To observe knotter operation, remove hay from bale case, trip measuring arm, and turn flywheel by hand until tying cycle is completed.

The first step in troubleshooting knotter problems, is to go to the field with some good twine and make some knots in a normal condition. Look at last knot tied by knotters and see what it looks like. Look at twine left in knotter and the tails that drop from twine disk on back of knotter.

Tails; There should be two tails approximately 13-19 mm (1/2-3/4 in.) in length, cut off square when knotters are working properly. These tails should not be chewed up and mangled. If the twine holder is

Knot; There should also be two strands of twine in the knot with even, clean cut ends pulled fully through the knot. By looking at these things, the problem can generally be traced to the specific cause of the knotter problem.

NOTE: Some of the following "Symptoms" refer to illustrations labeled with a letter. See KNOTTER MECHANISM TROUBLESHOOTING ILLUSTRATIONS in this section to view each specific symptom.

Knot in twine over bale only.
(Refer to Illustration A.)

Tucker fingers did not pick up needle twine or move into tying position correctly.

Adjust tucker fingers. Make sure tucker fingers operate freely. (See ADJUSTING TUCKER FINGERS in Service section.)

Adjust twine disk and needles. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK and ADJUSTING NEEDLES in Service section.)

Adjust twine disk and twine box tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Make sure plungerhead extensions are in place.

¹ Hay dogs not holding end of bale.

Free frozen hay dogs.

Replace broken hay dog springs.

Reduce feeding rate.

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Make sure plungerhead extensions are in place.

Knot in each end of twine.
(Refer to Illustration B.)

Tucker fingers did not pick up needle twine or move it into twine disk correctly.

Adjust tucker fingers. (See ADJUSTING TUCKER FINGERS in Service section.)

Adjust twine disk and needles. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK and ADJUSTING NEEDLES in Service section.)

This twine will be longer than mating twine on opposite side of baler.

Check twine disk and twine box tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK in Service section and ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Make sure plungerhead extensions are in place.

¹ Hay dogs not holding end of bale.

Free frozen hay dogs.

Replace broken hay dog springs.

Reduce feeding rate.

Make sure plungerhead extensions are in place.

Twine ends frayed.
(Refer to Illustration C.)

Dull twine knife.

Replace knife. (See REPLACING KNIFE AND WIPER PLATE in Service section.)

Frayed or "fuzzy" knot. Usually on right-hand side.

Tucker finger not carrying twine back to tying position soon enough.

Raise right-hand end of tucker finger drive shaft by moving mounting support to bottom of slotted holes.

Knot too loose.
(Refer to Illustration D.)

Worn or damaged billhook tongue.

Replace billhook.

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Bale density too low.

Increase bale case tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Install side hay resisters.

Normal wear of knotter.

Adjust knife arm wiper (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Low billhook tongue pressure.

Adjust billhook tongue. (See ADJUSTING BILLHOOK TONGUE in Service section.)

Twine disk out of adjustment.

Adjust twine disk. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK in Service section.)

Twine ends uneven.
(Refer to Illustration E.)

Insufficient tension on twine disk holder.

Tighten twine disk holder spring. (See ADJUSTING TWINE HOLDER in Service section.)

Dull or chipped knife.

Replace knife. (See REPLACING KNIFE AND WIPER PLATE in Service section.)

No knot in either twine.
(Refer to Illustration F.)

Twine sheared in twine disks.

Loosen twine holder and remove all sharp edges and burrs on twine holder and disks.

Billhook not revolving.

Check for lost or sheared in pin in billhook pinion. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Billhook tongue fails to open.

Check for lost billhook tongue roller, excessive wear on roller and cam face, or damaged billhook tongue.

Knot in needle twine only.
(Refer to Illustration G.)

Twine over bale pulled out of twine disk. (Can be detected by square cut end which has been flattened in disks. This twine will usually be shorter than mating twine tied on opposite side of bale.)

Increase tension on twine holder disk spring and decrease bale tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE HOLDER in Service section.)

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Relocate feeder fingers. (See ADJUSTING FEEDER FINGERS in Operating the Baler section.)

Twine over bale sheared out of twine disks. (Different from the above in that twine end will be frayed and torn, not cut squarely by knife.)

Decrease tension on twine holder disk. Decrease bale tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE HOLDER in Service section.)

Refer to "No knot in bale twine and approximately 15.2 cm (6 in.) of twine in twine disk. May be mistaken for a twine disk pull-out." in this section.

No knot in bale twine and approximately 15.2 cm (6 in.) of twine in twine disk. May be mistaken for a twine disk pull-out.

Twine has been cut on front side of tucker fingers.

Adjust tucker fingers. (See ADJUSTING TUCKER FINGERS in Service section.)

Make sure tucker fingers go through a complete cycle without binding.

Strands of one twine doubled back through knot (does not affect knot strength).
(Refer to Illustration H.)

Billhook tongue is closing on top of twine.

Adjust timing of twine disks. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK in Service section.)

Twine hanging up on knife arm.

Polish knife arm at bend.

Excessive clearance between billhook and knife arm.

Adjust clearance. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Twine too large.

Use sisal billhook. (See MULTI-TWINE AND SISAL BILLHOOKS in Service section.)

Double twine bow knot.
(Refer to Illustration I.)

Insufficient travel of knife arm past billhook.

Adjust knife arm to obtain more travel past billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

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Billhook pressure arm spring too loose.

Tighten adjusting nut on billhook pressure arm spring. (See ADJUSTING BILLHOOK TONGUE in Service section.)

Check knife arm cam in intermittent gear for excessive wear. Replace gear if cam is worn. (See REPLACING BILLHOOK CAM in Service section.)

Single twine bow knot.
(Refer to Illustration J.)

One twine tail longer than the other.

Tighten the twine holder.

Insufficient travel of knife arm past billhook.

Adjust knife arm to obtain more travel past billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Billhook pressure arm spring too loose.

Tighten adjusting nut on billhook pressure arm spring. (See ADJUSTING BILLHOOK TONGUE in Service section.)

Check knife arm cam in intermittent gear for excessive wear. Replace gear if cam is worn. (See REPLACING BILLHOOK CAM in Service section.)

Twine is not sliding back on knife arm correctly.

Polish knife arm.

Twine cut and frayed behind knot.
(Refer to Illustration K.)

As billhook turns, twine is pinched between billhook and knife arm and twine is damaged 13-25 mm (1/2-1 in.) from knot.

Replace knife arm. Wiper plate on knife arm must contact profile of billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Rough knife arm cuts twine 19-32 mm (3/4-1-1/4 in.) from knot.

Smooth off rough edge in twine notch of knife arm. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

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Extremely high top twine tension.

Reduce bale weight by loosening bale tension. Check twine tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION and ADJUSTING BALE WEIGHT in Operating the Baler section.)

Rough wiper hole edge.

Remove sharp edge. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Twine broken at base of knot.
(Refer to Illustration L.)

Poor quality twine.

Use higher quality twine. (See SELECTING CORRECT TWINE in Preparing the Baler section.)

Check twine knot strength. (See CHECKING TWINE KNOT STRENGTH in Operating the Baler section.)

Twine strength too low. High twine tension due to high bale density.

Use stronger twine or reduce bale density.

Knot did not strip off billhook correctly.

See "Knot did not strip off billhook" in this section.

Charges too large.

Reduce charge size. (See STARTING AND OPERATING THE BALER in Operating the Baler section.)

Twine broken or frayed in knot. One or both twines not completely cut.
(Refer to Illustration M.)

Extreme tension on twine around billhook during tying cycle causes twine to shear or pull apart.

Loosen twine disk holder spring. (See ADJUSTING TWINE HOLDER in Service section.)

Smooth off all rough surfaces and edges on billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Dull knife.

Replace knife. (See REPLACING KNIFE AND WIPER PLATE in Service section.)

Twine disk out of adjustment.

Adjust twine disk. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK in Service section.)

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Knot pulled from billhook (not wiped).

Adjust wiper plate. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Insufficient clearance between billhook and wiper arm.

Adjust clearance. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Poor quality twine.

Replace with better quality twine. (See CHECKING TWINE KNOT STRENGTH in Operating the Baler section.)

Needle twine over billhook tongue roller.
(Refer to Illustration N.)

Needle twine does not enter twine disk.

Check twine disk timing and adjust needles. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK and ADJUSTING NEEDLES in Service section.)

Check for sheared or lost pin in twine disk pinion or in disk worm gear.

Twine coming from box must go under twine tension devices on twine box. (See LOADING TWINE BOX in Preparing the Baler section.)

Incorrect twine tension.

Adjust twine tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Incorrect twine threading.

Thread twine correctly. (See THREADING NEEDLES in Preparing the Baler section.)

Needle twine over billhook tongue roller and second knot tied on billhook.
(Refer to Illustration O.)

Same as preceding picture; however, operator will usually find this condition rather than condition described therein.

Make corrections as noted before and examine complete knotter for broken or damaged parts.

Knot did not strip off billhook.

Excessive billhook tongue tension.

Loosen billhook pressure arm spring adjusting nut. (See ADJUSTING BILLHOOK TONGUE in Service section.)

Insufficient travel of wiper arm past billhook.

Adjust knife arm. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

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Check for worn cam. Replace if necessary.

Knife arm wiper is not contacting back face of billhook.

Adjust wiper plate so wiper contacts profile of billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Knife arm lift (or rise) is not sufficient.

Adjust knife arm to increase movement past end of billhook. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Rough billhook.

Smooth off all rough edges on billhook with emery cloth. (See ADJUSTING KNIFE ARM in Service section.)

Worn or bent billhook.

Replace billhook. (See your John Deere dealer.)

Bale density too low.

Increase bale case tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Install side hay resisters. (See SIDE HAY RESISTERS in Attachments section.)

Twine tension too high.

Reduce tension. (See ADJUSTING TWINE TENSION in Operating the Baler section.)

Twine disk out of adjustment.

Adjust timing of twine disk. (See ADJUSTING TWINE DISK in Service section.)

Needle twine goes under billhook tongue during first quarter of billhook travel.

Tucker finger not carrying twine back to tying position.

Adjust tucker fingers. (See ADJUSTING TUCKER FINGERS in Service section.)

Needles not raising. No twine in twine disk and no knot in either twine.

Sheared needle-drive shear bolt.

See SHEAR BOLT DIFFICULTIES in this section.

Trip dog not functioning.

Broken release arm spring or trip dog spring lost.

Replace broken or lost spring.

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