Ouch!

Don't know how it happened but heard a bang and lo and behold I broke about 3/4" off the end of the "hootus" (need a name for it) that reaches around (like a curved index finger on your hand) and grabs the wire to do the knot twist. It is just enough to be totally unreliable. Bales 1 or 2 then won't tie 1 or 2 on that side.

Looks like it is part of the shaft that goes up to the chain drive. Just as well as there are lots of marks on the shaft where wire has run for lotta years. Probably won't hurt to redo the whole shebang. This is really sad as once you got the ram to cut and compress the hay, it did a great job of tying it off.

I understand other brand balers used this Ford patent which might get me into a newer baler and possibly a source for parts.

Thanks for any help

Mark

Jerry,

Have no Idea but would try. Best I can tell, Ford designed a real simple, reliable wire twister (tieing) unit and lots of other folks used the patent. That being the case, it probably remained for a long time.

This is very distinctive as when you walk up and look at it, there is a chain drive triangle of 3 gears on the top of the tie'r with one larger gear chain driving the 2 smaller gears which are mounted on top of the 2 shafts that go down vertically towards the hay (about 8") and on the bottom of the shaft are the grab fingers I am talking about that are twisted by the chain drive. Down under the 3 gears, in the center, running fore and aft, is a larger gear which is driven off the trip mechanism on the side of the baler. Real simple, and few parts.

And thanks for your help

Mark

later days mate,
Jim

Problem is that the twister seems to be part of the shaft. I see no mechanism for separating the two from one another.

Mark

There should be a bolt and nut securing the tieing assembly in place. Remove them and "swing" the assembly upwards. This should allow you the room need for repair and maintenance on the unit. Look closely at the twister on the shaft. It should have a 5/16' capscrew securing the twister on the shaft. If indeed it doesn't, I would remove the chain (might want to mark the timing marks for ease of reassembly) and drop the shaft out of there. Ford should have the parts, although they may need to order them. Or you may try one of the local independents that deal in aftermarket parts. While your in there, check to insure your brake, plates, and guides are okay.

later days mate,
Jim

May be that paint has covered the screw if it is a hex socket. Otherwise I see no means for making the twister a different piece from the shaft. Makes sense though that they are different pieces. The twister is cast iron and the shaft is steel. Gotta be one there somewhere.

You mentioned timing.

What timing will I affect removing the tieing unit. Do I just have to keep the drive (1) and driven (2) gear teeth in the proper perspective (number of chain links between each)? If I don't rotate the assembly (any gear)over 360 degrees, and mark the gears shouldn't I be able to put it all back without hurting anything?

Thanks,
Mark