Most Important Part on a Small Square Baler

lastcowboy32

Well-known Member
Well, after yesterday, I would have to conclude that it's the plunger stop activation spring...

Due to a combination of issues, some beyond my control... but ultimately my own fault...

I disconnected this spring while troubleshooting in the field... forgot to reconnect it when I started baling.

I ended up with a twisted needle yoke, two bent needles and a bent twine finger mounting plate about a minute later...

The bright side is... a neighbor literally "baled me out" by round-baling the 800 small squares that we had dried and raked up.

Also, I was already in the process of harvesting parts off of a NH269 that we're scrapping...looks like the needle yoke and needles are going to be harvested and used a little sooner than anticipated...

Otherwise, this little oversight would cost us about 1300 dollars in parts alone.
 

There is also a question here. The issue that I was having that lead to this whole mess, is: (this is for a NH276 baler)

The knotter drive chain was coming off; so the knotters were stopping mid-activation. I had already popped a shear pin because of this and had re-timed the baler.

After this failure... even though I could replace the parts to get the baler going again on short order... I decided to wait, because of this question:

If the plunger stop is fully functioning... is there STILL a part of the plunger to knotter timing cycle that could result in a TURD (totally unexpected rapid disassembly), if the knotter drive suddenly stops??

I couldn't answer this question to my satisfaction. So, I decided to stop running the baler, until I can solve the knotter drive chain issue... even with the plunger stop spring re-installed... because... what if? If that knotter drive chain is going to come off... is it just random chance that the plunger stop saves the needles? Will they be saved "most" of the time? Every time? I don't know. But I'm not running this baler again, until the knotter drive chain is put back in bulletproof condition.

(Why the knotter drive chain was coming off is a very, very long story going back to a tine bar crash on this baler a couple years ago resulting in a bent shaft that the knotter drive sprocket rides on... the parts to replace this shaft are on order from Messicks for a few weeks now... but... supply chain issues are causing knotter drive chain issues to continue)
 

And... thinking out loud here... It's never the plunger that destroys the needles directly. Correct? The needles and plunger are designed so that the needles actually come up through the slots in the plunger.

What destroys needles and knotters is actually the hay on the plunger... if the needles are already up in the chamber when a plunger full of hay is coming down the pike...

So... the needles are destroyed in two conditions:

1. If they come in too early during their activation... which is determined by the timing set by the knotter drive chain. So... a drive chain failure here doesn't matter, as long as the timing was set correctly. A broken chain would only make them late.

2. If they remain in the chamber after the plunger has started the next forward stroke, which will bring more hay... which could happen with a knotter drive chain failure.
 
If it is just a shaft with a couple keys in it they can be made for reasonable out of new round stock and saved this whole problem in the first place. As for the chain lay it on a flat surface and check for end play by pushing a couple links endways the pull them back apart, If it will move at all it is shot. Replace the sprockets at this time also or the chain will wear as fast as the sprockets from the old chain. As for the rest of it i've never fooled with a square baler other than to load behind one.
 
(quoted from post at 18:08:25 10/13/21) Wh not a used shaft for that? Lot cheaper and probably have it in a week.

I have the shaft. It's all of the little seals, bearings and other things that are holding me up. I wanted to replace all of that when I pulled the shaft from the gearbox.

I could possibly "mix" my order... take what Messicks is having trouble with... get that from a local dealer... or re-use some parts?

But that also takes time, to go back through the parts diagram... compare it to my order... go to another dealer, etc.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 

And...what are the chances that I get a shaft out of a 45 year old gear box, while keeping all of the seals and bearings in good enough condition to re-use? I wanted all of the parts on hand... just in case.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top