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If you want to know what to look for when buying secondhand machinery, who better to ask than two seasoned mechanics, Michael Breslin of JR Perry’s and Jimmy Sothern of Gordon Hegarty and Sons. Both men have considerable experience with all types of balers, but especially round balers.
The first place both men would check would be the pickup of the machine, as this is where the most wear can occur and where the highest refurbishment cost, both in time and money, could be required.
Cam bearing and the pickup tine bars should be checked visually, both running and stopped.
The door hooks should also be checked for cracks and signs of previous repairs. If the hooks are strained or broken, it can lead to bigger issues such as misalignment or twisting of the door.
The hinge points should also be checked, as these can become worn from use and cause the door to become more difficult to operate and cause extra stress on the mounting points and the door opening rams themselves. The mounting points for the rams should also be checked for cracks or signs of previous damage.
Belt baler
On a belt baler, all of the belts should be thoroughly checked for any splits or damage which may worsen with time. Obviously, some wear and tear is to be expected.
On a fixed-chamber roller baler, the rollers themselves and the chamber should be checked for wear. As the bale count climbs on a baler, the metal on these parts can get worn to a point where repair or replacement may be required.
The rotor and scrapper should also be checked for any major damage. Obviously, over time, wear will happen and minor dings and bangs are inevitable. Any sign of major impacts or damage should be investigated further, as this may have caused shaft or bearing damage at the outer edges of the rotor. Any major damage to the rotor could also lead to an imbalance, causing nasty vibrations in the baler. This sort of damage should be either visibly or audibly noticeable when the machine is running.
On a net tying machine, the net placing and cutting system should be operated and checked for any faults as they are notoriously troublesome in some machines.
Door braces
The rear door on some balers are braced diagonally. If these braces are damaged or look to have been repaired, it is usually a sign of a high bale count or a previous incident.
All chains should be checked. Chains should be good for 30,000 bales if kept lubricated with the correct chain oil. So if a bale count is available, the chain wear can be assessed in comparison with the recorded number.
The sprockets are usually in good condition if the chains have been maintained and or replaced when required. A visible check should be undertaken and any damage or unusual wear investigated further to find out what the cause was.
This covers the main areas where issues can occur with older round balers. These simple checks, along with a good overall inspection of the machine and any history that can be sourced about the machine, will help to avoid any possible issues in the future with your new-to-you machine.
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