Knotter problems on New Holland square baler

[LichenFarmer]

Hi,

I'm having protracted problems with my square baler! It's a NH Compact Hayliner 65e.

Last year the knots tied well, but it was breaking a lot of shear pins, so pre season I adjusted the slip clutch, sharpened and realigned the knives, adjusted the knotter brake and the needle timing to spec.

That has seemed to work! But it won't tie knots! At first, they were sticking on the billhooks. So I gave the billhooks a good Emery and adjusted the knife arm stripper. Now though, it is not tying a full knot on the right hand side - it forms only on one end of the string.

I have the manual and can find the troubleshooting entry for this problem (attached), but there are a lot of possibilities, and I fear today may be my last chance to bake this hay! So just wondering if there are any further thoughts...

I'm going to try to run it slowly by manually turning the flywheel to see if I can figure out what's going wrong...

Cheers
Joe

 

[David.]

Get a ball of different twine to try, mine ties well with red Cotesi hay twine, but wont put up with yellow Tama at all.

 

[LichenFarmer]

Get a ball of different twine to try, mine ties well with red Cotesi hay twine, but wont put up with yellow Tama at all.

Thanks! This is a sisal baler and I don't think I'll get new twine today... And this twine worked last year... Will bear in mind tho, good shout

 

[startinghandle]

Have you sharpened string knives?
Have you checked hay retainers for
Weak or broken springs
Is the needle eye worn
Have you tried tripping needles and looking what's happening while someone is turning flywheel

 

[startinghandle]

I should have said....
When tripping needles you should pull a small amount of string through, like
Making small bale and keep it tight until it's released

 

[LichenFarmer]

Thanks @startinghandle

I'll look at the needle eyes, but i think they're smooth. Twine knives are good. What are hay retainers ... Same as hay dogs?

Cheers
Joe

 

[startinghandle]

Hay retainers same as hay dogs
Needle eyes might be smooth but have holes worn bigger
Regards

 

[bobk]

Give the stripper arm a whack . not close enough to the billhook , assuming the knives are very sharp

 

[LichenFarmer]

Hay retainers same as hay dogs
Needle eyes might be smooth but have holes worn bigger
Regards

Thanks - one of the hay dogs was seized open (not retaining) will try to loosen.

No idea how big needle eyes are supposed to be... Any idea how to tell if this is the problem?

Cheers

 

[LichenFarmer]

Give the stripper arm a whack . not close enough to the billhook , assuming the knives are very sharp

Yes, I did that yesterday - they're working great now.

 

[LichenFarmer]

I should also say that it's an intermittent problem. Doesn't do it every time, but often enough to be seriously disruptive!

Think running speed might make a difference? One been using a Fordson Major with no rev counter, but I've got my MF35x back on site now, so can run PTO at 540...

Cheers again all

 

[Dry Rot]

Try this, what they don't know isn't worth knowing:

Small/Conventional baler group. | Facebook

A face book group for small/Conventional balers. Pictures, setting tips,problem solving etc. whether a new welger/Massey inline or an old welger trusser. A group for the fans of idiot bricks!

www.facebook.com

 

[bravheart]

String tensioner out of the box ok. Talking IH now but it has a tensioner outside the string box then twine goes through a loop also with a coil spring pulling back, if either of these wrong the knotter wont tie right every time.

 

[LichenFarmer]

Try this, what they don't know isn't worth knowing:

Small/Conventional baler group. | Facebook

A face book group for small/Conventional balers. Pictures, setting tips,problem solving etc. whether a new welger/Massey inline or an old welger trusser. A group for the fans of idiot bricks!

www.facebook.com

"Idiot bricks"! Excellent - thanks a lot.

 

[LichenFarmer]

String tensioner out of the box ok. Talking IH now but it has a tensioner outside the string box then twine goes through a loop also with a coil spring pulling back, if either of these wrong the knotter wont tie right every time.

Good shout - I think it's fine, but happy to have all the suggestions.

 

[LichenFarmer]

Update - I got the field baled today. Tinkered around a bit but nothing seemed a decisive fix. Using the MF35 much easier than the Fordson, so I just cracked on. Discovered that I could manually tie the knots when the baler dropped them, which it was doing less and less frequently. Then, it just seemed to get into the rhythm and did the last 70 fine... every string was good.

Massive faff for a titchy job really, so will have to chalk it up to educational experience I think ...

Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions. Massively appreciated

 

[forblue]

Check brass rollers on the knife arms can seize or worn or flat spot's, also check end-float on twine disc gears to cam gears fig 2 you will see the short wide arm above blokes hand with a bolt in centre with large washer remove this and remove shims [all] behind washer refit bolt but don't tighten yet slacken pinch bolt on arm then slowly tighten bolt until most of movement has gone between gears remove retaking pin or bolt from knotter frames and lift each frame and gently drop they should fall under own weight if they rub slightly that's ok then tighten pinch bolt and refit shims to equal space between shaft and large washer what shims you remove fit under head of bolt that way you won't lose them, then try baler, you must remember if cam gear lobes where knife arm roller runs this can cause problems they can be built up but not 5min job also bill hook rollers and frame can wear.

 

[LichenFarmer]

Thanks @forblue - good tips .

 

[davidroberts30]

You can cause problems overgreaseing the knotters

 

[Hesston4860s]

If it’s only tying the knot on one end of the string, it’s more than likely the twine finger not picking the string up. So either you have a sting tension issue or more likely the twine fingers to far from the needle !.