ps ? Ford baler

Posted back to you down below and forgot to ask a question about the feed forks that has had me puzzled from the first time I saw it and got to thinking about it....why was it built that way...

Then got the manual out and started reading about it, and according to the manual...the inner feed forks are 'spring loaded' on a 'TELESCOPING' shaft to help prevent overloading of the bale chamber. On this ole 542, the telescoping shaft has been welded to the outer sleeve/tube, so that no telescoping action can be achieved. Not recently done iether...all the blue paint is the same faded shade, no evidence of any overspray, etc.. The man I bought it from said it was that way when he bought it (used) from the Ford dealership. I don't think he ever read the manual, said he thought the springs were to help keep the shaft straight...

Again...don't have another one to compare it against..... is yours as the manual states, or has it been welded stationary?

To answer your question below about the feed fork timing -- another WOW.....it is still working!! Forks appear to be timed right according to the manual, moved the hay across and into the bale chamber as they should with no problems...

however....

apparently at some time in its life, the drive chain for the feed forks has broken (or was cut) at exactly the right length (no half links, and only one master).....the tightening sprocket was moved to the middle and SOMEHOW the master link was put back in with NO slack allowed!! Chain was so tight that it had wore grooves in the hood bracket where both upper edges of the chain has run - for who knows how long!!

As luck would have it.....in this big little backwards town, have been unable to aquire a short piece of 2050 chain to splice in yet. Local NH dealership has just changed ownership/location etc..and hasn't got any on hand type inventory as of yet.....can order whole new chain, but didn't want to if I didn't have to!! Haven't had time to chase around to the other supply houses yet, might have to go to the next county as they are a little more ag inclined on keeping 'em running without going whole hog.

Thanks

Garry

That 542 should be a higher capacity baler than the 273 is if I understand my NH Models correctly. It should bale some hay when you get it to the field if you got the tractor out front to handle it. I think I have a brochure on it somewhere around here if you would like for me to scan the specs for you. Let me know....

Hoping to add the fifth blue baler to the Ford Baler Users Society.

Jerry D

My manual shows 29 links on the 'bottom' strand between timing holes. Should be able to add some chain with no problem as soon as I can get hold of some...

I think you are right about the 542 being a larger capacity than the 273..... at least in looks, Haven't measured, but the opening into the bale chamber looks close to same, guess it depends on difference of plunger strokes per, as both make the same size bale?? ..will find out in a week or so...as if the 273 don't put out more in an hours time than I want to get picked up anyway!! Had it hooked to my old 860 (gas)(my raking tractor) last year for trial and it didn't have any problem, have a 2810 that I will use for baling.

Thanks

Garry

I am having trouble understanding where you are saying it is welded closed. I have attached a picture of where my baler extends the springs if it is overloaded or hits something. I had been meaning to double check they were free and moving. Solid things like that have a way of getting bent. Kinda like replacing a fuse with a penny in the electrical panel or building a metal pittman rod for a mowing machine. Some things are designed to give and when they don't something goes boom.

My manual says 29 links on the bottom too and if you do that then the feed forks will be perfectly in phase and it will not move hay across the table worth a hoot. I think that is the main reason that these balers got a bad name in this area. Everyone of them are adjusted in phase and they will not keep up with a small windrow. Everybody I have talked to around here that ever used one of these balers hated them because you could not bale fast enough because you had to go so slow in just medium hay and if you hit heavy hay, well forget it..... Both of my balers were set up that way when I got them.

Unless I am mistaken the 273 is a 70 strokes per minute baler and the 542 is a 90 strokes per minute baler. That starts matching it to the 283/286 NH except it is a 14x18 bale instead of the 16x18.

If this picture isn't clear then let me know and I will email you the unedited larger version.

At least, think that through before doing it....

--->Paul