24T Baler Implodes, can it be saved?

[Mary Jane]

Bought a used 24T baler a month ago and ran 300+ bales before it decided to implode- it must have gotten out of time (somehow) and the plungerhead snapped the needles, which snapped the knotters, which also bent the needle carriage, the needle carriage pull-bar on the flywheel- etc...

Is it worth fixing and where do I begin to look for/find parts? A neighbor has a set of knotters but he too had a needle/needle carriage problem and is no help there. Thoughts?

This is our first go-round at putting up our own hay- the learning curve has been quite steep but so far manageable- until now.

Thanks~

 

[Allan in NE]

This is just a suggestion, mind you.

But, have you ever considered big round bales?

The hay making experience should be a pleasant one; not a total nightmare, which small squares are on the very best of days.

This is just my opinion and stated as such,

Allan

 

[RickL]

find you another unit and sell or use your for parts. Doing small squares is no big deal if the baler is set correctly. If you are selling it is defintely the best way that we see in dollars. If you do go large rounds and decide to sell it it better be net wrapped or they don't have hardly any value now days. Baling again today 2nd cutting and be all small squares all presold. good luck

 

[Anonymous-0]

Sounds like just scrap now. All the parts are availible brand new from JD, but they are pretty expensive considering what the baler is worth. You could problably find a parts baler with a little looking around the country side. If the baler wasn't in too great a shape anyways, I'd consider just dragging it to the scrapyard now since everything got destroyed on it. What happened to the dogs in the bottom of the bale chamber to stop this sort of thing from happening?, you see, there is a catch that comes up when ever the needles come up so if something does go wrong like this it will stop the plunger from smashing into the needles. Was this broken?. This catch I am talking about has saved my baler a few times, since occasionally the needles get stuck on my 14T.

 

[Tx Jim]

Yes the baler can be saved with several new/used parts. Needle frame will have to be replaced as they can't be straightned very well. What probably happened was needle brake was not working properly nor was plungerhead stop. It is of utmost importence that the plungerhead stop WORKS to protect needles ! Tx Jim

 

[Kelly Campbell]

Best bet with a baler of that age is to scrap it, and get a newer baler, you might try to sell it off as a parts machine as well...

 

[Don-Wi]

I think just about all the most expensive parts got scrapped in that one, I wouldn't even consider fixing it anymore. Best bet is to find another one, maybe trying to find the same model so you can use what few good parts are left on yours.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Mary Jane]

Thanks guys for all the ideas-

This baler was supposedly barn-kept and does look pretty good, considering. Will check into some replacement parts- the swing carriage for the needles seems to be the key part. Needles are available here and there.

The plungerhead "dog" was present and attached to a spring and rod under the bale chamber. Why didn't it work? Would answer quite a bit.

Square bales for us means less wasted hay. We have meat goats- round bales end up with a good 50% waste regardless of how we feed it to them. We scrape up what we can off the ground, but I don't need any more garden mulch!

Just need to see how much a swing carriage will run (if'n I can locate one)and go from there. Another baler might show up, esp. after hay season. Will see.

Thanks again~

 

[Kelly Campbell]

The best way I've ever seen boar goats feed round bales is if there on a stand, or you can set the bale in a barn and take hay off of it, both methods work very well.

 

[Leroy]

For me that big round bale would be the total nightmare.

 

[Curt from MN]

Some of the trashed parts can also be replaced by ones from the 14T. Wether to repair or replace at this point is mostly a personal choice. If getting the crop out is the most important concern then replacement is likely the quickest and best way to go. The 24T could then be parted out as there are still many usable parts although not necessarily the most expensive or desirable. As is may still be worth several hundred if the sheet metal and pickup are in good shape. If you don't have a sentimental attachment to the baler replace it and sell off the carcase. If you do have an attachment, such as it belonged to a relative, you can repair at what cost or replace and hang on to the carcase for later renovation or use as a yard ornament.