Vermeer F and G Series Baler Tips

[DanielW]

Down at our Southern farm we have an old Vermeer 504G baler (actually a Massey 1440, which is a rebadged 504G). It's a rough old girl, but we don't do much hay at that farm compared to the Northern farm, so that old Vermeer gets us by down there. Several years ago I had posted on here and another farming forum I follow about some tips, info, and modifications that can be done on those old F an G series to make them work better, plug less, and start the core rolling easier.

Last year two different people sent messages within a couple of days of each other asking me for some more details of these tweaks - mainly how to advance the pickup cam. I could have sworn that it was through this forum, but I can't find any record of any PM's, nor an e-mail, nor thread that the reached out by. So it may have been on another forum. I told them that because two different folks were asking about it, I'd make a video showing the details that I could share with both of them.

In the event, I made a video, and then completely forgot to share it. I forgot until today, when my phone gave me one of those 'Remember One Year Ago Today' sentimental pictures. I'm not sure who those folks were or through what forum they reached out by. But on the off chance they're here (or if anyone else is running one of these old girls) I'll belatedly share the video for them:

 

[tom upton]

Daniel: Well done tutorial. You mention not too many dealers locally. Are you aware of the Vermeer dealer in Port Perry? I purchased new belts and a proximity sensor for my 5410 and they were good bunch to deal with. Prox was next day delivery. On a side note I have decided to sell the 435 I have and keep the 5410. Not sure why, other than the Vermeer is several years newer and has only 3000 plus or minus bales showing on monitor. Plus for whatever reason it seems to make a nicer bale in lighter windrows than the JD, and I absolutley detest merging rows together.

 

[paul]

I ran a 605F for a few decades, still in the shed but got a newer Vermeer a couple years ago.

Great info, I learned some stuff I didn’t know.

Had a good run with mine, it didn’t like slippery long grass but it sure was a lot worse when you forgot to replace pickup teeth or old folded back rubber flaps - when tuned up it worked fine. It really didn’t like cornstalks at all but that was asking a lot of that vintage machine.

Paul