John Deere 342 Knotter Issue

[FiatFarmer]

Hello all,
We have recently been trying to get a JD 342 working that has been laying in a shed for 20+ years. Most things seem to be going well, however she can be quite temperamental when it comes to tying knots. It will tie them most of the time but every now and then it will get a knot trapped in the billhook causing the twine to snap. To me it looks like there is a long tail left after the knot that is getting wrapped around the billhook and tied into the knot, but i cant tell what is causing the long tail.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Tractortech]

Now Then..
Is it just one knotter or both?? Are the knives sharp?? What string are you using??

 

[FiatFarmer]

Now Then..
Is it just one knotter or both?? Are the knives sharp?? What string are you using??

its mainly happening on one knotter but it will sometimes do it on the other too. The knives seem to be sharp, though I don't know how sharp they need to be. We are using blue poly twine.

 

[gatepost]

emery the bill hook, knife arm may need adjusting! sharp tap with hammer, is the cam roller on knife arm out of shape, they seize and can develop a flat. knotter stacks have to have up and down movement. all assuming they are Rasp knotters, same as NH.

 

[startinghandle]

its mainly happening on one knotter but it will sometimes do it on the other too. The knives seem to be sharp, though I don't know how sharp they need to be. We are using blue poly twine.

I am sure I will be corrected if wrong ..... I thought blue twine is for round bales and red is for small bales

 

[gatepost]

Round bale string very thin, try medium hay twine, comes in a variety of colours.

 

[beprint]

Hi, I am having the same issue and it was the twine, the new twines don't cut as easy.

Do you know how much clearance you need between the large cutring blades in the bale chamber

 

[MontyK]

John deere used to quote 1 miss in a 100 was acceptable, try telling that to a operator who does thousands and not one miss.

 

[MontyK]

Does the bottom pic/description sound like your problem ?

 

[bobk]

its mainly happening on one knotter but it will sometimes do it on the other too. The knives seem to be sharp, though I don't know how sharp they need to be. We are using blue poly twine.

33000 feet ?

 

[X344chap]

should be medium twine which has between 10,000 and 12,000 feet on a spool. If its longer than that its probably fine twine which most square balers wont like.

 

[Gordon Geko]

Older/worn balers often work better with 10000 feet band

 

[bobk]

Older/worn balers often work better with 10000 feet band

Always imo

 

[essexpete]

We used to find that as well, thicker slightly heavy twine would be less of a problem.

 

[essexpete]

Hi, I am having the same issue and it was the twine, the new twines don't cut as easy.

Do you know how much clearance you need between the large cutring blades in the bale chamber

Are you talking of the main moving and static blades on the ram and chamber entrance?

 

[forblue]

Ref knots this applus to all balers with knotter, twine tension is important too tight or loose, if twine runs through any eye ceramic or metal twine can rub and fail, twine disc timing which ensures twine is laid in centre of billhook if wrong can split twine or cause one long tail, to much free play on knotter stack will cause timing issues, haydog springs broken will also cause a failed tying, in the case of new holland type knotter wear of knife arm roller will cause problems, wear of roller on twine fingers arm more problems, bales excessive tight and any sharp projections in chamber, failed knots, plunger speed too slow again more problems, apart from that when making any adjustment if it makes problem worse or doesn't help put it back where you started or you will make it worse, happy baling.