Case LB/ NH BB knotter problem

[Ted]

Have noticed the pigtails on the knots seem quite short. Book recommends a minimum of 15mm.
The twine cut offs seem ok, all a good 35 - 40 mm long but the knot pigtails are barely 15.
Knots aren't pulling apart but I would like to see them longer.
Tightened up the lower twine tensioning rollers and given the twine holder spring a tweak but not a lot of change really.
I don't want to muck around with things too much at present as it is not dropping any bales but would like to see a better knot.
Any thoughts on this ?

 

[El Gordo]

Short tails on the second knot is a trait of the Hesston family of balers.
I assume your talking about a hesston and not one of the Belgian NH? Knotters are the same anyway.
You said you tweaked the twine holder spring, as in the twine discs? You should tweak them a bit looser for longer tails! Too loose and it will start missing knots.
Lower twine tension rollers will have an effect on second knot tails... can't remember which way to go with them.
If the tails are anywhere around 10mm and not slipping when bales are being stacked etc. I'd leave well alone.

 

[Ted]

Dead right El Gordo,
It is a Belgian NH knotter so as you correctly point out they are all basically the same in operation.
It is more noticeable on the second knot.
No,not the twine disc but the twine holder spring. Manual and repair book recommends to increase 1/4 of a turn. However it also says to loosen as well so they are having a dollar each way.
Like you say the bales aren't coming apart so doing nothing might be a better option.

 

[El Gordo]

Loosen the twine disc tension 1/8 of a turn and see if it improves things.
I think tightening the tension rollers for the bottom twine is what improves the tails on the second knot but a combination of tighter rollers and looser discs could have you up and down the ladder a lot!! Golden rule..... 1 thing at a time!

 

[El Gordo]

Knotter problems on Dec 21st... Was dark at 4pm here today

 

[Ted]

Knotter problems on Dec 21st... Was dark at 4pm here today

The long fine days are all we have at present.
Was one of the wettest Autumn / Winter periods and now we are all but gripped by drought.
Silage was about 40 - 50 % down and now our hay crops are very similar. Will be some serious head scratching with so little supplementary feed to be had.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

The long fine days are all we have at present.
Was one of the wettest Autumn / Winter periods and now we are all but gripped by drought.
Silage was about 40 - 50 % down and now our hay crops are very similar. Will be some serious head scratching with so little supplementary feed to be had.

Oh, the contractor said yesterday if we don't bale today it should be all right tomorrow.... And it looks like this morning that its going to rain, so a mad rush to get the bales in the barn before they get too wet, run over next door to give Arnold a hand , to get their bales in incase it absolutely buckets down because looking North West it probably was, just as we finished, what little rain we had, stopped

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Knotter problems on Dec 21st... Was dark at 4pm here today

Yeah , normally happens late November , early December.......