Tough weekend in the kingdom

Been trying to get some hay up and it's been a tough go. First the hay didn't grow well. Got about a third what I should have. There is some alfalfa in it but it's real small yet. And lots of volunteer clover in it. First problem was the swather not running.


Would run for a bit then stop. Would start up again but die. Checked everything including gas flow and found nothing really wrong. Changed points cool condenser and nothing changed. Finally was working on the gas lines trying to find a restriction when I broke the sediment bowl. When I pulled the old one out I found some hay stems in the port and when enough gas flowed they would bend down and block the line. Soon as flow stopped they would open up and flow enough so it looked ok. Got a new bowl with the screen in the tank which should take care of that. Runs great now.

Also had an issue with the conditioner frame hitting the ground before the cutter bar. When looking over it there were some bolts that were worn. The slip in the holes allowed the rear of the machine to sag causing the trouble. Had to build up the worn holes and redrill them.




Cuts nice now.

Next was the baler. Had my grandson Randell to drive.





Had a terrible time getting it to tie properly. One side the knot wouldn't let loose of the hook. The owners manual is pretty good and shows most every type of problem and how to adjust it. But none of the adjustments worked. Was really getting frustrated and then had the connector for the knotter chain come out so I had to re-time the knotters. While doing that my grandson was turning it by hand while I watched it work to check the timing when I finally saw the problem. The knife wasn't cutting the twine. The knife was sharper than the other side so I thought it was ok, but it wasn't cutting. Took the grinder to it and it cuts fine now. Think the grinder left the edge just a bit rough so it cuts good now. Bales the last bales just fine after I went through it and readjusted everything. So worked hard all weekend but got very little done. Lol. Got a few more bales cut and drying, but it has a lot of volunteer clover and dries slow. Hope it's dry by Wednesday as it's supposed to rain on Thursday. Good south wind predicted for the next three days so hopefully it will dry.

Sounds like a normal weekend when I would plan to get a lot done!!!

Geezz Jon; Does that mean that I am on the "list" again for telling you to tighten up the bill hook tension to pull the tails of the knot through??? HeHe-------------------Loren

Please make sure he has good hearing protection.

Hearing never gets better once it goes.

Might not look like you got a lot done but sounds like you have everything working good for next time

Well, not this time. Tom and the book said the same so I can't hold it against ya.

You made memories with your grandson, that’s worth more than all the hay in the world, you did well sir!

That sweet clover takes a lot to get that twig of a stem to dry, my dad seeded it with his oats and took one crop of clover of for hay the next year, we had to use a conditioner on it, if we got a regrowth then plowed that down and summer fallowed it.Only thing u can so is salt the bales when stacking it,, i know it's a crude way of doing it but it helps!

sounds like my adventures trying to make hay frist I broke sickle drive belt had to order a new one. Tall Kid was trying run baler had a pile of hay in front of baler leaving about half of window behind learned 12 out of 20 pickup tines are broke or missing had to order them i hope to have baler by Saturday the 20 th.
after I get that done lift cylinder on mow co will lift only part way so that will have to come off.

Is that new hay

Good thing you are a handy guy at fixing. I am finding the hay crop to be very disappointing this year. The grasses have all headed now, but clover and alfalfa hay is slow to grow, and have seen only a few blooms on Red Clover. Two fields I planted last year to Red Clover, one is well established, the other looks poor, with spotty germination and thin stand. I think the soggy planting conditions last spring, the followed by drought conditions for July August and September contributed to this years lame hay stands.

Yes, planted last spring

Got hay coming out of our ears here, it's going to be good quality with a good stretch of weather, but almost have to give it away....

Ben

I can sympathize with all the problems and frustrations as we had plenty on first crop as well. My Dad always said you have two choices in farming "Parts & repairs or payments". Most small farmers take the first option. Somedays you are the windshield and sometimes you are the bug.LOL Sounds like you did get things going so that is positive. Thanks for taking the time to post. Sometime I have some Case things to post for you. Tom

It’s takes us two cuttings before it ever looks that good

Where does he say anything about sweet clover? Sweet clover is not for a hay crop but for plowdown.

Better than a day in the office.
Might not pay as well, but you solved some problems you won't have to solve again!