Baling Cornstalks

causym CAUTION: DON'T TAKE CHANCES! To avoid injury or death by being pulled into the machine:

Do not attempt to feed crop or twine into baler or unplug feed area while baler is running. The baler feeds material faster than you can release it.

Disengage PTO and shut off engine.

1. Cut or rake stalks prior to baling to improve pickup tooth life.

2. Do not rake more than six rows together or plugging may occur at the pickup area. Higher productivity can be obtained by baling smaller windrows at faster ground speeds. Avoid crowding the edges of the windrow and avoid windrows wider than the baler chamber to reduce plugging at the crop dividers.

  • Since cornstalks tend to roll and spread out in front of the pickup, windrows 1/2-3/4 the width of the bale chamber usually do not require weaving, and reduce plugging at crop dividers.
  • Windrows less than 1/2 the width of the bale chamber, and normal weaving allows one side of the pickup to clear as the other side is feeding.

3. Be sure to maintain rated PTO speed

4. Increase feed opening by:

  • Lowering pickup as low as practical.
  • 457 and 557; Installing Hi-flotation tires.
  • Adjusting wheel spindles to raise baler to the next highest position from normal. (See WHEEL SPINDLE POSITIONS in Preparing the Baler section.) Return baler height to normal position in hay so that pickup teeth are closer to the ground.
  • Removing starter roll scraper assembly (if equipped).
  • Raising front of baler by offsetting tractor drawbar. (See ADJUSTING THE DRAWBAR in Preparing the Tractor section.)
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  • Adjust compressor rack assembly as high as possible without compressor rods interfering with twine arm. (See ADJUSTING COMPRESSOR RACK ASSEMBLY in this section.)
5.

Install hydraulic pickup lift kit. (See Attachments section.)

6.

Check for missing or broken teeth. Replace if necessary.

7.

Regular Pickup; Check pickup belt tension and condition. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP BELT IDLER in Service-Baler section.)

MEGATOOTH or MegaWide Pickup; Check pickup slip clutch. (See CHECKING PICKUP SLIP CLUTCH TORQUE in Service-Baler section.)

8.

Remove compressor rack if cornstalks build up on top of rods. (See REMOVING COMPRESSOR RACK ASSEMBLY in this section.)

9.

Add extra compressor rods if cornstalks push up between existing rods and cause plugging.

10.

Remove outside rods. If material still accumulates, remove compressor rack assembly. Always replace compressor rack under normal conditions. (See REMOVING or INSTALLING COMPRESSOR RACK ASSEMBLY in this section.)

NOTE: Two wraps are suitable for most crops, but three or more wraps are needed for:

  • Short, dry, slick crops

  • Long, stiff, cane-type crops

  • Cornstalks

11.

If machine RPM is less than rated PTO speed, use the following chart as a guideline for desired wraps.

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    NET WRAP CHART
    Engine RPM Desired No. Of Wraps Approximate Monitor Setting Needed
    Rated PTO 2 2
      3 3
    1800 RPM 2 2.4
      3 3.6
    1500 RPM 2 2.9
      3 4.3
    1300 RPM 2 3.3
      3 5.0

     

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