Bale Long, Stiff, Cane-Type Crops

TS679-UN-28SEP89

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

Disengage PTO and shut off engine.

If bales fail to start rotating due to crop wedging into top of starting chamber, try the following suggestions:

1. Regular pickup: Check pickup belt tension and condition. (See ADJUST PICKUP DRIVE BELT IDLER in Service—Baler section.)

   MegaWide™ Plus pickup: Check pickup slip clutch. (See CHECK PICKUP SLIP CLUTCH TORQUE in Service—Baler section.)

2. Condition the crop as much as possible so stems bend and form the bale core without wedging.

3. Make windrows narrower than the bale chamber width.

4. Approach the windrow with the crop centered in the pickup. Avoid getting crop under the crop dividers.

5. Approach the windrow at an angle and immediately turn and drive forward to allow stems to bend and start the bale core. This approach can also help avoid getting crop under the crop dividers.

6. If equipped with a hydraulic pickup lift, raise and lower the pickup while moving at reduced ground speed during bale starting.

7. Travel forward at least 3 m (10 ft) without stopping to allow enough crop into the baler to start rolling.

8. Reduce bale density or use the variable core feature, if equipped. Reduced belt tension allows the belts to deflect while starting the bale and forming the bale core. (See ADJUST BALE DENSITY or ADJUST VARIABLE CORE DIAMETER in this section.)

9. Surface moisture on the bottom of the windrow causes the crop to slip more easily against the forming belts. To improve bale starts, turn the windrows with a rake or tedder.

10. Bales stored with fewer than two layers of net can be damaged by handling or weather conditions.

    Add at least one additional layer of net wrap when baling using a precutter.

    When applying net wrap material, different crops require a different number of net wrap layers for effective baling. The following minimum number of layers of net wrap are recommended:

    • Two layers of net wrap for hay
    • Three layers of net wrap for straw, wheat hay, and cereal grains
    • Four layers of net wrap for corn stalks, sudex, hay grazer, and milo stalks
    
    

11. If the baler is equipped with the slip clutch alert feature, and it is turned on, net and twine application is automatically adjusted as rpm is changed. Thus, no change is needed on the monitor.

    If machine rpm is less than rated PTO speed, use the following charts as a guideline for the desired net and twine application.

    NET WRAP CHART
    Engine rpm	Desired Number of Wrap Layers	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

    TWINE SPACING CHART
    Engine rpm	Mechanical Setting	Monitor-Controller Setting
    Rated Speed	10 cm (4.0 in)	10 cm (4.0 in)
    1800 rpm	10 cm (4.0 in)	9 cm (3.5 in)
    1500 rpm	10 cm (4.0 in)	8 cm (3.0 in)
    1300 rpm	10 cm (4.0 in)	6 cm (2.5 in)