Info on Used JD 224 Series Square Baler

SunnyDaye · Sep 26, 2006

A good friend of mine has come across a 30 yr old John Deere Series 224 square baler for sale. He asked me to check and see if anyone here might know anything about this series baler, His tractor has 42 pto hp and he wonders if that would be enough hp to operate the baler properly. (He doesn't plan on baling alot and the baler is in his price range.)
Any info would be great!

floridahay · Sep 26, 2006

I am not familar with the 224 but I think it must be in the generation before the the 336 and 346 balers. I have a 346 that I purchased in 1980 I think. I think a 42 pto horse tractor would pull it just fine. From all that I have heard John Deere has always built one of the better square balers. I have been very well pleased with the 346 that I have. I know that it being a Deere you will have some of the best parts support in the industry.

RonR · Sep 26, 2006

I grew up on JD balers. Think the first ones I used were 24T, 24W (Twine and Wire), then 224 series, then 336. As I recall, they were basically the same design, just heavier with bigger model numbers.

The farmer I worked for did custom baling and we ran 2-3 balers ALL the time. They were bullet proof if you kept the knotters clean and dry and adjusted. We seldom had to re-adjust the knotters, but that takes some special talent and patience, along with a good instruction manual. The manual on knotters should be available online. They had some wear parts on the plunger, etc, and we ran them enough that we had to replace these occassionally. This would have been late 60s, early 70s.

We pulled them mostly with D17 Allis gas tractors (unsure of the HP), but they pulled them with ease.

I don't recall any issues with any of them dealing with gearboxes or frames, etc. We did have to replace the pickup tines all the time due to wear, but that was a nothing.

I don't have a clue how many bales we did per summer, but it was in the tens of thousands. We ran enough crew that we could pickup 2,000 bales per day and stack.

Ron

VistanTN · Sep 27, 2006

The pto hp is fine -- only other possible issue is the tractor weight. Square balers move a lot of mass forward and backward with every stroke -- and a lighter weight tractor will get jostled pretty badly (along with the operator). I have an olf IH Model 46 and my A-C 5020 will pull it ... and will power it, but not at the same time. Sitting still, with the pto engaged the baler shakes the little tractor HARD! I use it with a Mahindra 6500 4WD (almost 9000 pounds with the loader excluiding bucket and the tires filled). With that weight the baler forces are noticeable, but negligible. If his tractor is a smaller CUT it may make for a pretty rough ride.

farmerjim · Sep 27, 2006

not sure i've seen one of those model balers, but you cant go wrong w/ a jd baler. thats all we've ever owned except for 1 nh 77 hayliner w/pony motor. yor pto hp should be fine. the knotters are top notch and jd balers will produce a good even size bales. i currently run an old 24t behind a jd2010 gas no problems pulling it. i have even hooked it up to my jd 790 when getting it ready in the spring, it rocked the little 790 but i think it could pull it/bale w/ it in a pinch. as stated by someone else there are some wear parts that may need replacing after awhile but nothing too major. if its a good deal then i would probably grab it, if you don't like it you can always sell it later, jd baler usually hold a good resale value.

SunnyDaye · Sep 27, 2006

Hey thanks guys! This is just the info he was looking for. I sent him a link so he could read the replies and now he's all shook up over all the shakin' goin' on

Thanks again!

Superdexta · Jul 24, 2013

I bale with a 224T. I have used it with a Fordson Dexta (39bhp). It is a good baler and easy to use.
Superdexta, Swatragh, County Derry. NI.

Jdhager87 · Dec 20, 2017

On a john deere 224 baler can the plunger head come out the back of the bale chute to ckeck the plunger rollers? Or is that the only way it cones out?

Tx Jim · Dec 20, 2017

Welcome to TBN
Yes one needs to take plunger head out the rear of bale chamber to check wear on brgs(rollers) & guides.

Jdhager87 · Dec 21, 2017

Tx Jim said:
Welcome to TBN
Yes one needs to take plunger head out the rear of bale chamber to check wear on brgs(rollers) & guides.

Ok thanks.

Jdhager87 · Dec 26, 2017

Jdhager87 said:
On a john deere 224 baler can the plunger head come out the back of the bale chute to ckeck the plunger rollers? Or is that the only way it cones out?

Does anybody no the part numbers for the plunger rollers on this baler? Seems that there is little info on part numbers on the web. Plus not being very computer savvy may have alot to do with it too.

jd110 · Dec 26, 2017

Plungerhead rollers are AE15137. Quantity used is 5. That number is actually obsolete and subs to a AE30220. These are still available.

Tx Jim · Dec 27, 2017

I'll post price of brg so it won't be such a shock at dealership. AE30220 ROLLER PLUNGERHEAD 68.12 USD

Jdhager87 · Dec 27, 2017

jd110 said:
Plungerhead rollers are AE15137. Quantity used is 5. That number is actually obsolete and subs to a AE30220. These are still available.

Thanks

Jdhager87 · Dec 27, 2017

That's a little pricey ain't it. Ima gonna see ifin them bearings have any
Numbers on them and ifin they do gonna see ifin that bearing company IBT can
Cross match em. Mite be a little cheaper.

Jdhager87 · Dec 27, 2017

Jdhager87 said:
Ok thanks.

Well i was n the process of taking plunger head out it got so far then stopped. Started looking thangs over
And ima guessing that the knife on the plunger head needs to come off does that sound right? It looks like it was hitting one of them ribs that stick out on the bale chamber.

Tx Jim · Dec 28, 2017

I never remove PH knife before removing PH from bale case on my JD 347 If PH removal is similar to my 347 one needs to remove carriage bolts(key 4) that attaches needle frame to bale case. On my 347 bushings(key 7) that needle frame pivots on protrude into recess in bale case to hold needle frame in place. If your baler has hay restrictors(wedges key 32) then they require removal plus I always block hay dogs out of chamber.

Jdhager87 · Dec 31, 2017

Tx Jim said:
I never remove PH knife before removing PH from bale case on my JD 347 If PH removal is similar to my 347 one needs to remove carriage bolts(key 4) that attaches needle frame to bale case. On my 347 bushings(key 7) that needle frame pivots on protrude into recess in bale case to hold needle frame in place. If your baler has hay restrictors(wedges key 32) then they require removal plus I always block hay dogs out of chamber.

Ok i got the ph out. The wedges r worn plum out. Would u no the part number for them there wedges? Got one roller that is locked up and one wear plate on ph that is broke. Can u take them wear plates and turn them over or do they have to b replaced. For the most part the wear plates r n perty good shape there is one that has just a little bevel to it.

jd110 · Dec 31, 2017

The wedges are E21274. The wear pads are not made to be flipped over. The bolt holes are recessed on only one side. If they are only worn, you can put shims under them to take up excess play. The larger ones on top are E14569 and the shims for the large ones are E11740 for thin shims and E11741 for thick ones. The small wear pad is BP14278 and the shims are E19802.