John Deere 459 Knotter Issues / Baler Mechanic Wanted

[Magic7]

I recently purchased a Deere 459 conventional baler that I'm trying to get ready to use for making hay this season (nothing like leaving things to the last minute). When testing the baler after giving it a good clean and grease by rebaling a couple of bales of hay the knotters are tying knots however the knots are only in the piece of string lying on the top of the bale , the other end of the string doesn't get knotted together.

I'm not sure if the string is being fed through the knot and then pulling out or if it's not being fed through the knot in the first place. The baler is fairly tidy and has not seen a lot of use but has sat for around 10 years prior to me attempting to use it. (It came from a friend of a friend and I do trust that it worked when parked 10 years ago).

Any suggestions as to what might need adjusting are welcome but I'm running out of time and have never worked on baler knotters before so I'd really like to get someone who knows what they're doing out to have a look at it - I'm sure it only needs a few adjustments, everything seems to be free to move and in good condition.

Can anyone recommend a mechanic who knows there way around John Deere conventional balers that covers central Hertfordshire?

 

[davidroberts30]

Right,knotters don't like loads of grease about them
The manual if you have 1 should go through all the settings

 

[Tractortech]

Now Then..
Empty the bale chamber, thread the needles correctly, trip the knotters, have an assistant (not the tractor) wind the baler the right way via the flywheel. You will be able to watch the knotters in action but you'll have to hold the string inside the bale chamber to sort of mimic a bale shape.
Difficult to over grease knotters on a 459 as they have autolube on..

 

[Phil P]

If it’s leaving knots in both strings on top of the bale I’d put money on it that the issue is with the tucker fingers. They’re the two half moon bits that sit under the knotters fastened to the top of the chamber.
You need to trip the knotters and whined it over by hand (ideally get someone to whined so you can watch), as the needles come up through the top of the chamber the tucker fingers (the half moons) should rotate 90 degrees to pull the twin towards the rear of the baler so the bill hooks can catch the twin as they rotate.

One of the favourite issues is the stop for the home position of the tucker fingers sticks through into the top of the feeder house and gets built up with chaff under it stopping it going all the way down causing the fingers to stick half way across the chamber so the string goes around the wrong side of them and misses the bill hook.

Hope all that makes sense?

If you rotate shaft no2 it should all move freely and spring back to its home position.

 

[bobk]

I recently purchased a Deere 459 conventional baler that I'm trying to get ready to use for making hay this season (nothing like leaving things to the last minute). When testing the baler after giving it a good clean and grease by rebaling a couple of bales of hay the knotters are tying knots however the knots are only in the piece of string lying on the top of the bale , the other end of the string doesn't get knotted together.

I'm not sure if the string is being fed through the knot and then pulling out or if it's not being fed through the knot in the first place. The baler is fairly tidy and has not seen a lot of use but has sat for around 10 years prior to me attempting to use it. (It came from a friend of a friend and I do trust that it worked when parked 10 years ago).

Any suggestions as to what might need adjusting are welcome but I'm running out of time and have never worked on baler knotters before so I'd really like to get someone who knows what they're doing out to have a look at it - I'm sure it only needs a few adjustments, everything seems to be free to move and in good condition.

Can anyone recommend a mechanic who knows there way around John Deere conventional balers that covers central Hertfordshire?

No 9 in the picture below isn't doing it's job

 

[Tractortech]

If both strings are affected, is the spring (No4) broken??
The following pages are from the operators manual..

 

[Tractortech]

John Deere - Technical Information Store - Technical Information Store

Official John Deere site to buy or download Ag & Turf operator’s manuals, parts catalogs, and technical manuals to service equipment. The site also offers free downloads of operator’s manuals and installation instructions and to purchase educational curriculum.

techpubs.deere.com

Manual is here,,,,, and free..

 

[Phil P]

No 9 in the picture below isn't doing it's job

Yes no9 are the tucker fingers

 

[bobk]

Yes no9 are the tucker fingers

If that doesn't move across it only knots one string , not both , not that I need to tell you

 

[Pan mixer]

I agree, I have had this issue with my 459 at the start of the season most years since I have had it from new despite very carefully cleaning and spraying with oil those disc things at the end of the previous season.

Now I know to wiggle them vigorously before starting baling and bathing them in WD 40.

 

[Phil P]

If that doesn't move across it only knots one string , not both , not that I need to tell you

They move together (or at least should) so if they stick across or don’t move it doesn’t knot either side, leaving knots in just the end on top of the bale as the op is describing.

 

[livestock 1]

Check for a broken roll pin in the knot wiper at the bottom

 

[spin cycle]

i got sold a 459 with a knotter problem .unbeknown to me,....it was cheap though....i fixed it but i don;t know how....i just fiddled about til it looked right

edit...i remember...i had one knotter working and one not so i just set faulty one to look like good one.....so quite easy by comparison to op

 

[Magic7]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a look at the tucker fingers now I know what I'm looking for. I'm not convinced they were moving very much when I was trying earlier so definitely sounds like the issue. I'll post back either tomorrow or Tuesday evening (depending upon when I get to look at it), hopefully with some good news or failing which with an update on where I've got to.

 

[Pan mixer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a look at the tucker fingers now I know what I'm looking for. I'm not convinced they were moving very much when I was trying earlier so definitely sounds like the issue. I'll post back either tomorrow or Tuesday evening (depending upon when I get to look at it), hopefully with some good news or failing which with an update on where I've got to.

They should be quite loose.

 

[Phil P]

This is a pretty good little video someone has posted, helps to show what should be happening.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1476611428136239110

 

[The Jolly Farmer]

Check spring number 4 above isn't broken, if it has make sure S link number 3 above is still there when replacing spring.

Had it break on our JD Baler, tucker fingers weren't returning to rest, fouling twine.
Replaced without S link damaged tucker finger rest stops.

Sorry Tractortech I see you have already raised this point

 

[Dairyfarmer2016]

Just a thought there’s little rollers that run on the inside of the brake one of them hasn’t come of or siezed? I had that this time

 

[Magic7]

Thanks to everyone suggesting the tucker fingers - these were stuck at the end of their travel. Lots of WD40 and wiggling and they now move freely. Spring and S hook both appear to be attached and in good condition. Not had a chance to put any hay through it yet (hopefully this evening or tomorrow morning) but it's looking hopeful.

 

[Neil Mitchinson]

haven’t got much knowledge on mechanical aids on tractors but anything Diesel related from genys to trucks I might be of help if you ever get stuck just drop me a message