John Deere 545 round baler using too much string.

[Deere342]

Hello,
Does anyone know how you adjust the amount of string the baler puts on a bale? It seems to be putting on far too much string at each side. For comparison it used a new pack (2 reels) on 20 bales.

Thank you

 

[BlueBrick81]

on a 550 if i remember correctly, behind the right had side panel (as if you were sat on the tractor) there is a black knob on the bottom right hand side turning that speeds up and slows down the arm. years since i have been near one. (well i guess thats not true i shoved ours into the hedge bottom a little more when i drove past it with the telehandler the other day)

 

[Deere342]

Yes I found that, it's on one of the stickers showing more or less string across the bale. Turned it down to the minimum, but then the heavens opened so didn't tie any more bales.

There is also a dial mounted on the frame in the centre of the machine above the PTO, but I don't see a graphic for what it is for.

Thanks

 

[Deere 6430]

The dial above pto is bale density. They put more twine on if you’ve stopped moving and the pto revs increase. They are quite sensitiv. Bale at 540 say stop and it’s increased to 550 it will put more twine on unless the oil in the twine system pump is low or the system has an issue. Pump is from a Citroen car if i remember.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Yes I found that, it's on one of the stickers showing more or less string across the bale. Turned it down to the minimum, but then the heavens opened so didn't tie any more bales.

There is also a dial mounted on the frame in the centre of the machine above the PTO, but I don't see a graphic for what it is for.

Thanks

as said above that dial/valve is for bale density, the inner wheel dial is just a locking ring so before adjusting s lacken that a bit anti clockwise.....
the dial is then screwed right in (clockwise) and it will make the tightest bale, unscrew it anticlockwise up to a maximum of 4 turns ..that is for the slackest bale density .

 

[Bury the Trash]

happy days.......

 

[yellowbelly]

happy days.......

Ahh, that brings back memories.
It should also be said that @Bury the Trash's instructions are for a baler that also has net wrap. If the OP's baler only is 'twine only', he'll just have one 'knob'

 

[egbert]

Ahh, that brings back memories.
It should also be said that @Bury the Trash's instructions are for a baler that also has net wrap. If the OP's baler only is 'twine only', he'll just have one 'knob'

^^^^^^^
this.... I ran a 545 for some time, and don't recognise the pic from the handbook - mine was twine only.

Before fiddling with adjustment, I'd be asking myself what has changed?
(OP doesn't make clear if this is a new-to-him baler or not).

Too much string suggests arm isn't travelling quick enough. Is oil level up to mark?

 

[yellowbelly]

Before fiddling with adjustment, I'd be asking myself what has changed?

Yep - air in the system can make it perform badly. Seem to remember something about sticking a pipe into the reservoir and blowing into it to bleed it ??

 

[egbert]

Yep - air in the system can make it perform badly. Seem to remember something about sticking a pipe into the reservoir and blowing into it to bleed it ??

not sure I got that far...stringer worked OK until I COULDN'T STAND FOR ANOTHER EFFING MOMENT the failure to start bales in haylage type crop.
I traded it for a 572 (?) in 2001, using compo payments as retail therapy - to try and destress my life a little.

That particular machine is hooked up to the baler tractor right now, but has electro string feed - and packer arms to start the bale spinning!
(Mind, the electro actuator stuttered t'other day. JD replacement cost? Over a grand!!!!)
(Google might be my friend if problems persist)

 

[Deere342]

^^^^^^^
this.... I ran a 545 for some time, and don't recognise the pic from the handbook - mine was twine only.

Before fiddling with adjustment, I'd be asking myself what has changed?
(OP doesn't make clear if this is a new-to-him baler or not).

Too much string suggests arm isn't travelling quick enough. Is oil level up to mark?

Yes this machine is new to me, first time using a round baler for me. I'll see what difference adjusting the dial makes. Thank you

 

[Bury the Trash]

Ahh, that brings back memories.
It should also be said that @Bury the Trash's instructions are for a baler that also has net wrap. If the OP's baler only is 'twine only', he'll just have one 'knob'

Yeah.

Come to Think about it or ours is one of my favourite implements , he run s like a sewing machine, and funnily
Enough one of the mods I've made is complete removal of the Twine arm....

Got to keep the belts and joints more tidy running on net,
.....I do actually as well .......run him at about 530 rpm no faster ......to be pedant ......

....the devils in the detail...........

 

[spider mike]

I seem to remember our 545 had another twine arm adjuster near the arm home postion to alter the amount of twine it put on at the end of the bale so if you weren't putting that much string on the sides of the bales were properly secured so the bale didn't pop and fly to bits.
Ours was fairly good in haylege and caused very few feeding problems. The 590 that replaced it supposedly was a silage special with extra drives and a different starter roller and was the stuff of nightmares. In the end I persuaded father to buy a cheap Greenland rf130 at a collective sale for grass

 

[essexpete]

Yes this machine is new to me, first time using a round baler for me. I'll see what difference adjusting the dial makes. Thank you

Have you got the pressure dial on the front offside?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I still wake up in cold sweats thinking of the days I used a 550 and a 590

 

[yellowbelly]

Yeah.

Come to Think about it or ours is one of my favourite implements , he run s like a sewing machine, and funnily
Enough one of the mods I've made is complete removal of the Twine arm....

Got to keep the belts and joints more tidy running on net,
.....I do actually as well .......run him at about 530 rpm no faster ......to be pedant ......

....the devils in the detail...........

I still wake up in cold sweats thinking of the days I used a 550 and a 590

Yeah, there is definitely a 'knack' to using them, but in their day they were the best that was available.

 

[balerman]

Yeah, there is definitely a 'knack' to using them, but in their day they were the best that was available.

Not sure they ever had a day,maybe a minute...

 

[yellowbelly]

Not sure they ever had a day,maybe a minute...

I know what you mean. The vermeer type round baler (of which the 550 was one) was really designed for baling hay in N. American conditions. When silage baling became a 'thing' we switched from Farmhand 504C's to 804C's as these had better front roller scraper designs but these were still far from perfect.

The next progression was to JD550's. These again, although they tried several front roller scraper designs, only 'just got away' with UK silage conditions.
Probably 75% of our baling was straw so we put up with them for a long time as when the belts still had plenty of 'diamond' on them they started much better in a 'normal' year.
When the belts got a bit worn and the straw was chaffy, well that was another matter altogether

 

[Deere342]

Seems I turned the dial far too much, arm went across and never cam back! A big thank you to @Dave W for helping me out tonight.

50 round bales of hay for sale if anyone's interested.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Seems I turned the dial far too much, arm went across and never cam back! A big thank you to @Dave W for helping me out tonight.

50 round bales of hay for sale if anyone's interested.

The picture in post 6 is a page from a 545 manual, written on it lower down , it says clearly that if you turn the knob fully clockwise it will stop the twine arm.