The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to farmersjournal.ie on this browser until 9pm next Wednesday. Thank you for buying the paper and using the code.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact us.
For assistance, call 01 4199525
or email subs@farmersjournal.ie
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Reset password
Please enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address.
Please click on the link in this email to reset
your password. If you can't find it in your inbox,
please check your spam folder. If you can't
find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
Email address not recognised
There is no subscription associated with this email
address. To read our subscriber-only content.
please subscribe or use the reader loyalty code.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
Michael Boyle, from Milltown, Co Galway, has been a service technician with McHale Farm Machinery for almost 20 years. He has been working on the McHale Fusion integrated baler and wrapper unit since it came to the market in 2003, so he has a vast knowledge of the machine. For this piece, we chose a 2012 McHale Fusion 2 combination baler doing an average of 13,000 bales per year, a typical contractor or farmers’ machine being worked around the country.
Michael Boyle, from Milltown, Co Galway, has been a service technician with McHale Farm Machinery for almost 20 years. He has been working on the McHale Fusion integrated baler and wrapper unit since it came to the market in 2003, so he has a vast knowledge of the machine.
For this piece, we chose a 2012 McHale Fusion 2 combination baler doing an average of 13,000 bales per year, a typical contractor or farmers’ machine being worked around the country.
Safety
From 2007 to 2016, 21% of all deaths in agriculture involved farm machinery. With the ever-increasing workload contractors and farmers are put under, it is essential that each and every one of us takes the time required to carry out simple maintenance and daily checks on our machinery.
An adequate hitch pin is essential and Michael recommends that a bolt should be used to secure the underside of the pin. The drive shaft should have a perfectly functional cover. There should be easily accessible grease points without having to remove the cover.
All lights should be checked regularly and kept in sound working order. All panels and guards must be correctly on the machine while it is in operation. The brakes should be checked at least twice per year and adjusted if necessary. Wheel studs must be checked and tightened if required.
Pick-up reel
The pick-up reel is an essential part of the machine and must be maintained to a very high standard for the machine to function.
Michael recommends that the pick-up reel needs to be gone through in depth before the machine is put to work.
Any broken or damaged tines should be replaced and all scroll pins on the tine bars need to be replaced at regular intervals.
Cam bearings on the tine bar ends along with bushings need to be replaced at least once per season. The cam track should also be inspected for any wear. All bands must be attached while the machine is in operation. Bearings in the small wheels that the reel runs on should be inspected and replaced if necessary.
Chains
All chains should be checked on a regular basis. They can be adjusted using the easily accessible tensioners. It will be evident when chains are coming to the end of their life span, as the tensioners will be at the maximum and the chains will start to slacken more and more before they eventually break.
Once the baler hits around the 20,000 bale count, Michael explained that the operator should replace the full set of chains. Otherwise, these chains will begin to break one by one, which will slow down the operation on busy days when the time frame to complete work may already be minimal.
McHale Farm Machinery gives people the option of purchasing a kit containing the full set of chains cut to length, which provides for easy replacement.
Knives
Ideally, a new set of knives should be fitted to a baler at the start of every season. In perfect grass conditions, a new set of knives will adequately chop up to 1,000 bales. These knives should then be removed and sharpened professionally using a grindstone. This method is far better for longevity of the knives and it is safer than sharpening them at home using an angle grinder.
After their first sharpening, this process should be repeated after every 500 to 600 bales, depending on grass conditions. In perfect swarths, a set of knives can chop up to 7,000 bales (after frequent sharpening).
Michael recommends that there should be a spare set of knives on the baler in case they come into contact with any objects which may damage or break them. He said every farmer or contractor should have a spare sets of knives on the shelf in the shed ready to go at all times.
Cleaning
Michael emphasised the importance of regularly cleaning down the baler. He said: “It is absolutely vital that these balers are often cleaned down. Old grass will build up and can pose a fire hazard.
“Operators who clean down their baler on a daily basis may spot something loose or even a hydraulic hose leaking oil. Simple things like this can avoid major downtime later down the line.
“Dust and dirt should be cleaned off sensors and valve chests using an air compressor. This will help maintain and improve the overall life span.
“Operators should back their baler into the shed on a wet day when things are not too busy and spend time going through the machine. These days should be spent oiling and greasing all points, changing knives, cleaning out the knife banks and replacing scroll pins, etc,” he said.
The control box should be mounted on a safe bracket in the cab. The wiring loom should be kept free of any dust and dirt. If possible, there should be a good power supply to the control box.
As Michael said himself, “if you respect and look after the machine, it will look after you”.
Wrapper unit
The wrapper unit doesn’t require much maintenance. The break pad unit for the wrapping ring should be maintained at the beginning of every season. If this is done correctly, it should be perfect for the full season.
All of the rollers on the wrap dispensers should be cleaned and oiled. All rams should be greased on a regular basis.
The two cut-and-tie units can be easily taken out and cleaned. They should be taken out at the beginning of the season every year. It’s a simple task of opening one bolt, sliding them out by hand and then cleaning and oiling them. The blades can be changed very easily too if required.
Netter
This particular baler comes with the option of applying standard netting or the more recently introduced barrel wrap option. Because of this, there is a small oil reservoir for the barrel wrap, which is located on the right-hand side of the baler beside where the roll of barrel wrap is placed. This reservoir should be checked and kept topped up.
At the beginning of the season, the netting unit may require some maintenance around the erring wheel. Michael said that if this is gone through at the start of the season, it should be fine. The erring wheel should be kept nice and rough. If it has gone smooth, it means that it requires replacing.
Michael explained that for larger issues, such as problematic valve chests or any issues with sensors, operators should contact main McHale dealers.
Michael stressed the importance of having a good dealer on hand who is willing to provide a top-notch after-hour and weekend service if required.
Michael also reminded us of the importance of storing these machines indoor in a dry environment for the off season.
Fergal O’Sullivan spoke with Irish contractors to understand why they believe the current payment system per bale is outdated and what needs to change so bale density is rewarded and not punished.
Peter Thomas Keaveney caught up with Sean Gilligan, a Galway contractor baling for three decades who made the move to a Kverneland FastBale ahead of last season.
Save to a collection
Recent collections
This article has already been saved
This article has been saved
Create a collection
Subscriber only
This content is available to digital subscribers only. Sign in to your account or subscribe to get unlimited access.SIGN INSUBSCRIBE
This is a subscriber-only article
At the beginning of the season, the netting unit may require some maintenance around the erring wheel. Michael said that if this is gone through at the start of the season, it should be fine. The erring wheel should be kept nice and rough. If it has gone smooth, it means that it requires replacing.
SHARING OPTIONS: