Case/IH 8430 Round Baler Problems

[CTPhil]

My Case/IH 8430 baler is getting hay wrapped on an upper roller when starting a new bale. Not every time, but far too often. I got the baler used last year and made about 130 bales, and it wrapped the roller maybe twice. This year, it is doing it much more often, and more than once (like this afternoon), I've given up and finished a field with my small square baler. What's different this year is I'm about 5 weeks behind because of the most rainy season I've ever seen. The rain plus the extra time seems to have favored the growth of the finer grasses that grow between the main grasses, so overall the hay is finer. Also, the tractor I used last year blew a piston, so I'm baling with a 1959 Farmall 560 this year.

Does anyone have any experience with these balers? What could be wrong? My bad shoulders can't take much more of cutting hay off the roller, you've got to be a contortionist.

Thanks.

 

[Bison]

What moisture level is the hay you're trying to bale? . Hay and especially grass hay over 16-17 % moisture has a tendency to start wrapping on belt rollers with just about any brand baler. I suggest to get a hay moisture tester and start baling when the hay is 15% or less
Balers used to make silage bales(high moisture) have scrapers on every roller to prevent wrapping/buildup.

 

[CTPhil]

Moisture shouldn't be a problem, the hay is about as dry as it gets.

 

[Bison]

Could be a torn belt splice is catching hay and taking it up there

 

[blueriver]

I baled with the exact baler for years .. Two causes for your situation .. Too moist or too dry .. If too moist wait. If too dry bale with a little dew in the late evening or early morning.

 

[Timm250]

Does your baler have the starter flaps? This is the pieces of belt bolted to the bottom roller in the front. If these are worn it will cause the hay to wrap around the roller.