IH B47 Baler Woes

Keef

Member
Ive got a smallholding so farming isnt my bag but I do little bits of things on the place and this year I decided to do some hay making but as I only have 3 acres to put to hay making I didnt spend a fortune on equipment.

The baler I got locally from an old guy who had to pack in farming due to health issues and it was described as working and I have no reason to disbelieve him. He also ran it on twine without problems.

When I got it, there was some twine dangling from the knotters (no spools in it) and I ran it by hand to make sure that things turned ok, activated the knotters and it pulled the twine around the knotter disc but then I couldnt remove it. Long story short I threaded it up with new twine and ran it again but eventually it seemed to jam up the knotter and one of the knotter discs stopped turning whilst the other one did.

I lifted the knotters and got all the twine off them and off the billhook ok (took a while) and threaded it up again as per what I could make out in the old manual. The right hand knotter (the one that stuck) seems like it might be in the wrong position to take hold of the twine (but only slightly).

Ive run it a few times now testing it by repacking a round bale but it keeps snapping the twine on both sides (its tight while packing it but then they snap). The tension is ok and the knives seem sharp enough but I have no idea whats wrong. Whether its me or the baler thats not doing something quite right.

Is there anyone close enough to me in Burnley, Lancashire that could offer me a hand to see whats going on or failing that recommend an agri engineer/troubleshooter in the area?

I gotta have this working for hay season.
 

Pennine Ploughing

Member
Mixed Farmer
activated the knotters and it pulled the twine around the knotter disc
this is not the knotter disc, it is the retainer, and this should catch hold of the twine and rotate and hold it,

I lifted the knotters and got all the twine off them and off the billhook
its the billhook that forms the knot

Ive run it a few times now testing it by repacking a round bale but it keeps snapping the twine on both sides (its tight while packing it but then they snap).
it is not threaded right,or the string is dragging on something or the tension on the string is to tight,

but eventually it seemed to jam up the knotter and one of the knotter discs stopped turning whilst the other one did.
this does not sound good, the drop shaft to the screw gear has a taper on the bottom, has the nut slack on the bottom of the shaft, dont slacken it as it will loss its timing, also check that the screw gear on the retainer shaft is still a good fit, there is a shear rollpin to hold the gear to the shaft, it could well be broken


is your string 12000 ft or 10000ft balls, it will need to run on 10000ft, it will say on the packet
 

DavyG

New Member
If you put a photo or two it might help. Balers do give you the impression that knotters are a dark art, but depending on where the twine bunches up or which side of the knot breaks can give a fair guide to whats goin wrong. Few good videos on youtube as well. Taking a close look at what the knotter is supposed to do might give you a pointer. If its any consolation I learnt some of my best swear words from the older generation attacking twine with penknives.
 

Pennine Ploughing

Member
Mixed Farmer
If you put a photo or two it might help. Balers do give you the impression that knotters are a dark art, but depending on where the twine bunches up or which side of the knot breaks can give a fair guide to whats goin wrong. Few good videos on youtube as well. Taking a close look at what the knotter is supposed to do might give you a pointer. If its any consolation I learnt some of my best swear words from the older generation attacking twine with penknives.
very true, pictures would be good, I read it that the string is snapping before it ties, is this right @Keef
 

Agri Spec Solicitor

Member
Livestock Farmer
We bought an IH 440 to use with our Hydro 84 and it looked better than it was. I know nothing much about how to fix them so we bought a manual and had Rickerbys in Carlisle make it work. They have engineers of a certain age who looked after them back in the day when they were new. They knew where to get the parts both new and used, and whilst it blew the budget, we now have a baler which works. I think they have branches in Lancashire and it might be worth it if you can't find a local expert.
They did the work on farm and we had a supply of hay bales to rebale.
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
My baler manuals went to a man who had a B47 sat outside his back door. I asked him how he got on with it. He said the only real problem was the tripping mechanism as he could just put the broken bales through again. But he'd fixed that by having one of his children sit on the back and trip it manually as required.
 

DavyG

New Member
I would suggest that you don't be in too much of a hurry to pull the knotters apart. If the previous owner said it was working there may not be that much wrong except the effects of sittin about. If it came from a farmer then its not that likely to be worn out. I have an ex contractors jd baler which has definitely seen better days but even it still does a job.
 

Pennine Ploughing

Member
Mixed Farmer
My baler manuals went to a man who had a B47 sat outside his back door. I asked him how he got on with it. He said the only real problem was the tripping mechanism as he could just put the broken bales through again. But he'd fixed that by having one of his children sit on the back and trip it manually as required.
that would be the nylon knurled bush that fits in the bale length metering wheel, about £15 and 10 mins to fit, and as I said them that dont know how to fix or where to get parts, usually blame the baler
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
The B 47 must use sisal twine!
Setting up a knotter that is not working is a dark art, and has tried the patience of many a baler man.
Make sure the dogs are working, otherwise the hay will spring back stripping the knot too soon.
If you lifted the knotters are you sure you got the spacers , if fitted right?
The needles may need adjusting and the timing is absolutely critical
BUT IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO WORKING ON BALERS, TAKE GREAT CAR!, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED, ALWAYS JAM THE RAM!
 

8100

Member
Location
South Cheshire
The one i used only behaved on sisal .The boss had contact with a chap who worked at IH when they were at Nantwich he got it running like a Swiss watch but i can not remember what he did to it though.Maybe a bit of work may shine things up a bit if you can put up with rebaling for a hour or so .
 

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