Problems with Massey 124 Baler

[nwwy]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I think JasG has hit the nail on the head. It sure looks like that's what's happened. I wonder what "The plunger should be fully forward right when the needles are up in the knotter" means though? Why 'fully forward RIGHT'?

I didn't actually run the baler backwards, but the timing chain apparently was off - even though it looked correct according to the book. I think it causing everything to be off so much that the needles were still in the chamber when they should have cleared it.

I will work on it again tomorrow and let you know! Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.

 

[JasG]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I think JasG has hit the nail on the head. It sure looks like that's what's happened. I wonder what "The plunger should be fully forward right when the needles are up in the knotter" means though? Why 'fully forward RIGHT'?

I didn't actually run the baler backwards, but the timing chain apparently was off - even though it looked correct according to the book. I think it causing everything to be off so much that the needles were still in the chamber when they should have cleared it.

I will work on it again tomorrow and let you know! Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.

I will try and expalin better. When I say the plunger is going forward that is towards the hay in the chamber. Backwards is going away from the hay in the chamber, but still turning the baler in the correct direction. The reason the needles come up to the knotter through grooves in the plunger face (at least on JD balers) is so the hay is held by the plunger and can not touch the needle or twine. When the needles are at there highest point, the plunger should be very close to its furthest forward position into the chamber holding the hay. As the needles pull out the plunger is on it's back stroke going away from the hay in the chamber.

What was happening on the baler I described earlier. The needles were coming up while the plunger was moving away from the hay in the chamber. The hay in the chamber was sliding back and pushing on the needles as they were coming up. This made for poor ties and after a few bales the needle on the left side (as looking from the back of the baler towards the tractor) broke.

 

[cornshucker]

check the plunger for foreign matter in the slot that the needle travels thru. We had a small stick to get in this one time and bent a needle but was lucky and found it the first time.

 

[JasG]

I will work on it again tomorrow and let you know! Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.

Just wondering how did you make out and what did you find?

 

[nwwy]

Hi again -

Sorry for the delay posting a reply. I've just been so busy in the field I keep forgetting! Anyway, the baler is knotting pretty well now. It misses a knot occasionally, but it's old, so I suppose I should expect that. The problem I'm having now is that one of the knives isn't cutting the twine every time. It will miss some bales, which of course causes a real mess. I think I need to order a new knife, but maybe it's just not lined up perfectly. I plan on taking it apart to see what I can do. I can't tell all of you how much I appreciate all the help you've given me!

 

[flusher]

Hi again -

Sorry for the delay posting a reply. I've just been so busy in the field I keep forgetting! Anyway, the baler is knotting pretty well now. It misses a knot occasionally, but it's old, so I suppose I should expect that. The problem I'm having now is that one of the knives isn't cutting the twine every time. It will miss some bales, which of course causes a real mess. I think I need to order a new knife, but maybe it's just not lined up perfectly. I plan on taking it apart to see what I can do. I can't tell all of you how much I appreciate all the help you've given me!

Keep that knife sharp. Then follow the alignment procedure in the operation manual.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day take to the knife with an oilstone or diamond plate and keep them sharp enough to shave with ( ok so maybe not that sharp but you get the idea ) and align as per the manual a missed knot every hundred/2 is nothing to worry about on an old machine


Jon

 

[MBMassey]

This must have been a common problem on these balers...my 124 did the same thing...was doing good then all of a sudden broke the l/h knife...I welded it but I didn't time it properly so it bent...had to fix it again and then I timed it with the other side, but mine will sometimes pull the twine out of the needle and will only make about 1 or 2 bales then either misses cutting the twine or the twine slips out of the needle as I said before and doesn't tie anymore.

VERY frustrating..but I'll look at some of the ideas on here....I hope this will get resolved soon or I'll have to borrow the OP's lighter

 

[Ken A]

I just bought a baler that someone had given up on. Check the slots in the plunger that your needles pass through. It could have a wad of dryed up hay or mud in it which keeps bending the needle. Make sure they are cleaned out. That's what it sounds like to me.