JD 346 Baler
- Thread starter ddivinia
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flusher
Super Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
- Messages
- 7,555
- Location
- Sacramento
- Tractor
- Getting old. Sold the ranch. Sold the tractors. Moved back to the city.
That sucks.
Before I bought that MF124 baler, a neighbor told me to crawl underneath it and make sure everything was OK there, including checking for rust holes. Glad I did that since the baling chamber was stuffed with hay when I bought the thing and it took me 30 minutes to clean it out when I got it to my place. No way to check that chamber from above with all that hay crammed in it.
Before chucking that 346 baler, I'd get an estimate from a weld shop. It might turn out to be a pretty simple repair job.
BryanM
Gold Member
I was thinking the same flusher. Maybe you know a fabricator or welder that might pickup a few extra bucks. I know thats what I would do, all I am not sure what the other problems are that the shop found
Here are some pic from picking up the parts baler today.
If you have never hauled one of these balers before - there is a reason why they are shipped on their end.
Wheels and tires are better and the needles look brand new - still has the JD parts tag on them. I think somebody was trying to get this baler up and running.
I am hoping to make 1 good baler out of two with minimal extra expense. It should be a learning experience for sure.
Enjoy,
D.
If you have never hauled one of these balers before - there is a reason why they are shipped on their end.
Wheels and tires are better and the needles look brand new - still has the JD parts tag on them. I think somebody was trying to get this baler up and running.
I am hoping to make 1 good baler out of two with minimal extra expense. It should be a learning experience for sure.
Enjoy,
D.
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AKfish
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2004
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- 5,419
- Location
- Alaska
- Tractor
- JD 5115M; JD 110 TLB; JD 4720; Ford 9N; JD X300R
Well... that looked like quite an adventure!! I can't remember when I had to change a tire in 90-100 degree temps! (It's a memory that I've tried hard to forget...)
There's a bit of a "dip" right after the needles... Would be a real "PUSH" for that next bale! :mur:
Good news that the seller has tried to make things right and from the sound of things the other 346 might just be a more solid machine in the end.
My deck-over goose neck was right on 8.5' and the baler sat just off the rub rail! A "custom fit" and only a matter of pushin' on the tongue (or pullin') and was loaded/unloaded.
Interested to hear the rest of the details on the "parts machine vs the original machine" and which one will make it to the field!
AKfish
There's a bit of a "dip" right after the needles... Would be a real "PUSH" for that next bale! :mur:
Good news that the seller has tried to make things right and from the sound of things the other 346 might just be a more solid machine in the end.
My deck-over goose neck was right on 8.5' and the baler sat just off the rub rail! A "custom fit" and only a matter of pushin' on the tongue (or pullin') and was loaded/unloaded.
Interested to hear the rest of the details on the "parts machine vs the original machine" and which one will make it to the field!
AKfish
Believe me - it was way over 100 when we were changing that tire. Somewhere between Rusk and ********* Texas.
The parts baler is rusted out int he sheet metal a lot more. The original baler is much closer to baling hay. The knotters have been taken apart on the parts baler and some parts are missing. The bale chamber has some holes on the parts baler, but enough of it is there that we can use it as a pattern for the steel we need to lay in the other one.
I have been looking at how to pull the plunger, etc. I might just turn this into a complete learning lesson besides getting hosed in the first place. Pull the plunger - needs bearings. Check the rails, etc. Clutch needs some parts. Weld up the bale chamber. Pick up needs about 1/2 mile of twine cut out of it. Needs some pick up teeth and a couple other things in there. I think the auger setup it fine. Flywheel bushing is not bad. Swap out grade 8 bolt for a shear bolt. Swap the wheel/tires - looks much better on the parts baler. I should be able to make one out of 2 - but I will be buying new parts.
Also - the 4520 works good for loading that baler. hydro trans is precise. It is not too wide to make it harder to maneuver up the ramp and dove tail, etc. A tad wider trailer would be nice, but it is amazing what you can do with a handful of 2x4 cut offs and a cedar 4x4 block. We used the 2x4s on the way home - drove up on them with the inner wheel to get the outer wheel off without having to break out a jack.
D.
