Today we were going to bale the mother load after dabbling yesterday with some earlier cut hay.
The hay got a few sprinkles of rain early this morning, but when I checked it - was dry underneath, so I waited until about noon for the moisture and dew to fully cook off and gave it another turn with the JD350 hay rake.
While I was waiting for the hay to dry, I did a little adjusting with the NH68. I moved the middle feed forks to the right about an inch and the left most (bale chamber side) feeder forks a couple of inches - almost to the grease zerk on the feeder fork bar. The goal was to get more hay in the far side of the bale chamber.
Once the hay was raked and nice and dry, we started baling. The adjustments pretty much eliminated the bananna bales, but every once in a while I'd have a looser string in the farside of the chamber vs the knife side.
We baled about 150 bales and I started smelling coolant. Couldn't see any coming out of hoses or the radiator, the engine was not overheating. Then all of a sudden, white coolant smelling steam started pouring out the exhaust and the radiator overflow was blowing antifreeze. I hope I've got a blown head gasket and not a cracked head on my otherwise reliable MF50 diesel.
As a rule, I like to run what I own and if for no other reason, that way if it breaks when I'm using it, it's on me. Today, I made an exception. I called my brother who has a Ferguson TO20 and asked if we could finish baling with it. Didn't know if this little tractor could or would handle the NH68. After swapping the draw bar from my MF50 to his tractor, we hooked the baler up and gave it a spin. Knowing it didn't have live PTO, I was careful about loading up the baler. In addition, this tractor has a non-functioning governor, so special attention is required when operating it! Engaged the PTO, the TO20's engine lugged down and then the NH68 came to life. Bottom line is that little tractor handled the NH68 great!
However, after making about 60 bales, a massive thunder storm struck. The rain came so fast, I could hardly see to drive the tractor/baler out of the field. I was drenched. The hay we baled not yet picked up was drenched. The remaining windrows were drenched too. The moisture content in the hay is now through the roof!
We unhooked the NH68 from the TO20 and put the JD350 rake on it for wet hay salvage, but with the PTO adapter, the PTO shaft on the rake is to long. I'll go to TSC and see if I can find a PTO shaft I can cut down - just to use on the TO20. I want to get the remaining hay off the field, not sure what to do with it, burn the bales or sell it as rain soaked hay or mulch.
So for now, the great hay experiment - while successful has ground to a stop.
Lots of great experience gained this time out - lessons learned too for the next round.
Thanks again for everyone's help!!!!!!!
Bill
The hay got a few sprinkles of rain early this morning, but when I checked it - was dry underneath, so I waited until about noon for the moisture and dew to fully cook off and gave it another turn with the JD350 hay rake.
While I was waiting for the hay to dry, I did a little adjusting with the NH68. I moved the middle feed forks to the right about an inch and the left most (bale chamber side) feeder forks a couple of inches - almost to the grease zerk on the feeder fork bar. The goal was to get more hay in the far side of the bale chamber.
Once the hay was raked and nice and dry, we started baling. The adjustments pretty much eliminated the bananna bales, but every once in a while I'd have a looser string in the farside of the chamber vs the knife side.
We baled about 150 bales and I started smelling coolant. Couldn't see any coming out of hoses or the radiator, the engine was not overheating. Then all of a sudden, white coolant smelling steam started pouring out the exhaust and the radiator overflow was blowing antifreeze. I hope I've got a blown head gasket and not a cracked head on my otherwise reliable MF50 diesel.
As a rule, I like to run what I own and if for no other reason, that way if it breaks when I'm using it, it's on me. Today, I made an exception. I called my brother who has a Ferguson TO20 and asked if we could finish baling with it. Didn't know if this little tractor could or would handle the NH68. After swapping the draw bar from my MF50 to his tractor, we hooked the baler up and gave it a spin. Knowing it didn't have live PTO, I was careful about loading up the baler. In addition, this tractor has a non-functioning governor, so special attention is required when operating it! Engaged the PTO, the TO20's engine lugged down and then the NH68 came to life. Bottom line is that little tractor handled the NH68 great!
However, after making about 60 bales, a massive thunder storm struck. The rain came so fast, I could hardly see to drive the tractor/baler out of the field. I was drenched. The hay we baled not yet picked up was drenched. The remaining windrows were drenched too. The moisture content in the hay is now through the roof!
We unhooked the NH68 from the TO20 and put the JD350 rake on it for wet hay salvage, but with the PTO adapter, the PTO shaft on the rake is to long. I'll go to TSC and see if I can find a PTO shaft I can cut down - just to use on the TO20. I want to get the remaining hay off the field, not sure what to do with it, burn the bales or sell it as rain soaked hay or mulch.
So for now, the great hay experiment - while successful has ground to a stop.
Lots of great experience gained this time out - lessons learned too for the next round.
Thanks again for everyone's help!!!!!!!
Bill