New Holland 281 Knotters won't cycle

I have a New Holland 281 baler that has baled great every year. I got it out to get it ready to go this year and it will not cycle the knotters or needles. You can trip the metering arm, roll it over by hand and everything works but the knotters and needles. i removed, cleaned, and inspected the knotter brake, thinking it may have been stuck. I removed and cleaned the knotter clutch. Am I on the right track, or do I need to look elsewhere? I need to be baling hay!
 
Knotter shear pin? sometimes the simplest things are missed....then I kick myself.
Are the chains to the knotter turning the sprocket?
If yes..it is in the knotter.
If no...it is in the drive to the chain..back further in the chain drive system.
 
ASSUMING the clutch sprocket is being turned, the clutch pawl must be stuck to the clutch disc, so it isn't moving and engaging with the clutch housing/sprocket. Can't remember for sure if there's a spring in there that could have broken.
 
#11...
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If it is the knotter shear pin will it still turn the sprocket at the knotter? my sprocket still turns but you can trip the knotters and they never budge.
 
The knotter shear pin is almost invisible. As I recall, just under the sprocket, by the chain. It is a smaller shear pin than the flywheel shear pin. Before you go further verify that it is not sheared. It may look OK but be sheared inside the housing.
 
I am not familiar with the 281 knotter drive but almost all NH knotters are the same. The shear bolt on a NH 276 is p/n 86578266 a 12-24x1 1/2' BOLT.

I have looked at the knotter drive diagram for your 281 and do not see a shear pin location...so I give up????
 
If its like a 273 baler you have to have that pawl behind the catch or it wont work. You have to fiddle with the needle trip to get it behind the catch. It seems like sometimes it would be easy and other times it was a little diffucult.
 
When looking at the parts diagram of the knotter clutch, it was a spring(10) that connects clutch pawl to ear on housing. I have no clue where mine went but $3 and lots of frustration later I am now ready to bale.

Thanks guys!
 
I have been too busy to get back on here but the old 281 did a fine job as usual after y'all helped me figure out my knotter issue. Thanks again.

Here is a short video of her in action.
 

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