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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

lifespan of knotters on square balers

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used to be jame

01-22-2006 09:35:10

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I see lots of posts about square balers making millions of bales. How many times are the knotters replaced in the life of one of these balers? Naturally the bill hooks, knives and knife arms will be replaced occasionally, but what about the cam gears or more importantly the knotter frame(the main body of the knotter which holds the bill hook, knife are etc.)? Does the knotter frame last forever, or do the surfaces wear to the point of needing replaced?

I have a NH 276 which has always been inside, and seen relatively little use.(less than 100,000 bales) There seems to be a lot of wear on the bill hook roller cam surface. (the surface which opens the bill hook) Also the knife arms have a lot of play in them. If I loosen the knotter frame, swing it all the way up, the knife can be flopped around enough to nearly touch the bill hook.

I would not worry about any of this, but it miss ties too often. I should be able to bale thousands without a miss. I'm lucky to get 100.

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Cliff Neubauer

01-22-2006 18:58:04

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to used to be james, 01-22-2006 09:35:10

Did you happen to try a different bale of twine? We have had a few "bad" bales of twine that would cause alot of problems, switch twine and all would be well again. We have a NH 270 that's only baled about 70,000 bales and it would usually only miss a bale when switching between bales of twine. We just bought a Hesston 4590 baler and I hope it ties as good as the New Hollands have.

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hayray

01-23-2006 04:27:38

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to Cliff Neubauer, 01-22-2006 18:58:04

Cliff,

I just boughtg a 4590 also. Let me know how yours works when you start baling. I think the New Hollands have a lot less knotter problems but the Hesston sure makes a nicer bale.

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hayray

01-23-2006 04:23:46

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to Cliff Neubauer, 01-22-2006 18:58:04

Cliff,

I just boughtg a 4590 also. Let me know how yours works when you start baling. I think the New Hollands have a lot less knotter problems but the Hesston sure makes a nicer bale.

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hayray

01-22-2006 18:04:31

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to used to be james, 01-22-2006 09:35:10

Don't need to repalace the knotter head frame unless the casting breaks,either from the worm gear binding against the cam gear or the needles hitting the frame. More likely replace the knife arm, bill hook cam and often on worn knotters you should be tightening up the slop on the main knotter shaft so that the cams are meshing properly with the worm pinion gear, that will be the main cause of the knotter head frame to bust. Also you may need to make shims and put them on the bill hook shaft on old knotters so the bill hook cam presses hard enough against the cam to pull both strands through the loop. Mis-ties every 100 bales no big deal, some days you can only be so lucky. When you shove lost of hay through the throat sometimes the plunger return stroke may cause the twine fingers to mis the twine. You may also need new bushings for the twine fingers also.

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tim Shultz

01-22-2006 14:42:11

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to used to be james, 01-22-2006 09:35:10

I have a JD 24T that I had to put a new frame on.. though it got out of time and that's what made it break.. reaplace it if you want, but they cost a ton.. 250 for mine.. JUST the frame..
I would say they might wear out after a while.. but it would take a lot of hay and little oil..
just keep them well greased and they will last longer than your back! :p) Tim Shultz

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WyoDave

01-22-2006 10:09:27

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to used to be james, 01-22-2006 09:35:10

We just traded off 2 JD 348 balers that we bought new 12 years ago. We figured they had close to 750000 bales apiece through them. Between the 4 knotter frames on both balers we only ever replaced1 of them because something bound up on the knotter and broke the frame. As for the rest of the parts I wouldn't be surprised that they'd all been replaced somewhere along the way. When we traded them they were still tying like new. You've got something wrong, but I wouldn't think it was the frame unless its been bent or otherwise damaged. If the billhook looks that worn they are pretty cheap and simple to replace.
David

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WyoDave

01-22-2006 10:24:16

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Re: lifespan of knotters on square balers in reply to WyoDave, 01-22-2006 10:09:27

Also, those cam gears will wear out, and they're a bit of a bugger to replace. The only time I've ever had to replace one is when they get so worn that the gears slip rather than spin properly. Although it could be worn excessively where the billhook runs I suppose.
David

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