Spent a little time this evening with the NH68. Tripping the knotters and watching the relationship between the plunger, needles and knotter. I don't know who designed this stuff, but I'm always amazed at the brains of the folks that came up with these complex interacting mechanisms - and without the benefit of computers, calculators and CAD.
Bottom line on my baler is - it is out of time.
The knotter dots are at least one chain link off - might replace the knotter chain. Called two different New Holland dealers and neither carry New Holland part numbered chain - both carry after market chain and want 8-ish dollars a foot. Tractor Supply has a 10 ft roll of the chain for around 18-20-ish dollars. The TSC stuff is made in China, but I have a hunch so is the after market chain the NH dealer is selling. Anyone have any experience with the TSC chains?
The next thing out on the timing is the needles. They are coming into the baler very late in the cycle. When I trip the knotters, the plunger moves towards the rear - as it should, but per the manual, the tips of the needles are probably 3 or more inches into the slots of the plunger as they come into the chamber where that distance should be less than an inch. The rod that cycles the needles from the knotters, doesn't have a bow in it - that I've seen in manuals. When that rod cycles close to the baler sheet metal, it touches it slightly. I think that bow is there for clearance.
As the needles are heading to the home position, the plunger is beginning to make its way back down the chamber and because the needles are entering the bale chamber early with respect to the position of the plunger at the start of a knot cycle, as they return home, they are not getting out of the chamber fast enough and the plunger stop - stops the plunger, as it should. While the baler is outwardly in very good shape, my guess is shearing the flywheel bolt and the inability of the seller to time the baler (they had no manual specific to this baler), is likely why it set in a shed for 20 years. The appearance of a round baler probably helped ice the retirement of this baler.
Other observations, there are only 2 hay dogs on the top of this baler and they are on the center and pick-up side of the bale chamber. I see a slot where a hay dog might be located on the far bale chamber side, but no fastener holes to mount one. Doesn't look like this baler ever had a third hay dog. Question is - would a NH68 have 2 or 3 hay dogs on top of the bale chamber? I know later models did.
There are 4 vertical wedges on the side of the bale chamber, two per side. They are in great shape. There are two wedges in the bottom of the bale chamber and one larger hay dog looking wedge (for lack of a better word) in the bottom of the chamber centered between them - but further back towards the plunger.
Looked at the legacy paint on the feeder forks - don't see where the forks have been moved out of their factory position as shown by unpainted marks.
It is raining like crazy today, dark and dreary. Supposed to rain all weekend. Maybe tomorrow I'll get back out where the camp is and the baler for more tinkering.
I'd like to have a test run at baling some hay over Labor Day weekend - we'll see.
Bill
Bottom line on my baler is - it is out of time.
The knotter dots are at least one chain link off - might replace the knotter chain. Called two different New Holland dealers and neither carry New Holland part numbered chain - both carry after market chain and want 8-ish dollars a foot. Tractor Supply has a 10 ft roll of the chain for around 18-20-ish dollars. The TSC stuff is made in China, but I have a hunch so is the after market chain the NH dealer is selling. Anyone have any experience with the TSC chains?
The next thing out on the timing is the needles. They are coming into the baler very late in the cycle. When I trip the knotters, the plunger moves towards the rear - as it should, but per the manual, the tips of the needles are probably 3 or more inches into the slots of the plunger as they come into the chamber where that distance should be less than an inch. The rod that cycles the needles from the knotters, doesn't have a bow in it - that I've seen in manuals. When that rod cycles close to the baler sheet metal, it touches it slightly. I think that bow is there for clearance.
As the needles are heading to the home position, the plunger is beginning to make its way back down the chamber and because the needles are entering the bale chamber early with respect to the position of the plunger at the start of a knot cycle, as they return home, they are not getting out of the chamber fast enough and the plunger stop - stops the plunger, as it should. While the baler is outwardly in very good shape, my guess is shearing the flywheel bolt and the inability of the seller to time the baler (they had no manual specific to this baler), is likely why it set in a shed for 20 years. The appearance of a round baler probably helped ice the retirement of this baler.
Other observations, there are only 2 hay dogs on the top of this baler and they are on the center and pick-up side of the bale chamber. I see a slot where a hay dog might be located on the far bale chamber side, but no fastener holes to mount one. Doesn't look like this baler ever had a third hay dog. Question is - would a NH68 have 2 or 3 hay dogs on top of the bale chamber? I know later models did.
There are 4 vertical wedges on the side of the bale chamber, two per side. They are in great shape. There are two wedges in the bottom of the bale chamber and one larger hay dog looking wedge (for lack of a better word) in the bottom of the chamber centered between them - but further back towards the plunger.
Looked at the legacy paint on the feeder forks - don't see where the forks have been moved out of their factory position as shown by unpainted marks.
It is raining like crazy today, dark and dreary. Supposed to rain all weekend. Maybe tomorrow I'll get back out where the camp is and the baler for more tinkering.
I'd like to have a test run at baling some hay over Labor Day weekend - we'll see.
Bill