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Making bad bales

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k smith

06-22-2002 19:13:30




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I think I made the worst bales in the world yesterday. Bales were loose, long and not very consistent. Last year the baler baled fine in the timothy/alfalfa. This was grass hay w/ not much legume and pretty thin and uneven windrows. Was this a problem with my setup for the material being baled (dry and springy) or was it the windrows. If it dries up I'll be doing the alfalfa tomorrow. Any help appreciated!!!!

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del

06-23-2002 04:10:45




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
My dad told me several years ago one of the main components to make a good bale was a good windrow. I started at about 9 or 10 years old raking and learned how to make a good windrow. I only got to rake a few years then my younger brother became the rake man and I went to the wagon. I never actually didn't baled much until after high school.



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Jerry D in NC

06-22-2002 20:13:04




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
It was probably the windrow. Here is the scenario, the bale is heavy at the bottom and light at the top. Your meter for determining the length of a bale is the wheel on top of the bale. If the top of the bale does not have enough matter then the wheel does not turn and the bale gets longer. You are not picking up enough hay to make a full slice so most of the hay settles to the bottom and the top is thin. Consistent windrows keep the hay moving at a constant rate, a windrow that is consistent allows you to adjust your speed to make sure that you pick up enough hay to make a solid bale.

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Jerry D in NC

06-22-2002 20:13:00




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
It was probably the windrow. Here is the scenario, the bale is heavy at the bottom and light at the top. Your meter for determining the length of a bale is the wheel on top of the bale. If the top of the bale does not have enough matter then the wheel does not turn and the bale gets longer. You are not picking up enough hay to make a full slice so most of the hay settles to the bottom and the top is thin. Consistent windrows keep the hay moving at a constant rate, a windrow that is consistent allows you to adjust your speed to make sure that you pick up enough hay to make a solid bale.

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FM

06-22-2002 20:09:08




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
I second the post about the cranks. However, I have found that small windrows compound the problem. Try raking 2 windrows together, and play with the cranks a little bit. Be sure to adjust them evenly, or else one side will be looser than the other.



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FM

06-22-2002 20:08:50




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
I second the post about the cranks. However, I have found that small windrows compound the problem. Try raking 2 windrows together, and play with the cranks a little bit. Be sure to adjust them evenly, or else one side will be looser than the other.



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JMS/MN

06-22-2002 19:37:09




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 Re: Making bad bales in reply to k smith, 06-22-2002 19:13:30  
Sounds like you need to adjust the cranks at the rear of the bale chamber that control tension. They need to be adjusted during the course of the day, as the hay dries, or re-wets during the later or more humid hours of the day. Early morning and late afternoon/evening the hay is tough and the cranks need to be loosened. Mid afternoon they should be the tightest.



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