MF 124 square baler - plunger stop?

[dancoga]

Hey guys,

Just got into baling my own hay and picked up a MF 124 square baler that appears to have been taken care of. I went to set it up this week and the fly wheel wont turn because it appears to be hitting the plunger stop? Any ideas why its hitting and how to correct?

Thanks any help appreciated, really been pulling my last hairs out on this.

 

[charlton289]

It could be hitting the needles check the fly wheel shear bolt it could be broke and needs to be re timed

 

[quicksandfarmer]

If it's like my Deere the plunger stop goes up when the needles are in the chamber knotting a bale. The plunger should never enter the chamber when the needles are in there or the needles will get broken. Most likely the knotters need to be timed to coordinate with the plunger. You should be able to look into the bale chamber and see the needles. On mine you can turn the drive wheel of the knotters by hand to get it to finish a knotting cycle without moving the plunger. Once the knotting cycle finishes the plunger stop should drop and the plunger should move freely. Then you need to retime the knotters.

The plunger stop is known to stick, some cleaning and lubrication should get it going again. But usually it sticks down not up.

 

[DLTTrekkers]

check your frictionbrake on thr needleframe....to loose and the needles will end up in the chamber getting knocked off

 

[dancoga]

Thanks guys for the replies. It does seem like timing is off. I read the manual on timing, but it is rocket science to me. Going to search on line for a good video if I can find one...

 

[Phillip w]

On a new Holland and an ih, if you shut the baler down during a tying cycle you run into this kind of problem. It is a simple 2 man job to fix:
1. Pull all of the hay out of the baler and bale chamber.
2. Have your buddy hold the needles back while you roll the fly wheel over. This will reset the needles and stop block so the needles are not trying to come up when the plunger is going back.
3. Trip you arm/lever by you knotters so the baler will try a tying cycle. Roll fly wheel over by hand and watch the needles come up and feed the knotters. It should complete the tying cycle and you are back in business.
I've seen this happen 10-15 time ove the course of my 40 years fooling with balers. The secret is never stop the baler during a tying cycle. Always let the baler finish its tying cycle and then stop the baler.