oat hay Baling issues

[donais]

So does conditions hay bale better than sickle cut and raked hay? I'm getting nice tight bales but when you go to pick them up the middle flakes sometimes slide right out and then the bale pops. I think its because the oat stems are long and smooth. Oh this is on the 214t hd baler. Any ideas? I've got the bales to about 80-90 lbs could it also be too dry? Twain stopped and had to cut too soon the stems this year were only a foot to 2 feet tall

 

[art]

bales are to heavy and otherwise put some wedges in to slow down the crop and tighten the springs.

 

[donais]

I tightened the springs 6 turnes past when it hit the frame

 

[Tx Jim]

What's the moisture content of the crop at baling? A 80#-90# sq bale that won't stay together sounds as if it's too high moisture. Small grain crops such as oats/wheat are easy to misjudge the moisture content.

 

[donais]

I'm waiting on the tester but a lot of the stems break when you bend them I am thinking its on the too dry side

 

[Tx Jim]

Hollow oat stems break easily. How long has crop been laying on the ground and what's your weather like?

 

[donais]

Cut a week and a half ago and in the mid 80's with low humidity

 

[Tx Jim]

Having been cut that long ago it should be DRY. Were oats headed out? Dry oat/wheat/barley straw has been successfully sq baled by several different colored balers for decades so I think you hay isn't too dry to sq bale. Did you weigh any of your bales or guess the weight? It's possible the height of your crop could be the problem.

 

[stuckmotor]

My grandfather had a lot of oat hay bailed. Cut with both a cycle bar mower and a New Holland mower/conditioner. It was bailed with a New Holland bailer. I don't remember any of the problems you discribed.
I don't remember over dry hay being difficult to bale but, if I understand correctly, that it's been on the ground for a week and a half, that MIGHT be the problem.

 

[donais]

Ok not scale weighed. The real heavy ones are at about 12-15% and one of the lighter bales from another field was at @ 7%

 

[donais]

And of the stuff I bale. Yesterday one was at 22% that was a bale in the shade for a lot of the average bales when I pick them the strings pull about 8 inched off the bale

 

[Tx Jim]

12-15% moisture is where I want to bale the hay. I still think 7% hay should fine to sq bale. Are bales coming out of chamber even or banana shaped? In my youth my Dad baled 1000's of bales of oat hay with a 214WS

 

[aczlan]

Hmmm, ~20% is where we stop and let it dry longer. Like Tx Jim, we shoot for 12-15% moisture. Sounds almost like your bales aren't being held back well enough by the bale chamber, but if they are 80-90# bales, that is too heavy...

Aaron Z

 

[donais]

Yah the higher moisture ones get to get fed first. All the old timers here say just let them sweat for 6 months. Bales come out perfect looking. When you cut the strings and compare length it hasn't been more than a quarter inch difference.

 

[Tx Jim]

And of the stuff I bale. Yesterday one was at 22% that was a bale in the shade for a lot of the average bales when I pick them the strings pull about 8 inched off the bale

I can't see how string will pull 8"s from bale when picked up if bales weigh anywhere close to 80#s. How long are the bales?

 

[donais]

They are 3 feet. I'm going to weigh a few and try some pictures to clear it up.. on another note. This Baled has the compressor rods on the pick-up that just go straight back I see in the manual they have some that come forward then curve down and back up towards the back like an s shape. If I get/make some like that will that help pick up the hay? It seems that it likes to throw a lot of the hay forward unless its roped on the windrow. Also thanks for all the time spent with me. This is my 3rd season haying @ 30 acres. Last year was better had none of these problems but had better rain.

 

[Tx Jim]

Yes the curved compressor rods help hold the hay against the pickup teeth and strippers better than the straight comp rods. I can't remember seeing a 214 with straight comp rods. Photo's would help. This 224 that I found on the internet has flat compressors.

 

[AKfish]

Let 'em "sweat" for 6 months or so... You'll have mold that won't quit! If you've got 80's now and 90's in several weeks... mold in 2 weeks - darn near guaranteed - with 22%> bales.

AKfish

 

[PMA]

I can't believed they haven't dried out if cut a week and half ago. That is a long time

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[donais]

Ak yah I feed the higher moisture bale as soon as I bring them home. As far as getting any more rain it is probably over till October. Gotta love this desert ish weather here in Ramona.