Case Nutty

[Erik Ks farmer]

Have you ever had trouble starting bales with your 505? I have a 554 that is very difficult starting and doesn't tie well, saw a 505 SI on a local lot and thinking about trading, I'd like the wider pickup too.
 

[Case Nutty 1660]

Eric, I do not have trouble at all with mine in hay if I bale very dry straw I always startthe bale at half or less pto speed for the first 1/4 bale and then no problems, mine is a silage baler and has a different starting roller in it and that may make a differance in starting, I know several other people here who have a regular 505SI and they have asked me the same questions but most times they are baling dry material also when having starting issues, there are adjustments to help with staring issues if I were you I would go to the source and call Vermeer direct and talk with their tech department they have been very helpful to me when I had monitor issues, cnt
 

[Erik Ks farmer]

Thanks, my 554 is a silage baler, been to the dealer twice and tried lots of adjustments. It also has 18k bales on it. I may look at the 505 I would also like the 5 ft pickup.
 

[Dale in nw wa.]

I have a Geil 1600 and it will not start a bale when the hay is to dry or if it is way two wet.
 

[504BalerGuy]

With 18K bales my guess is your pickup teeth are shot. The teeth do a lot of work to get the bale started. The ones at tractor supply are junk. I know 1st hand. If you are going to do the work get the Vermeer teeth.
It is easier to start bales with a 5' baler. Just because it is a larger openning. It is harder to make a square shoulder 5' bale because sometime there is not enough hay to have a 5' windrow, and then you need to weave.
The later XL's were slowed down to reduce front buildup in light hay. The I baler will be spinning faster than a late model. Speeding the baler back up will help start bales better, you just might have more front buildup in light hay.