Case IH 8420 Round Baler--modifying

[Charolais]

Unless those belts are dry rotted or been punctured by sticks or what not,they should last a long time. I guess it depends on how many bales has been through it too. I had a Hesston the same size as what you're buying. I never put new belts on it.(bought it used and ran it 10 years/about 600 bales per year) But did have to take them off and cut to the length that the mfg. suggested every 3 years. If they get stretched much over 2 in. the bales get sloppy. The 8430 I have now has the 3 ply 7 in. wide Chevron belts. It's 11 years old now and I'm thinking about pulling a belt to check the length before spring. I'm sure they're longer than spec. now. But the belts are in great shape. I keep it out of the sun when stored. Sun light will ruin baler belts if they're left outside year round.

One more thing. At the end of each day you bale or when in winter storage, always release the tension off the belts. They last much longer if that is done.

I'd take a good look at those belts before I bought new ones. Even if the clipper lace is starting to come out they can be relaced. If you go with relacing ask them to use the keeper clip on the cat gut/belt pin when installing the belts. It will protect the lace better.

 

[rambler]

That's a lot of labor, I'd be inclined to pay for the parts & take it all home, do my own repairs...... Hay season is a ways away, should be time to get it done.

--->Paul

 

[HammerFour]

I would have to wonder how much stuff they would want to do if you brought it in just after it was maintained by another dealer ( without telling them first of course ).

Not to bad mouth your dealer, but keep in mind that the service department is there to make a profit, not just to fix your equipment and be your friendly mechanic.

Personally, I would replace the teeth, check the length of the belts and adjust and relace them myself if needed and then check the bearings for heat after operating it for a bit before I just let the dealer loose to do everything they can think it needs to make it 'field ready'.
As was mentioned above, that is a lot of labor for the amount of parts being put on, granted round balers are labor intensive when taking belts off and on, etc....but 1700 dollars worth for work not even including any major repairs? What, do they think you are made of money?

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Charolais]

I make all my repairs here. Buy most of the parts from Shoup. Just didn't know if the gentleman did his own repairs or now.

I pulled one belt off my baler today. It was 1/2 in. over . Not enough for me to cut and replace the lace. I will order new pins/cable and the keepers and replace the old ones. I saw that two of the keepers were gone. Not bad for 10 years. Belts are in great shape. They might just out last me. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[jgh]

20060203

Hey, folks, was off list for a while. Thanks for those replies. I'm gonna go there and look at it to get them to go over everything with me, for my $225 diagnostic fee, at least. I'll try to eval what I can and cannot do myself. I also want electric tie, but that would be a lot on top of this.

Will get back with you when I learn more.

Thanks again,

Jim