Relieve Tension When Done Baling?

Part Time Pete · Jul 14, 2016

I don't even remember where, but I was taught to back the bale tension off by ten turns or so at the end of the day, then the next time you use it, run a bale or two through before cranking the tension back down.
Is there a reason to do this, or am I just making extra work for myself?
Thanks
Pete

Tx Jim · Jul 14, 2016

I never release tension on my sq baler when I store it in the barn. I've seen no ill affects on springs in yrs of doing this as I can still make a 65# bale of grass hay.

David from Kansas · Jul 14, 2016

I always relieved the tension as it let the bale in the chamber expand to tighten the strings, otherwise, the next time the baler is used the first bale or two will be compressed and have really loose strings. Don't think it would hurt the springs to keep it compressed. Just my experience.

4520BW · Jul 14, 2016

I do at end of year when I clean it out but never in season. I do run straw thru it if the last hay in it was not bone dry.

Bill VA · Jul 14, 2016

I loosen my baler up, pull out the last bale and clean out the bale chamber. Around here, if you leave a bale in the baler, the hay will draw moisture and make for rust. I had a 14t years ago that someone left it tight and full of hay and over the years it was parked, rusted out the bottom of the bale case.

YMMV

mtny · Jul 14, 2016

I usually relieve tension after baling with an ice cold beer . But as foe the baler I do open her up and pull the last two out if I'm not gonna be at it the next day . And as said by others , end of season by all means clean her out.

Don-Wi · Jul 14, 2016

We may clean it out at the end of the year, but that's it. Don't bother with cleaning it out during the season, and don't mess with the tension either until the bales are either too loose or too tight when baling. The baler we run is a Massey #12, so it's got plenty of age on it.

Donovan from Wisconsin

notjustair · Jul 14, 2016

I was taught to turn tentioners back by 20 turns each time you park it. The 24T is still baling and came to the farm new, so it must work. It never sits out and hadn't gotten wet. I don't ever take the old bale out when I park it but it is in a dry shed. I haven't had the bale draw moisture.

showcrop · Jul 15, 2016

What David from Kansas said. If you have a thrower, it can save a problem with that first bale out.

Part Time Pete · Jul 15, 2016

Thanks guys - I think I'll go with backing them off, but then crank them back down before I start the next time.
Then I think I'll go with MTNY's method...
Pete

Leroy · Jul 19, 2016

Always relieved tension but never a certain numbers of turns, just till no tension on things, usually remembered how many turns it took and would tighten down to about 10 less than was loosened to start as hay was likely drier and took more tension than when starting again and during day keep adjusting tighter as hay kept getting drier.

Relieve Tension When Done Baling?

Part Time Pete

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Tx Jim

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David from Kansas

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4520BW

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Bill VA

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mtny

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Don-Wi

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notjustair

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showcrop

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Part Time Pete

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Leroy

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