alike considering what I said......and the paint WAS the same color and yes I agree it is an economy baler....but that's what I like about it....nothing to break, nothing to have to fix, nothing to have to buy.

Thanks,
Mark

(quoted from post at 10:06:17 07/16/12) Ok guys I give. nothing to break, nothing to have to fix, nothing to have to buy.

Click to expand...

Mark
I'm going to have to disagree with you again. If it's equipment no matter how simple or new it's going to break. It's just a matter of WHEN.
Jim

Jim, come on. Don't be a pessimist. Grin I mean a guy that has
baled 150,000 bales couldn't have had many problems, Grin again.

Mark

Mark
I'd call it realistic instead of pessimistic.

Okayeeee. And sir I "agree" with you.

Mark