Caution;burnt rd baler

Tx Jim · Mar 19, 2011

I just saw this ad on local Craig's list item #2272352822

It's a little while until baling time but I thought I'd give a warning that round hay balers can be a fire hazard. It matters not what color as I've seen all colors/brands catch fire and burn. A fire extinguisher and insurance are very good to have on a rd baler.

Tim(nj) · Mar 19, 2011

Might I add that keeping the extinguisher on the tractor is better than on the baler. That way you can grab it and start shooting at the fire as you're getting off.

BCnT · Mar 19, 2011

yep...good advice...for the tightwads that at least have a small electric sprayer setup,they work pretty good at putting out small fires...i keep mine in the truck when welding in the field,but i've seen em strapped on fenders while baling hay too.

john beldon · Mar 19, 2011

if you can unhook the tractor from the baler,so you will lose your tractor.! Do not forget to spray the ground around the baler too! So you do not set the whole field on fire!

Charlie M · Mar 19, 2011

Just curious - what causes a round baler to catch on fire?

msb · Mar 19, 2011

HOT bearings.Pulled a 510 in the barn and left it over night. A hot bearing caught the hay in the baler on fire. Luckily it went out as it was only a small amount of hay. Best to leave them outside over night after baling that day.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 19, 2011

Don't forget the Snuffy Smith method, it has worked for me several times, in my life on the farm! If you Don't know who Snuffy was, just google him!

okierob · Mar 19, 2011

yep, had 2 fires flare up in a baler. first time i caught glimps of smoke. Dumped bale and sprayed the hot spots.

second time it had a pretty good flame and proceded to catch under the baler. got it out with no damage other then the failed bearing.

Been nervous ever since baling hay.

If it is really dry i'll have my 4 wheeler with 25 gal water tank parked near where we are baling. have small extinguisher in the cab and one on the baler.

might not save everything but hopefully keep it contained and not burn the whole feild. Also it is wise to pull out of the windrow if you have a fire in the baler.

Tx Jim · Mar 20, 2011

(quoted from post at 17:58:43 03/19/11) Just curious - what causes a round baler to catch on fire?

If I counted correctly there are 28 sealed ball brgs on a JD 467 rd baler that run close to hay in the baler while the bale is being formed . Any of which is capable of getting hot from wear.

Roger in Iowa · Mar 20, 2011

Good advice, carrying an extinguisher!

Check bearings with an infrared thermometer after shutting off the baler to see if any bearings are running hotter than others. If hot, they are failing.

Do not use high pressure washers to wash off balers. Water gets under the bearing seals causing bearing failure. Use compressed air instead.

rrlund · Mar 20, 2011

I caught one on fire once baling wheat straw. Had a bearing go out and caught the bale on fire. I kicked it out,then left it running while I high taled it for a bean field and threw dirt on it. Then I headed across the road to a house and grabbed a hose and put water on it. No real damage to the baler,but I can't say the same for the field.

Joneil · Mar 21, 2011

We borrowed a friends tractor to do some round baling. We had used it on our baler before but this day it was blowing a lot of black smoke and soot when I idled back to eject bales. I was worried about setting the baler on fire. Any ways I'm driving along and my feet were burning up. Which isn't uncommon when a tractor is pulling hard all day with your feet above the transmission. They did seem to be a little hotter than normal and i finally looked down to see my feet on top of a pile of rags the guy kept on the platform engulfed in flames from the soot. Stomped it out and kept going.

showcrop · Mar 21, 2011

More specifically, if you are haying a 2.5 gal water unit is twice as effective as the equivalent in dry powder for ordinary combustibles. Add 6oz. dish detergent makes it twice as effective again.

Tx Jim · Mar 21, 2011

(quoted from post at 13:33:45 03/21/11) More specifically, if you are haying a 2.5 gal water unit is twice as effective as the equivalent in dry powder for ordinary combustibles. Add 6oz. dish detergent makes it twice as effective again.

I totally agree. I had the misfortune to have a brg go out. I caught my baler on fire. Kicked out the bale and sprayed with fire extinguisher then called 911 on my cell phone. Fire flamed up again,sprayed again then ran out of water. It flamed up again so I unhooked tractor and moved it away from baler. In less than 15 minutes my baler was a "crispy critter". Fire truck got there in time only to lose 2 or 3 acres of Coastal out of a 45 acre field.

Finn Md · Apr 1, 2011

good advice. I've been lazy lately and this post is a good reminder.

Caution;burnt rd baler

Tx Jim

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Tim(nj)

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BCnT

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john beldon

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Charlie M

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msb

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Anonymous-0

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okierob

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Tx Jim

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Roger in Iowa

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rrlund

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Joneil

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showcrop

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Tx Jim

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Finn Md

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