Who’s getting hay equipment prepped?

[Lineman North Florida]

That's my biggest concern. A chain breaking was no big deal but bearings are another matter. I had a driven gear bearing go up in smoke year before last, scary stuff.
If only they'd made them grease-able, they'd last forever at the speed they turn. (old NH)

I could write a book on having non-greasable bearings on a hay baler go out while baling hay, it's a wonder I haven't burnt a baler up in the field. I bought an IR thermometer to shoot the bearings in the hayfield after baling for a while but even that doesn't always work as well as you would think as when a bearing gets ready to go it goes.

 

[Hay Dude]

I could write a book on having non-greasable bearings on a hay baler go out while baling hay, it's a wonder I haven't burnt a baler up in the field. I bought an IR thermometer to shoot the bearings in the hayfield after baling for a while but even that doesn't always work as well as you would think as when a bearing gets ready to go it goes.

I had 2 bearing fires on the same New Holland Roll Belt 450. Luckily, I caught them both before disaster.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Yeap. Already tilled and planted a field. My equipment is just really small.

 

[WinterDeere]

Yeap. Already tilled and planted a field. My equipment is just really small.View attachment 3258686

Hah... you beat me to it! The only crop I'm hewing and harvesting here is lawn grass.

I did the maintenance on the zero turn over the Christmas break, as I usually tend to do, alongside the CUT and other OPE.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I had 2 bearing fires on the same New Holland Roll Belt 450. Luckily, I caught them both before disaster.

There is not a bearing on my Vermeer 504 that hasn't been replaced, the worst part is if I don't catch the ones on the roller tubes quick enough it flares the end of the tube and it's shot, and that's $750.00 a pop.

 

[Hughman]

Bought some fuel for the tractor last week so I can mow again this weekend. Does that count?

 

[Farmer495]

Been working on changing bearings on baler on and off for 2 weeks,after completion ran it for about 5 minutes and heard that dreaded sound of a different bearing going bad, so it is ordered and hopefully that will do it, glad it did it under the barn and not in the field as I would have never heard it from inside the cab of the tractor until I saw the smoke.

I've had many bearings go. I think I've replaced every one on this baler now.

Last year one failed bearing turned into 7. The one that failed and smoked, two others that literally fell apart taking the machine apart to replace the first and 4 others that could hardly turn by hand.

 

[Farmer495]

Guess I already did start prep.

Got the baler control box mounted in new tractor.
Ordered spare bearings for new to me baler.
Did yard adjustments to hitch and rake height on new rotary rake.
Calculated how much twine and wrap to buy.

As of now I should just have to change oil & knives on the disc mower and grease everything.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I've had many bearings go. I think I've replaced every one on this baler now.

Last year one failed bearing turned into 7. The one that failed and smoked, two others that literally fell apart taking the machine apart to replace the first and 4 others that could hardly turn by hand.

Some bearings are easy, others make you wonder what a designer/engineer was thinking when they designed it.

 

[Farmer495]

Some bearings are easy, others make you wonder what a designer/engineer was thinking when they designed it.

I've done some an been back in the field in 30 minutes. Others 12 hours for one bearing. My personally favorite is not using the same bearing sizes on the majority of the machine.