Pickup Difficulties

Pickup teeth do not revolve.

Feed opening plugged with crop.

Reduce ground speed and/or windrow size.

Regular Pickup; Pickup drive idler not adjusted properly or pickup belt damaged.

Adjust idler or replace belt, if necessary. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP BELT IDLER [REGULAR PICKUP] in Service-Baler section.)

MEGATOOTH or MegaWide Pickup; Slip clutch worn.

Replace slip clutch. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Starter roll or pickup drive chain broken or missing.

Repair or replace. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Broken cam and/or other internal pickup parts.

Check for failed or worn cam and/or internal parts. Repair or replace as necessary. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Pickup will not float or drop freely.

Excess or insufficient float assist.

Adjust pickup float springs. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP FLOAT SPRINGS in Service-Baler section.)

Binding between flare and end strippers.

Remove chaff and dirt. Straighten any bent parts.

Regular Pickup; Install gauge wheels to improve ground gauging.

If equipped with gauge wheels; Crop or mud buildup between flare pivot plate and pickup gauge wheel arm.

Replace flare pivot plate. (See your John Deere dealer.)

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Not picking up hay cleanly.

Pickup teeth set too high.

Lower pickup (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Belts pinched between pickup and lower front gate roller while closing gate.

Check that flow restrictor valve is installed correctly near gate lock valve for balers equipped with surface wrap.

Too much float spring tension, causing pickup to bounce or stay up.

Reduce float spring tension. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP FLOAT SPRINGS in Service-Baler section.)

Damaged crop dividers and/or stripper, causing pickup to stay up.

Straighten or replace damaged parts. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Ground speed too fast.

Reduce ground speed.

Windrows too light.

Rake heavier windrows.

Pickup teeth bent or broken.

Straighten or replace teeth. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Baler too high.

Lower baler. (See ADJUSTING WHEEL SPINDLES in Preparing the Baler section.)

Light crop rolls forward instead of picking up.

Rake heavy windrows if possible. Operate baler at 1/2 to 2/3 normal rpm, and shift tractor to higher gear to maintain desired ground speed.

MEGATOOTH or MegaWide Pickup; Install speed reduction sprocket at slip clutch.

Reduce engine speed to 1500 rpm or lower and shift to a higher gear.

Overcrowding ends.

Reduce crowding. Install converging wheels if not equipped.

Tractor tires smashing crop into stubble.

Widen wheel spacing. (See ADJUSTING TRACTOR WHEELS in Preparing the Tractor section.)

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Pickup teeth digging in ground.

Pickup set too low.

Raise pickup. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Gauge wheels (if equipped) are set too high relative to teeth.

Adjust gauge wheels. (See ADJUSTING GAUGE WHEELS in Operating the Baler section.)

Poor pickup flotation.

Increase float spring tension. Check pivots. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP FLOAT SPRINGS in Service-Baler section.)

Soft ground. Pickup won't raise high enough.

Raise baler. (See ADJUSTING WHEEL SPINDLES in Preparing the Baler section.)

Turn tractor drawbar over. (See ADJUSTING THE DRAWBAR in Preparing the Tractor section.)

457 and 557; Install Hi-flotation tires.

Rough terrain.

Regular Pickup; Install gauge wheels.

If equipped, gauge wheel tire flat.

Inflate or repair as necessary. (See TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES in Preparing the Baler section.)

Pickup teeth contact starter roll.

Pickup raised too high.

MEGATOOTH and Regular Pickup; Adjust upstop bracket inward so tab does not align with slot in end stripper. Repeat for other side.

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Pickup teeth bent or broken

Pickup set too low.

Raise pickup. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Adjust gauge wheels (if equipped). (See ADJUSTING GAUGE WHEELS in Operating the Baler section.)

Foreign material inside pickup strippers and/or broken teeth.

Remove material and/or replace teeth.

Baling cornstalks.

Raise pickup. Higher tooth breakage can be expected. (See BALING CORNSTALKS in Operating the Baler section.)

Operating twine arms with pickup in transport position.

Lower pickup. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Pickup too high with baler in lowered position.

Wheel spindles installed upside down.

Install spindles in correct position. (See WHEEL SPINDLE POSITIONS in Preparing the Baler section.)

Baler height too high for crop condition.

Adjust baler to lower position on spindles. (See WHEEL SPINDLE POSITIONS in Preparing the Baler section.)

Plugging at crop dividers.

Overcrowding ends.

Reduce crowding. Install gathering wheels. (See Attachments section.)

Pickup set too low.

Raise pickup. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Tractor tires smashing crop into stubble.

Widen wheel spacing. (See ADJUSTING TRACTOR WHEELS in Preparing the Tractor section.)

Pivoting crop divider overlaps (shingles) stationery end stripper on the wrong side.

Straighten pivoting crop dividers as needed to give proper overlap (shingle). Front crop divider should be inside end stripper.

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Inside of strippers worn.

Strippers bent up hitting tooth coils.

Raise pickup. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Check for binding at crop dividers.

Increase float. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP FLOAT SPRINGS in Service-Baler section.)

Regular Pickup; Install gauge wheels. (See Attachments section.)

Bend strippers down for clearance and check tooth coils on pickup teeth for damage.

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