Help on baler knotter

On 46 mccormick international I did some recent work one twine knife is not quit right. These are the old cast knives seems its too late or early on cutting the twine. I know about the 3/8 off the disk and the 1/2 to 9/16 off the twine disk but there is small flat washers under the knife. I just don't know to add or subtract one. Thanks to any help.

I read on here that a man used 5/16 nuts in place of the washers said it worked wounder ful. And alot easier to install the twine knifes. I would say if not cutting twine quick enough take out some washers.

I would say your disk timing is way late if you had to put a 5/16 nut in there and that is what makes the twine knife late also. The amount of washers (or nuts & washers) is going to totally depend on the disk timing. I would set it for the half inch measurement, then run a cycle with just enough material to get at least half a bale and quit feeding, trip the bale length arm and immediately shut off the pto. Now you look at the knot still on the bill hook and see if twine is cut completely. If not you increase the distance by adding washers it will cut earlier. Less, cuts later. Too early, needle twine will pull out of disc before knot is complete, too late and not cut completely, the knot will pull apart coming off the bill hook. A big improvement IH came with was a tapered shaft on the disc , double nutted so it is infinitely adjustable to time the disc. Original you had to move shims on the shaft and that did not work well and only small changes possible. A twine end retainer spring was also a big improvement to keep disc twine held onto a little longer. All these changes can be added to a 46 but most already have that done by now.

When I bought my IH 430 baler a few years ago it would miss tie bales alot. There were extra knives in the tool box. Some had to be sharpened with a file and some had replaceable razor knife blades. I adjusted the twine knives and it ties great. One thing I did notice was some of the extra knives I have are different lengths. Approx. 3/8 longer than others. I too had to shim the knives about 1/4" to get the adjustments I wanted.
I have always wondered if the knives from older IH balers such as the 45 or 47 were different lengths and these were some the previous owner had and just threw them in the tool box.