Guess what happened

The 14T tied two nice knots on every bale!!! I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe it. I think my eyebrows went up and my eyes got big and my mouth was gaping. All that hard work fixing and fabricating and filing and adjusting and adjusting more and timing and timing again and wondering what to do and figuring it out, all worked together to make the baler work. What a relief. After days and days of storms with heavy rains, I had a 2 day window of better weather to cut and dry and try out the baler after all the fixing. Every bale tied. I just did two dozen bales, in case the baler still wasn't working. The thing I need to work on now is the exact windrow size. Last time I baled (after just timing it and doing several other things just to make it work, not adjusting the knotter mechanisms) the windrows were too thick and clogged the plunger and this time they were a little thin. I did the worst part of that field, so some grass was thinner than normal and I also did not double up rows this time. The places it was thin, the bales were lopsided and the thicker places today (thinner than last time though) the bales were perfect. I'm sure I'll get the hang of eyeballing the perfect windrow size soon.
Standing on top of the baler with a sportsman's scale in my hands that was attached to a loop at the end of a piece of twine that was held by the twine holder on the knotter. Manual says twine needs to break free of the twine holder at between 60 and 90 pounds of pulling force. Says you have to pull it straight up parallel to the disc holder face. Do people really do this or am I the only one? I'm standing on top of the baler with my face down trying to read the scale upsidedown at the same time pulling up towards myself with over 60 pounds of force, trying to find a spot to brace my feet and position myself so when the twine breaks loose I won't fall backwards into the plunger hole. Was I being blonde, is there an easier way to do this? Well, it broke free at what seemed to be 80 pounds. Then I had to do the other one. I caught myself before I fell backwards both times and didn't get hurt. Twine holders within spec.
Took apart most of both knotters and learned how it all works. Bill hooks were deeply grooved from, what 60, years of twine going through them. Got blisters all over my fingers filing them smooth. Tucker fingers wouldn't go back to home after I adjusted them. The arm with the roller on it would roll over the cam and them stay up there. Got that big conundrum fixed with generous amounts of chain and cable foaming spray after letting them sit a long time with rust penetrant. Sprayed those things at every joint associated with them and tried it, and SNAP!, right back to home! Done.
Had to make a new bale chute floor and resistors on the sides and new twine channels. I don't know what else. It's an old rusty piece of machinery and sure doesn't match my pretty tractor, but I had a fun time learning about it and it is now making bales!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Horses are very excited. They watched my every move today. They understand what I am trying to do out there. Well, that's enough of the big baler story. I am still in my greasy grimey hay filled clothes with my black hands and am so thristy and I guess hungry too I didn't notice until now and ready to get cleaned up and have an icey drink and go out and look at the progress made today.

Ive used 14t and 24t for over 30 years and feeding hay all the way on the outside of the pickup in light and medium windrowed hay takes away the lopsided bales. just my
experience Scotty

I am glad you're happy, but i am curious what tractor do u have on it,if you got live PTO,you can slip the clutch a little when u get into thick windrows, but not to much!!

WoW, what a story! Huge progress on the baler that you learned about for the first time then rebuilt it on your own. I'm impressed.
Horses are happy too I'm sure. Just stopped for an iced tea but wanted to reply and what a good feeling when you figure out something that looks hopeless and you're on your way. Congratulations from gerrit in Maryland!

No, not everyone does what you did but not everybodys baler works as well as yours does. Good job! Now that you have it working so good, my best advise to you is to keep it inside out of the rain if possible. If you can?t keep it insiade out of the rain then at least cover the knoters.

(quoted from post at 19:27:55 08/12/19) Ive used 14t and 24t for over 30 years and feeding hay all the way on the outside of the pickup in light and medium windrowed hay takes away the lopsided bales. just my
experience Scotty

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scotty-mn, I was playing with where the pick up was today! That was my conclusion, too, that out side is better. I didn't know why, but tried to keep it to the outside if it was thinner. I'm not the best baler driver yet, so didn't always get it there. if you say so too, that's what I'll do!

Fastfarmall, I use my favorite tractor IH666. if there is an unusually heavy spot, I clutch all the way in and actually stop moving but the baler keeps feeding it in and then when it's eaten I move on. I wouldn't want to ride the clutch, even though I'd like the tractor to keep moving. I also don't want to slow the throttle because then the baler slows too and defeats the purpose. My goal is to be a good enough windrower where there aren't any big spots. I did pretty good today. There were a clump or two in a corner or two.

Thanks, Gerrit! Don't be impressed though. I just fixed it enough to make it work, I didn't build it or design it. Imagine all the thought and engineering put into designing the first balers. That's pretty impressive I think. Pretty fun to bring it to life!

tony in sd, I don't know if I have room to have it in all the time but sure will try! Which reminds me, it's outside right now and it's sprinkling. Time to tarp it for tonight, almost dark now. Working good but no doubt more things I can check and fine tune. I think it'll be never ending.

That's pretty amazing! Glad you got it going. Now you can come over to my place and get my old 224T going;-)

I would if I had unlimited time. That would be a fun job, to repair people's old balers.

(quoted from post at 18:10:06 08/12/19) Thanks, Gerrit! Don't be impressed though. I just fixed it enough to make it work, I didn't build it or design it. Imagine all the thought and engineering put into designing the first balers. That's pretty impressive I think. Pretty fun to bring it to life!

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Gotmyfarm!...I'm still impressed even though you told me not to be. If anything, I'm even MORE impressed now. No, you didn't design and build the baler, but the machine didn't come from the mind of one person. I'm sure different individuals and engineers were involved. Memos were exchanged, meetings convened. Angry glances in the hallway between designers who couldn't agree on what to call the knotter or the other thingamajig or what kind of tires to put on it. You're only one person, trying to unravel what they had in mind, with storm clouds gathering on the horizon, and Chuck the cat looking worried because he's not sure you really know what you're doing. So, I'm more impressed now. You can't take that away from me.

[quote="RedMF40" Hahaha, ok, go ahead and be impressed then! Angry glances in the hallway, haha! Speaking of Chuck, he might even be more excited about the hay than the horses. He was out there in the barn tearing around on all the bales. In the the flakes-of-hay pile that didn't tie last time, he fashioned himself hiding nooks where he can burrow down in wait for a mouse or the other cat or the dog to come by and then surprise attack them. Very exciting for him!

I don't know what kind of file you used on the bill hooks but I do know they need to shine like a chrome hitch. Get you some crocus cloth or paper in the 1000 plus grit and polish them If you can see scratches on them they will cause you problems.

I don't know what grit I used. First a coarse file then a finer fine like for a chainsaw tooth. I'll keep in mind that they maybe should be polished up more.

Well, that is a lot more impressive than getting an old wringer washing machine
working and then suffering the consequences. HeHe-----Loren

(quoted from post at 10:34:12 08/13/19) Well, that is a lot more impressive than getting an old wringer washing machine
working and then suffering the consequences. HeHe-----Loren

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Haha! No wringer washer for me! I am spoiled and will keep my machine that washes and dries my clothes all by itself! No flat fingers involved.
Guess what. A neighbor from down the road who Ive never met, saw me using my nice working 14T yesterday and just came over right now and I am going over to his place to try to help him fix his 14T! Is that exciting or what? And he has cows I get to see!

I knew you could do it, congratulations! It
is important to keep the knifes sharp too.
You can buy new knives but I got a set of
diamond sharpening stones ( actually
steels),from harbour freight that work
well. It's not everyone that can fix a
baler and Heston charges $80 per hour and
sometimes they can't even fix one right!

Guess what. A neighbor from down the road who Ive never met, saw me using my nice working 14T yesterday and just came over right now and I am going over to his place to try to help him fix his 14T! Is that exciting or what? And he has cows I get to see![/quote]

You said I could make suggestions, so here is one: Make your newfound skills PAY! Maybe your neighbor has a spare cow looking for a new home, or plain old cash always works. I'd scratch my head, say, "Boy, all that money for expensive repair manuals, then all the time to learn about my baler...sure would be nice to...

Or better yet, direct approach: I learned about repairing my baler to get mine going, but I want to start working on others and charge for my time.

I guarantee you know about 100% more than most of the ppl in your area about 14T balers. Probably the most they know is that they actually HAVE a baler. Maybe some don't even know that. Anyway, sounds like fun time, especially getting to be with the cows. I've always been fond of them, too. You have a lot on your plate, don't give your time away.

[quote="RLP in Co."
Yeay, thanks! You do your knives very professionally! I just used some old file I had in the barn! I have a couple nice knife sharpeners that I could use. I can try them next time I sharpen and see if there's a big difference. Right now, they are cutting very nice. Also curious to see a brand new blade to see just how worn mine are.

[quote="RedMF40"
If I felt qualified, I might advertise to fix balers. I only fixed one so far and have never even seen another baler up close and what differences there may be. I would guess they are all very similar, those old balers, all makes and models. I would need more experience to feel like I could confidently go to any baler and be able to fix it right away.
No major work on this one today. He was just missing (somehow got broken off) the trip dog lever and he didn't know where it broke from and how to trip the baler without it. I showed him how to trip it without the lever and where the lever used to be. He knows how to weld so is a really easy fix to weld on a tiny lever. It was fun to meet a nice neighbor for a change and see his cows AND the best (or worst) part is he told me who the other neighbor over there is that has Brown Swiss cows and said he'd probably be happy to show them to me. Wellllll, the old guy offered to GIVE ME a month old brown swiss male cow. Says I can think it over and let him know this weekend. I didn't want a boy cow, just maybe a couple girls, but he is so so so cute. I'm not really mentally ready for another large animal but it is so tempting. Really nice herd, too, that he comes from. Swiss are hard to find. hmmm

Yes, I wouldn't hang out a shingle just yet, but word of mouth may get you some exposure as you become more knowledgeable about the balers. Anyway, I think it's great your neighbor sought you out for help, good way to get to know the folks around you--have a skill they need! What an interesting offer--Brown Swiss, huh? And a boy? Don't know much about cows but I think he'll grow into a big boy and I wouldn't count on getting much milk from him! Would your horses like a pet pig or sheep to hang out with? We had a sheep when I was a kid and she was like a pet dog--good around people, could take her on a leash, only thing about long walks is she'd like to graze along the way, but she would see us get ahead and then come running like crazy. Maybe your horses would like a sheep. Anyway, sounds like you're on top of things, and are a quick study for the machines you're working with. I'm still impressed, maybe even more than when I was more impressed last time. I say this because I looked up a photo of the 14T baler and it looked like about ten thousand things that could go wrong--and maybe you can't fix one thing without it affecting another part of the machine? Did some more work on the kitchen today, building a little breakfast nook as part of the remodel--basically like a restaurant booth, the seats came out of a Mexican restaurant in Washington, DC. I can eat out while staying home! Signing off,
Gerrit in Maryland