Interpret Bale Shape Indicators

E60997-UN-13MAR12

A - Uniform Windrow

B - Best Shaped Bale

C - Full-Width Windrow

D - Hourglass Shaped Bale

E - Less than Full-Width Windrow

F - Barrel Shaped Bale

G - Narrow Windrow

H - Cone Shaped Bale

I - Windrow Cross Section

To ensure optimum bale shape and maximum bale density, the top bar must be shown on BOTH sides of the bale shape indicator display as shown in Example I. The top bars must be displayed when bale is being wrapped. See RECOMMENDED BALING GUIDELINES in this section.

I— Best shape bales (B) are formed when windrow (A) has uniform density side-to-side (I) and the width is the same as bale chamber.

Weaving is not necessary. If this is not practical, create windrows up to one-half the width of the bale chamber and follow the bale shape bars. (See RECOMMENDED BALING GUIDELINES in this section.)

II— If full-width windrow (C) is heavy on the outside edges and light at the center, an hourglass shaped bale (D) will be formed even though bale shape bars are balanced and all lit. This can also happen with wide windrows on balers equipped with MegaWide™ Plus pickup.

If possible, weaving back and forth across windrow will help fill the middle of the bale. Otherwise, proper windrow formation can be needed.

III— Bale shape bars will not reach maximum height and a barrel shaped bale (F) is formed if any of the following conditions exist:

• Windrow width (E) is approximately 2/3—3/4 the width of the baler.
• Windrow correct but operator is not weaving over far enough.
• The windrow is full width but heavier density in the middle of the windrow.
• Weaving back and forth too frequently.

If windrow is almost as wide as the bale chamber, reduce tractor rpm and increase ground speed to spread material across pickup.

Windrow preparation must be less than one-half bale chamber or full width of bale chamber. If necessary, rake windrow to obtain correct width.

Bale shape bars cannot reach maximum height when operating at reduced bale density or using variable core option. This is also true when operating in certain crops such as light coastal Bermuda Grass or short wheat straw, because ends of bale are soft.

IV— If narrow windrow (G) is baled without weaving back and forth, a cone shaped bale (H) will be formed.

• Operator feeding one side more than other.

Weave back and forth across narrow windrow to keep bale shape bars as high as possible. (See WEAVE IN THE WINDROW in this section.)

NOTE: Bale shape bars sensitivity is adjustable between responsive and dampened. (See SET BALE SHAPE SENSITIVITY [CHANNEL 011] in this section.)