Vermeer 504 F Baler loose belts

eamay · Jul 30, 2013

93 year old neighbor just bought a vermeer 504 F, that has not baled much hay. But, it has set for several years. When engaging the pto the belts do not turn, and appear to not have enough tension on them. The tension cylinder in the middle of the baler has not hydraulic lines leading to it, but has lines connected to itself. The cylinder lacks about and inch or little more bottoming out on the stop. How do you add tension to the belts. The baler manual is one of the poorest manuals I have ever run across. Schematic shows lines going to the hydraulic tension system, but there are not lines that I can see. What am I missing? Would appreciate knowing how to get tension on these belts, they just sit while everything turns. All rollers seem to be operating normally. I have only run John Deere equipment, and I am not familiar with the yellow breed of baler. Thanks for any help.

Erik Ks farmer · Jul 30, 2013

The tension cylinder is a closed loop system, adds tension as hay is feed into the machine I had mine rebuilt in 08 or so after 30 years of use. Try opening and closing the tail gate with pto engaged to get belts rolling.

Bruce SEKs · Jul 30, 2013

I have a 605 F When the belts wouldn't turn, it was the bearings in the rollers. Once they were replaced the belts would move.

eamay · Jul 30, 2013

We raised the gate and lowered it several times, but the belts made no effort to move. Should that cylinder come all the way down to the stop. It lacks and inch or so bottoming out. Manual indicated that the stop could be changed. I am thinking maybe the cylinder is stuck from not being used in years. Any opinion on this?

VicS · Jul 30, 2013

There is a max length for the belts in the book. But if the stop is set for a soft center the belts might not turn till a little hay is in it. Our Gehl belts just barely turn without any hay in it. Vic

petetx · Jul 30, 2013

not familier with vermeer but on hestons have to have hay in the chamber before the belts turn

bgud · Jul 30, 2013

I just picked up a 605h this summer and had the same issue it had been sitting a while. The belts on mine would not turn either. Now I know its not safe nor do it recomend it but what i did was turned it on at an idle and grabbed a couple of belts and pulled them in the direction of rotation and they all started rotating. Now as I said I would not recomend this but they were stuck to the rollers from sitting. I haven't had any issues sense. If you can find a way to add some tension to the belts safely they should be fine once they come loose. The cylinder on the front is for bale tension.

paul · Jul 31, 2013

I have a 605F.

Sounds like your hyd are messed up.

However, it is not uncommon for the belts to be slack enough they don't turn after an off season of storage, until you,pack a little hay on they don't spin.

Paul

Erik Ks farmer · Jul 31, 2013

(quoted from post at 03:55:51 07/31/13) We raised the gate and lowered it several times, but the belts made no effort to move. Should that cylinder come all the way down to the stop. It lacks and inch or so bottoming out. Manual indicated that the stop could be changed. I am thinking maybe the cylinder is stuck from not being used in years. Any opinion on this?

That cylinder is fine, that is not where your problem lies. There are springs on each side of the machine that provide tension to the belts, then as hay is feed into the machine the cylinder tensions the belts.

Vermeer 504 F Baler loose belts

eamay

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Erik Ks farmer

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Bruce SEKs

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eamay

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VicS

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petetx

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bgud

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paul

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Erik Ks farmer

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