JD 346 random bale length

Erik OK · Jun 23, 2013

I borrowed my brother in laws 346 baler to get some hay up yesterday since I was still waiting on parts for my baler. I ended up with a field of bales anywhere from just over 2 ft to 4ft long, I checked the trip wheel to make sure it wasn't slipping or adjustment wasn't changing. One bale out of the chute would be 2ft and then the next few would be regular length and then maybe a 4 ft. It was very aggravating, I got tired of cutting wires and rebailing after a while so I just baled them all up random. It was just around 200 bales but I wonder how it's going to be trying to sell random length bales. I won't be using the baler anymore hopefully but he said he had a little trouble with this issue before so I was wondering what might be causing it.

Roger in Iowa · Jun 23, 2013

There is a serrated spacer in the trip wheel that may be worn smooth. It may let the trip arched segment slip causing long bales.

If they are short, the trip arm is not falling all the way down after making a bale. Spring is probably broken and gone.

Adjustments are in the Operators Manual.

Naylorbros · Jun 23, 2013

A coulpe of other things to check are the condition of the wedges and what I call the fish plate restrictors in the chamber. Check the hay dogs, there are six of them on this baler. I would also check the spring that keeps the measureing arm tight aganst the measuring wheel. The early 346s use a friction type measuring arm and not the saw tooth type measuring arm used on the later ones.

Tx Jim · Jun 23, 2013

Too much air pressure in LH tire can affect bale length if in a rough field. Measuring wheel components were altered at SN 285,000. The stop(parts key #23) was made heavier and spring(parts key #4) was added. I have seen extra weight added in severely rough fields.

Tx Jim · Jun 23, 2013

(quoted from post at 10:24:40 06/23/13) A coulpe of other things to check are the condition of the wedges and what I call the fish plate restrictors in the chamber. Check the hay dogs

I personally don't see how hay dogs or side resisters can affect the length of a bale.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 23, 2013

Just solved this on my NH 68.There was a worn spot on the trip arm surface where it rode on the trip wheel. Even thought the serrated edge of the trip wheel was good. it wouldn't grip consistently.You could feel the worn spot if you ran your finger up the edge.

Pulled the trip arm, resurfaced it with some weld and ground it down flat. Works great now.

Virginia Mike · Jun 24, 2013

Make sure your windrows are even, and feed the hay into the right side of the pickup.

JohnS1970 · Jun 24, 2013

A number of years ago our 336 would make varying length bales and the problem that time was worn bushings Key#6.

Tx Jim · Jun 24, 2013

Actually replacing the worn bushings(#6) while leaving the brackets(#5) where they were will cause more pressure to be applied between roller(#21) & sector(#26) causing less slippage between roller/sector as measuring wheel turns. This pressure can also be adjusted to a degree by moving brackets rearward.

DeltaRed · Jun 24, 2013

All the affore mentioned suggestions are valid.'nother thing is to keep the the plunger strokes the same per bale.I aim for 20 per bale.If it gets to 25,upshift.If they get down to 15,downshift.Your results may vary.Years ago I owned a JD 347.It would eat hay at an amazeing rate.I could not keep the bale length consistent.When I slowed down and counted strokes,the bale length drasticly improoved.Now I have an inline,that thing doesnt care,it just EATS,the bales are all the same.It will eat a JD alive.... Steve

Vernon in Ks · Jun 25, 2013

Make sure the nut #28 in jims pic is TIGHT. If not you will get all lenghts.

JD 346 random bale length

Erik OK

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Roger in Iowa

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Naylorbros

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Tx Jim

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Tx Jim

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Anonymous-0

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Virginia Mike

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JohnS1970

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Tx Jim

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DeltaRed

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Vernon in Ks

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