Gate opens while baling.

Tractor selector control valve (SCV) leaking oil into baler.

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

Internal leak in baler hydraulic system.

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

Baling oversize bales.

Check bale size alarm for proper operation (See ADJUSTING BALE SIZE SWITCH in Service-BALEWATCH System section.)

Gate closes on belts.

PTO not engaged at rated speed when closing gate.

Operate PTO at rated speed during gate closing cycle to avoid pinching belts.

Belts do not track properly.

Lower rear gate roll out of adjustment.

Adjust roll. (See ADJUSTING BELT TRACKING in Service-BALEWATCH System section.)

Belts not correct length.

Correct belt length. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Belts not cut square when splicing.

Resplice belt. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Twine or mud buildup on baler rolls.

Remove buildup.

Belts not routed correctly.

See belt routing diagram and reroute. (See INSTALLING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Bad bearing on roll.

Rotate all rolls by hand and inspect for loose bearings, etc. Repair or replace as necessary. (See your John Deere dealer.)

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Diamond surfaces on bale forming belts are rubbing together.

Belt tension arm not fully down.

Lower tension arm with tractor hydraulic lever.

Crop or mud buildup on rolls.

Clean rolls.

Belts too short.

Repair belts. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Belts not routed properly.

See belt routing diagram and reroute. (See INSTALLING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Belts slipping or not turning.

Belt tension arm not returning all the way down to tension belts.

Check to see that tension arm tightens belts.

Gate not closed or rear gate closed but top idler arm in not down.

Hold tractor hydraulic SCV lever until belts turn.

Water dripping off belts and rolls.

Avoid baling in rain or frosted crop.

Belts too long.

Check belts for proper length. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Excessive wrappage of net material around top idler roll pinches belt against top baler frame tube.

Remove wrappage around starter roll.

Nuts on spring rods holding tension arm up too high to tension belts.

Check for clearance between lower nut and trunnions. (See ADJUSTING TAKE-UP ARM COMPRESSION SPRING in Service-Baler section.)

Belts pinch between axle and lower gate roll.

Belts not turning while lowering gate.

Engage tractor PTO while lowering gate.

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Starter roll wraps with hay.

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

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

MEGATOOTH or MegaWide Pickup; Slip clutch worn.

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

457 and 557; Install starter roll scraper. (See Attachments section.)

Adjust starter roll scraper (if equipped). (See ADJUSTING STARTER ROLL SCRAPER in Service-Baler section.)

Windrow wet on bottom.

Turn windrow. (See BALING WET HAY in Operating the Baler section.)

Ground speed and rpm too high when starting bale.

Reduce rpm until bale core has formed.

Gate not closed or rear gate closed but top idler arm in not down.

Hold tractor hydraulic SCV lever until belts turn.

Windrow too large.

Decrease windrow size.

Material pinched under pickup crop divider, tire, or gauge wheels (if equipped).

Start bale with windrow centered on pickup. Gathering wheels may help for scattered windrows.

Nicks, rough spots on starter roll.

Smooth with file.

457 and 557; Damp hay.

Install high-moisture kit. (See Attachments section.)

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Belt lacing failure.

Belts are not the same length.

Repair belts. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Belts not tracking correctly.

Adjust belt tracking. (See procedure in Service-Baler section.)

457 and 557; Extended usage causing crushed rubber and wearing hooks thin at the splice pin.

Replace lacing pins when plastic coating is worn through. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Making oversized bales.

Check maximum bale size adjustment. (See ADJUSTING BALE SWITCH in Service-BALEWATCH System section.)

Belts not routed correctly.

Route belts correctly. (See INSTALLING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Material wrapping on rolls.

Remove material from rolls.

Belt splice pins break.

Excessive wear on pins.

Check pins for wear or breakage every 2000 bales (every 1000 bales in sandy conditions). Replace pins if broken, or if more than one-third of pin thickness is worn through.

Incorrect belt length can cause excessive load on shorter belts.

See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.

Gate not fully closed.

Obstruction between gate and frame.

Remove obstruction.

Hay buildup on belts in gate area in some crop conditions.

Remove buildup. Operate PTO while closing gate.

Hay buildup due to misrouting of hydraulic pickup lift hoses.

Route hoses correctly.

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Bale sticks in chamber.

Paint on sidesheets of new baler.

Make several bales out of dry hay to polish sidesheets. Do not crowd ends so finished bale has soft ends.

457 and 557; Bale sticks in front frame due to damp crop.

Install High-Moisture kit. (See Attachments section.)

Excessive sidesheet friction caused by "gummy" buildup on sidesheets.

Remove buildup. Be sure gate deflectors (if equipped) are installed in gate.

Bale when hay is drier.

Damage to belt diamond pattern. Belts cut or broken.

Material buildup on compressor rack causing belts to contact starter roll.

See BALING SHORT, DRY, SLICK CROPS in Operating the Baler section.

Foreign objects in windrow (rocks, sticks, etc.).

Operate with pickup high as possible. (See ADJUSTING PICKUP HEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Remove foreign objects from windrow.

Wrappage on lower drive roll forcing belt into starter roll.

Remove wrappage.

457 and 557; Install High-Moisture Kit. (See Attachments section.)

Bale forming belts contacting each other.

See "Diamond surfaces on bale forming belts are rubbing together" in this section.

Belt edges fuzzy.

Normal break-in.

After break-in period, the fuzziness will stop.

Trim loose ends.

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Excessive PTO driveline shear bolt breakage.

Engaging tractor PTO too fast.

Reduce tractor rpm while engaging PTO.

Engage tractor PTO slowly.

Leave PTO on while ejecting bale.

Wrong size or grade of shear bolt.

Replace with recommended shear bolt. (See REPLACING MAIN DRIVE SHEAR BOLT in Service-Baler section.)

Hay wrapped on starter roll.

Remove hay.

Ends of staggered belt roll wrap with hay.

Damp hay.

457 and 557; Install high-moisture kit. (See Attachments section.)

457S; Remove hay.

Belts turn over or cross.

Closing gate with PTO engaged and strong winds prevailing and/or side hill operation.

Under these conditions, disengage PTO before opening gate and engage PTO just before gate closes to avoid pinching belts.

Operating baler empty with gate up and no tension on belts for extended period.

Do not operate in this manner for extended time.

Driving too long on one side of windrow at bale start. Hay pushes out between belts.

Center pickup on windrow at bale start.

New belts track back and forth on rolls.

Wax from belts builds up on rolls.

Use oil dry granules or baby powder to polish rolls.

Belts not correct length.

Belt lengths need to be within 38 mm (1.5 in.) of each other. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Bad fabric or construction of belt.

Repair or replace belt. (See REPAIRING BELTS in Service-Baler section.)

Bale size alarm activated with tractor switch off.

Moisture and/or crop buildup near switch causes current flow.

Provide power through tractor ignition switch.

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Bale size alarm is faintly audible continuously while baling.

Moisture and/or crop buildup near switch causes current flow.

Clean bale size switch terminal area. Apply silicon sealer to switch terminals.

Bale size alarm cannot be heard or is too loud.

Shutter on alarm may be closed or open too far.

Adjust shutter to control volume. (See ADJUSTING AUDIBLE BALE SIZE ALARM VOLUME in Operating Baler with BALEWATCH System section.)

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