273 baler just broke both needles

[Tom in TN]

I have a New Holland 273 small square hay baler. I've put thousands of bales through it over the years, but, yesterday I was baling a small area of grass hay and the knotter chain broke and both needles were demolished. I had baled 75 bales and still had about 40 more to go to finish the little field I was working in.

I assume that the broken knotter chain caused the needles to break since the timing would have been off between the needles and the knotter, but I'm not sure of that.

I'm going to call my local New Holland dealer this morning but I doubt that he'll have any needles in stock. Messick's website shows that they have three needles in stock and that they sell them for $260.00 dollars each.

What do you think? Broken chain caused needles to break or broken needles caused chain to break.

Tom in TN

 

[Chester5731]

Yup. I think your right. If yer interested I have two almost new needles i would sell you for $225 shipped. 98955one574zero. Texts are best.

 

[Tx Jim]

You need to get plungerhead stop mechanism operating before putting baler back to baling hay. Correct operating PH stop would have saved you about $500.

 

[Leroy]

A good welder can repair those needles but alignment has to be exact and if they bent before breaking then they cannot be welded. A lot have been welded over the years. Check all machinery parts yards for used needles.

 

[DanielW]

I helped a guy get his aligned and timed after shearing a pair not that long ago. Surprisingly, he got a new set off Amazon for what I thought was a very good price, and they worked well. Looks like they have them for the 273. Still not cheap, but not too bad either. This link is for the Canadian site. If you're in the US, looks like All States AG Parts has them even cheaper ($100 each). I've ordered from All States before, but if you're in Canada like me, the cross-border shipping from All-States is crazy high.

As TX Jim said: Make sure the plunger stop works uber-well so you don't shear another set in the future. As long as the plunger stop is working ok, there's not much catastrophic damage you can do to a baler.
273 Twine Needles

 

[Tom in TN]

Daniel,

Thanks for the reminder. I've bought parts before from All States Ag Parts and have had very good results. I ordered two needles today. They have used needles for $53.00 and new ones for $100.00. Unfortunately, they are out of stock for the used ones, so I ordered two new ones. They are supposed to be shipped by FedEx/UPS today so hopefully, I'll be back in business in a few days.

Tom in TN

 

[Tom in TN]

Tx Jim,

Thanks for the reminder. I'm aware of the plunger stop but didn't even look at it recently. I'll make sure that it is free to move and adjusted properly after I get the
new needles installed.

Tom in TN

 

[Leroy]

When you get the new needles take one to a good welder for pattern and have the broken ones welded up and hang up for insurance you do not break any more needles.

 

[lastcowboy32]

I assume you got your new needles.

What I wonder about is, did you check the needle yoke? Depending on where the needle yoke was when the plunger struck the needles, the yoke itself can get twisted from the torque that the needles put on it as they break.

I had a plunger crash in a baler that didn't break the needles. The needles bent. AND the needle yoke itself was bent. Thankfully, I had a scrap baler with a set of needles and a yoke.

My guess is that the broken knotter chain caused the needles to stop.

Others have mentioned that you need to check your plunger stop. An emphatic yes to that.