So after busting a chain on the NH68 yesterday I hitch up the Hesston 5500 to finish up the hay before the rain due today. I'm going along just fine and had made 18-20 bales when all the sudden when I hit a slug of hay theres a "bang" and the baler stops working. I get looking and I have power to the gear box and I can sort of see a shaft turning out the right angle end of the GB. Get it back to the "shop" (my driveway) and take off the covers. I have the parts book and see there's a grade 5, 5/16" shear bolt that protects the gear box and drive gear that's supposed to be in that collar that' moving. Simple fix I thinks. Problem is theres mud dauber nests in the hole the shear bolt is supposed to be in! No shear bolt at all. Not only that, but running a wire into the recess I feel open space on the gear box side...something is way wrong here. Pull the gear box and find the end of the shaft coming out of that collar is busted clean off and rusted at that! I've been using this baler for 2 years now and it seems the ONLY thing keeping that shaft moving was RUST!!! :shock:
I'm going to pull a replacement shaft off my parts machine today. But I have to say, it honestly never even occurred to me that rust could keep a broken shaft turning enough to make 5x5 round bales!
I'm going to pull a replacement shaft off my parts machine today. But I have to say, it honestly never even occurred to me that rust could keep a broken shaft turning enough to make 5x5 round bales!