ford baler

Good idea with the picture, should have thought of it myself! Yes we are in the same neighborhood. Probably have to reverse that bet again, can see from your image where it should separate. Will drop the springs off and get the wd40 hold of it and see if I can get it loosened up, can't get any notion of slack at that point right now, got to be froze up with dust & rust.

As for timing the forks, going to leave them positioned as is for now. Previous owner didn't relay any info on it not working satisfactory for him.

Haven't ever posted a picture to this board before. Generally just put the code in to bring it up, but will use the image url blank below -- hope it works!

Thanks

Garry

Here is a pic of mine ready to go to the next field. Since it is just me, I frequently rake and bale with the same tractor so I take it all as I go to the field.

Yep, a picture when you are as bad as I am about describing something is worth alot more than 1000 words. LOL

The way I test mine every so often is to put a 6x6 wood block on the table and turn the flywheel by hand until the fork bumps that block. With a little hard work the thing will flex. I would try that before taking those springs loose.

That 860 actually ought to be a fairly decent match for that baler unless weight is an issue. The literature shows it being used behind a 4000 which was very comparable to the 860. The live PTO makes all the difference in the world.

Will try the block first..Like you, I think it should be able to flex some to avoid trouble!

Actually my 860 is sort of designated as my rake tractor. Have a JD660 that I hook behind the JD650 to get a 'double' windrow and cut rake time in half. The 860 does pretty good with it, unless it happens to be one of those HOT days. Weight wouldn't be an issue.....got a full set of pie weights (minus one) on it, good brakes, just no power steering. My only tractor for about 10 years and got really aggravating when trying to get baling done when it was really hot, as the baler pulled more than the rake, would have to pullup under a shade tree and let her cool down. Wouldn't get into the red line, but would get to coughing, running rough, and lose a lot of power. About 2 years ago, got hold of the 2810 (a '84 model that had only a little over 500 hrs on it) about the same hp but diesel and power steering to boot, not to mention fuel economy. Figured even though it had the light front end style on it, being as I don't have a frontend loader, it would suffice until my ship came in and I could afford one of those new ones with a cab, stereo, a/c, etc.. :-)

In the winter, that old 860 will work the 2810 into the ground (and make it like it!!) Have had to walk to the house and get the 860 a couple of times just to pull the 2810 out of being stuck moving logs for firewood that the 2810 just sunk with. If the 860 had power steering and would keep running good in hot weather, it would probably still be my only tractor and I'd be driving a newer model p/u!!

Garry

Let us know how the check on the forks goes and I would really be interested in the comparison of the two balers. Email me if I can be of any help.

Assuming all baling conditions equal, that would make the 542 a couple of bales per minute faster than the 273. Would really show up (running time) in a pasture that yeilded more than 2 - 300 bales, if all was cut to be baled at the same time. The most I've ever baled in one sitting was 570 a couple of years back for a neighbor down the road aways. The 273 done it in a couple of hours, counting the stops for chit-chatting and such. (City folks, decided to move to the country, bought a place I had been baling for a different owner, never seen a baler working before. Still cut and bale for them, but they decided to let me break it (18 - 20 acre pasture)up in 4 or 5 sittings as I had for the last owner instead of all or 2, to keep from having so much to get up at a time.

Garry