Case IH 8420 Baler Belts

[Hobby Farmer 52]

Has anyone tried wider belts on the Case 8420 or I think the Hesston 530 is the same round baler. Seems that a lot of hay goes between the belts and builds up.
Thanks, DJ

 

[GarryinNC]

I have an 8420 and a Hesston 5530 and I don't think you can use any wider belt, due to belt guides built into the tailgate. Good crop longer hay does not do as much of what I think you are talking about.

Garry

 

[pertwan]

I know these posts are older but I'll add my thoughts, short second is a bear on the 8420, third is out of the question, you definitely need the short hay bar installed to even think about baling shorter grass/hay, I am unplugged mine right now after second and I'm tired of it, there are 5/8 spacer rods and yes there are guides in the lower part of the tailgate, the problem is the grass/hay does not pack in the bale chamber and goes between the belts, I am going to add another belt and relocate the spacer rods and tailgate guides, I believe its worth a try... God Bless fellow Farmers...

 

[pertwan]

Well the belt addition has begun on the 8420, yes the tail gate guides and the front post guides need to be reconfigured, not that bad of a job, the grass/hay here in Michigan 2026 is short, descent rain but chilly temperatures so the same old issue with as much grass around the belts as inside the forming chamber, we shall see if the additional belt makes any difference come second cut, which here is usually short anyways.

 

[rrlund]

Well the belt addition has begun on the 8420, yes the tail gate guides and the front post guides need to be reconfigured, not that bad of a job, the grass/hay here in Michigan 2026 is short, descent rain but chilly temperatures so the same old issue with as much grass around the belts as inside the forming chamber, we shall see if the additional belt makes any difference come second cut, which here is usually short anyways.

I don't know about you, but I'm parking everything for at least a week, maybe two. I wish I hadn't cut as much as I did, but I got carried away with the weather like it was. Not a single bud on the alfalfa, grass is short except for the orchard grass. Yeild was horrible on half of what I already cut. I'm waiting until the alfalfa flushes out more and isn't just one skinny little stem.

 

[Texasmark]

Has anyone tried wider belts on the Case 8420 or I think the Hesston 530 is the same round baler. Seems that a lot of hay goes between the belts and builds up.
Thanks, DJ

My first rounder was a Hesston 5560 I think was the number....5x6 roller which had 4" non diamond pattern belts. My second baler was a JD 530 5x6 baler with 7" 3 ply diamond pattern belts......besides the Hesston having a "closed throat".....must have been as starting a roll was a king sized PIA, and the JD having an "open throat" apparently, the ability of those balers to perform their intended function were no where to be compared.

 

[pertwan]

No rain for weeks here in Southern Michigan, grass/hay is short, I wanted to try the 8420 with the additional belt (6 belts now), maybe September...

 

[Brendon-KS]

My first rounder was a Hesston 5560 I think was the number....5x6 roller which had 4" non diamond pattern belts. My second baler was a JD 530 5x6 baler with 7" 3 ply diamond pattern belts......besides the Hesston having a "closed throat".....must have been as starting a roll was a king sized PIA, and the JD having an "open throat" apparently, the ability of those balers to perform their intended function were no where to be compared.

It is interesting to note that the Deere 530 was a close enough copy of the Hesston of that era (the closed throat balers like what you had was an older design) that Deere had to pay Hesston royalties after losing a patent infringement lawsuit.

 

[pertwan]

Interesting Brendon, thanks
Like I said I basically turned a 8420 into a 8430

 

[Texasmark]

It is interesting to note that the Deere 530 was a close enough copy of the Hesston of that era (the closed throat balers like what you had was an older design) that Deere had to pay Hesston royalties after losing a patent infringement lawsuit.

Interesting! That supports the fact that Hesston knew that they screwed up the old design on at least 2 counts.....4" belts and closed throat.....and maybe the dual tie arm configuration for 3 counts....where it matters to the operator.

 

[pertwan]

Got done with second cut baling with the additional belt and I was amazed at how much better it baled, grass/hay was short due to little rain early on, the belt I added was a used one and really stressed my redesigned belt guides, hay stayed in baler and bales looked great.