269 baler question

[mcg]

I have a New Holland 269 baler. Baled with it yesterday and all bales were extremely heavy and dense. All 6 (3 pair) of the wedges are in it. Should they all be in, or should I remove a pair to lighten the
bales. If so, which pair. I've only had the baler a few years and this is the first year we've had decent hay to bale. Baling orchard grass with some fescue. Loosened the cranks on top or the chute, but bales
didn't get any lighter. Looking for lighter bales without making bananas. Thanks for any advice.

 

[ArleninOr]

Take the center pair out first and then try it again.

 

[fastfarmall]

I always figured the last pair was the key set, and they are the closest/easiest to remove !!

 

[Farmallb]

Dont your baler have cranks at the end of the chamber. IF SO, there there to either tighten or loosen the bales.

 

[mcg]

Farmallb - yes it has the cranks, I loosened them almost all the way up and was still making 70 lb bales. Breaking plenty of shear pins also. Figured removing a pair of wedges would lighten bales and save shear pins.

 

[RayP(MI)]

is the bale chamber clean and rust free? last years hay and/or rust can make bales come out heavy. If all else fails make bales a little shorter.

 

[Hay hay hay]

Please don't be offended....but it is really difficult to get hay dry enough to bale this early in the year. If the hay is too high in moisture, the bales will be very heavy and the hay will mold. Is the hay truly dry enough to bale? That question must be YES...before you look further for baler problems. Where are you located? That will give us an ideas of your climate.

 

[mcg]

I'm in Virginia, cut the hay last Sunday, baled it yesterday, no rain while it was drying. Neighbor cut his the same day, baled round bales a day or two earlier than me.

 

[John in Md.]

If you're making 70# 36 inch bales with a 269 you need a moisture tester. I had one for 25 years and never made a 70 # bale that wasn't a banana of wet alfalfa. Just remember cut side up and use plenty of salt

 

[fastfarmall]

That made me chuckle.John, i baled flax straw with a 269, i know where u coming from!! How many pewter rakeing teeth did u get o buy?

 

[Traditional Farmer]

I'm in central VA and hay dried good this past week,a lot of hay was baled, temperature in the 80's with wind a couple days hay shouldn't have had any trouble drying.
Not so much this coming week calling for rain all week,we're were getting a little dry really pastures and garden need some moisture.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 21:11:55 05/16/20) Farmallb - yes it has the cranks, I loosened them almost all the way up and was still making 70 lb bales. Breaking plenty of shear pins also. Figured removing a pair of wedges would lighten bales and save shear pins.

You need to shorten your bales I'd say and check for moisture content. Shear bolts shearing may mean something else is wrong and have nothing to do with bale weight.

 

[larbear]

If you are breaking shear pins I would guess your hay isn't dry. It might appear that way because that is what you want. A plant stem like a grain seed, needs to aspire, that is the moisture that is in it needs to come out naturally or by other means. Until it is dry from the inside out it is not truly fit to bale. With 70 pound bales, baling and breaking shear pins, I don't think there's too much wrong with the baler. There is a set screw on the arm of the flat iron that trips and sets the knotters in motion. That might make a difference in the length of the bale.

 

[John in Md.]

I'll bet he tedded and fluffed his hay more than you did.
With all the dogs in the chamber on a 269 a 32" bale should weigh about 40-45 pounds when it's baled and only 35-37 when it's cured.

 

[flying belgian]

Plane and simple. Your hay is not dry enough to bale.

 

[showcrop]

How many times did you ted it? Here in NH we ted at least twice sometimes three times.