Interpret Bale Shape Indicators

E84489-UN-13SEP17

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

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 and the width is the same as bale chamber.

Weaving is not necessary. 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 the full-width windrow (C) is heavy on the outside edges and light at the center, an hourglass-shaped bale (D) is formed. Bale shape bars are balanced and all lit. An hourglass-shaped bale (D) can also happen with wide windrows on balers equipped with the MegaWide™ Plus pickup.

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

III— If bale shape bars do not reach maximum height and a barrel-shaped bale (F) is formed, check for the following conditions:

• Windrow width (E) is approximately 2/3—3/4 the width of the baler.
• Windrow is correct but the 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 the 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 the bale chamber. If necessary, rake windrow to obtain correct width.

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

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

• Operator feeding one side more than other.

To keep the bale shape bars as high as possible, weave back and forth across the narrow windrow . (See Weave in the Windrow in Operating the Baler section.)

Bale shape bars’ sensitivity is adjustable between responsive and very dampened. (See Set Bale Shape Sensitivity [Channel 011] in this section.)