3 Steps to Smoother Baler Operation

Transcription

1 3 Steps to Smoother Baler Operation Troubleshooting and Preventative Care for the Challenger LB34b and Massey Ferguson 2170 Series Large Square Baler by Spencer Whitlow & David Burns A stitch in time may save nine -Thomas Fuller Knowledge is power - Sir Francis Bacon Introduction Owners and operators of baling machinery understand that equipment that functions consistently and efficiently is a prerequisite for profitability 1. They know that downtime costs not only financially but in time and labor. Hesston large square balers are the result of 35 years of engineering experience married to modern technological improvements. 2 In the following paper we discuss three simple, easy methods to ensure your baler operates up to its potential, provide guidelines for diagnosing common bottlenecks, and offer recommendations to extend the operational life of your large square baler. 1 Hesston 2100 Series Large Square Balers. Duluth, GA: Hesston Print. 2 Challenger videos. Challenger large square baler animation (English) Video. YouTube Web. 30 Sep <

2 STEP 1 Maintain appropriate lubrication. Ensuring proper levels of lubrication is essential for smooth operation. Appropriate greasing will keep your baler functioning with the trouble-free efficiency for which it was designed. 3 Insufficient lubrication can result in premature wear, leading to costly repairs and shortening the life of your machine. Over-lubrication can result in slippage, sub-optimal performance, and premature failure 4. Following a greasing routine prior to beginning each day s work requires only a minor investment of time. Further, this practice provides an excellent opportunity to examine the state of your baler, observe any changes that may have taken place, and discover potential problems early. We recommend applying grease to the points enumerated below in accordance with the following procedure: Grease point DAILY 1-2 DAYS WEEKLY BIWEEKLY MONTHLY Begin on the left, at the attachment point to the tractor. 1. On the big ball on the hitch. 2. On each end of the first drive line and the slide shaft in the middle. 3. On the bearing housing of the through shaft. 4. On each end of the second drive line and the slide shaft in the middle. 5. By the large flywheel, one in front of the clutch assembly, and one in the back. (a small shot of grease only) Open the left side panel. 6. To the gearbox connecting rod bearings 7. To the three grease points on the packer crank. 8. In the front top corner, in back of the drive sprocket. 9. To the two points on the trip sprocket of the stuffer. 10. To the two points on the stuffer pivot. 11. On the back side of the trip sprocket, on the bearing on the cross shaft. 12. To the plunger connecting rod bearings. Move to the back left, near the ladder. 13. At the six pivot points at the ends of the hydraulic cylinders. Move to the top of the baler. Facing the tractor, remove the cover on the left side of the knotter stack. 14. To the two points on the trip sprocket. Raise the knotter stack cover. 15. In the middle of the knotter shaft, in the center of the knotter. Open the large inspection door in front of the knotter stack. 16. On each end of each of the two the connecting rods down inside. Climb down and move to the back right of the baler. 17. At the six pivot points at the ends of the hydraulic cylinders, as on point 13 on the left. Open the right side panel. 18. To the point on the cross shaft, in line with point 11 on the left. 19. To the two points on the stuffer pivot, as on point 12 on the left. 20. Towards the right at the slip clutch for the pickup header drive. (be careful not to over-grease) 21. Below that, on the back of the large spring for the header. 22. Under the shield between the baler and the pickup header, on the clutch. 3 Barnes, Mark. Reducing Maintenance Variability to Lift Reliability. Machinery Lubrication. Mar 2009: 6-7. Print. 4 Bearing Failure Due to Over Lubrication. Bel-Ray Specialty Lubricants: Tech Notes (2012): n. page. Web. 30 Sep <

3 The numbers on the illustration below correspond to the Grease Point list on the previous page. 8 (behind) 11 (behind) (behind) CHANGES FOR : Grease lines now extend from the plunger end connecting rod bearings backwards to the plunger. They may now be greased from above. It is no longer necessary to grease them near the gearbox. Relief valves and backing plates have been added outside the seals for the packer crank bearings. They may now be greased without the possibility of pushing the lips of the seal past the journal. Improved sealing has eliminated the need for greasing the stuffer drive shaft bearings. The zerks have been plugged.

4 STEP 2 When the baler mis-ties or throws a flag. The knotter system is responsible for ensuring the consistent production of compact, securely tied bales. From time to time manual intervention will be required to bring the system back to a working condition. Such a state may manifest in the form of loose or mis-tied bales, or in a raised flag and an alarm 5. A straightforward protocol exists for assessing and correcting this situation: Is there twine at the needles beneath the baler chamber? Check the twine box Has one of the bales come undone? Is it hanging loose? Move to the top of the baler Feed the twine back through to the needle Starting at the twine box find where the twine is stopped Tie the twine off to the frame of the baler Is the twine running down into the baler from above? Starting at the twine box find where the twine is stopped Pull a couple feet of slack in the twine Feed the twine back up to the top of the baler Run the twine down between the bale and the plunger. When such troubles arise, the crop which is contained in the chamber will be lost. Upon completion of the above protocol, return to the baler and resume operation. Monitor the flags and the next few bales to ensure the knotter is now producing correctly tied bales. If difficulty persists in spite of this procedure, contact a qualified service technician. 5 MF2100. Duluth, GA: Massey Ferguson, Print.

5 STEP 3 Keep the stuffer chamber door clean. In the course of running your large square baler, debris may gather in the stuffer chamber door. This will be especially common in fields possessed of a substantial fraction of dirt and rocks. As this accumulation occurs, it will lead to the door becoming jammed down, followed by a lack of pre-compression and continuous stuffing. Often, an alarm will alert the operator to this condition, but improperly formed bales can result before that critical point has been reached. A simple visual inspection in the morning can illuminate this issue before it becomes a problem. Whether a clogged stuffer door is detected early or whether a mid-operation work stoppage has forced action, the procedure for cleaning is the same: 1. Ensure the tractor is off. 2. Open the left side door of the baler. 3. Locate the stuffer door arm. a. Unbolt and unpin the arm. b. Move under the baler. c. Unbolt the stops keeping the door up. 4. Once the door is unbolted and unpinned, carefully move the stuffer chamber door down. 5. Remove all material and debris from within the pre-chamber. 6. Check all edges to make sure they are clear of debris, allowing the door to move freely. 7. Reassemble the door, making sure all bolts and pins are back in place. 8. Shut the side door. 9. If the door is still not operating correctly, contact your dealer or service provider. figure 1 6 Conclusion Following these basic steps will go a long way towards managing and preventing issues with your large square baler. These procedures will allow you to recognize trouble before it leads to a stoppage in work. And you should now have the tools at your disposal to manage some of the most common faults you are likely to experience. This should translate into time saved by efficient and productive labor, and money saved by a reduction in service calls and equipment replacement, now and into the future. The resultant minimization of downtime should assist in maximization of profits. Finally, you should now be aware of when it is appropriate to seek out professional assistance. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to contact your dealer or service provider. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Spencer Whitlow is an Ag Machine Sales Representative at Peterson Cat, authorized Cat and AGCO dealer to customers in over 100,000 square miles of northern California, Oregon, and southwest Washington. He has been selling AGCO tractors and hay equipment in Oregon s Willamette Valley since Spencer attended Oregon State University, where he majored in General Ag and minored in Crop & Soil Science. David Burns is a technical writer based out of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He studied chemistry and mathematics at George Mason University. His services have been engaged by a number of trade organizations and industry groups. 6 Challenger Rectangular Balers. Duluth, GA: Challenger, Print.

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