I'm very green at baling hay - just finished my second cutting of grass hay in my first season. My baler is an old but functional JD 214WS, and after baling nearly every bale twice on the first cutting, finally got it adjusted to where it rarely misses a tie.Now that it is at least working, I have time to stop and think about making it work better and have a couple of questions seeking hints or tips. I can see ways to sharpen knives and replace tines, but if there are easier ways, I'd sure like to know what they are. 1. How do I sharpen the knives? If I was 100 pounds lighter and a few years younger - another foot or two of arm length would also be useful - I might do it in place freehand with a die grinder, but while that might be possible, it doesn't seem to be the way it was meant to be. I assume I have to remove them to sharpen them? If so, any tips on clearance adjustment other than it's done with shims to the spec in the manual? 2. How do I replace pick-up tines? Since they are enclosed by the strippers that the tines run between, and since those run all the way down and under the tine shaft, it looks like the strippers need to be removed to replace tines? Any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Chuck, WA
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