jon f mn
Well-known Member
Got the first hay of the year up yesterday. Cut it with the 830 and 555 haybine. This is the first cutting on new seeding, so there was some weeds, but it is nice alfalfa/grass mix and some volunteer clover. Will make nice hay for the cattle.
I used the 530 and case hay conditioner to fluff the hay. I like the conditioner better than a tender for alfalfa since it crimps the hay again. It fluffs it well too, and leaves it in a row so if I get rain it does less damage. We get so much rain most years putting up hay is a challenge, and that helps limit damage.
I have had issues with this conditioner plugging and finally figured out the reason. I saw one of the rubber discs on the rubber roller fall out, then it got real bad for plugging. So I think one had fallen out before so they were loose, then hay could get between and wrap on the roller. So ill have to figure out how to fix that. Luckily the roller looks the same as the one on my new idea conditioner, so I think a replacement should be easy to get.
I also finally figured out why the 530 has t been running right. It has always smoked fuel smoke, I had the whole injection system gone over with not improvement. It starts good and doesn't burn oil, so I think the engine in general is good. But while running the conditioner it finally got bad enough I had to pull the valve cover again. It had 2 bent push rods when I got it, I replaced them and set all the valves, but it kept getting worse. When I pulled the valve cover I found one valve is not opening at all. I suspect the came lobe is shot on that one. So looks like ill be pulling that engine apart.
So that means I had to use the 830 on the 281 rake to rake the hay. The 830 rides nicer a way. LOL.
Then the 830 on the 640 new Holland baler to finish up.
Cut the hay Saturday, conditioned it again Sunday morning, raked it and baked it Monday. Rain here Thursday and was raining about 10 minutes after I got everything in the shed last night. Rained most of the night and supposed to rain tomorrow and Friday, after that ill be cutting some more.
I used the 530 and case hay conditioner to fluff the hay. I like the conditioner better than a tender for alfalfa since it crimps the hay again. It fluffs it well too, and leaves it in a row so if I get rain it does less damage. We get so much rain most years putting up hay is a challenge, and that helps limit damage.
I have had issues with this conditioner plugging and finally figured out the reason. I saw one of the rubber discs on the rubber roller fall out, then it got real bad for plugging. So I think one had fallen out before so they were loose, then hay could get between and wrap on the roller. So ill have to figure out how to fix that. Luckily the roller looks the same as the one on my new idea conditioner, so I think a replacement should be easy to get.
I also finally figured out why the 530 has t been running right. It has always smoked fuel smoke, I had the whole injection system gone over with not improvement. It starts good and doesn't burn oil, so I think the engine in general is good. But while running the conditioner it finally got bad enough I had to pull the valve cover again. It had 2 bent push rods when I got it, I replaced them and set all the valves, but it kept getting worse. When I pulled the valve cover I found one valve is not opening at all. I suspect the came lobe is shot on that one. So looks like ill be pulling that engine apart.
So that means I had to use the 830 on the 281 rake to rake the hay. The 830 rides nicer a way. LOL.
Then the 830 on the 640 new Holland baler to finish up.
Cut the hay Saturday, conditioned it again Sunday morning, raked it and baked it Monday. Rain here Thursday and was raining about 10 minutes after I got everything in the shed last night. Rained most of the night and supposed to rain tomorrow and Friday, after that ill be cutting some more.
