Set-Up for Hay Season!

Before you know it, hay season will be upon us and it’s better to have your equipment prepared before you hit the fields. Here are a few maintenance things to check on your round baler before you get to baling this spring!

 It’s a good rule of thumb to start the season off with a general walk-around of your equipment to see if there is any visual issues on the inside and outside, that can later become problems. This is also a good time for that annual spring cleaning to get any mud, dirt, grime, or other debris that has collected from last season of the off-season. From our service team, who do a great job at setting up round balers for customers every year, these are their top 5 service points before you start baling:

• Check the grease points – this is essential to prevent metal-on-metal grinding or friction-induced heat that will further prevent bearing failure. Making sure these points are well lubricated extends the life of your equipment and their critical moving parts. Key greasing locations are pickup reel bearings, main drive & packer chain shafts, tension arms, tailgate hinges, knotter assembly, and the PTO shaft & bearings.
• Check the chain tension – chains are tightened using adjustable, spring-loaded cam tensioners, with a general rule of thumb for chains being 1/4 inch of slack per foot of span. Proper tension ensures even bale formation, avoids uneven side-to-side wear, and prevents broken or bent bars. Loose, worn chains put excessive pressure on idlers, sprockets, and bearings. If a chain is too loose, it can allow the bars to bend, which shortens the effective width of the chain and forces uneven pressure on the components, which in turn can end up being costly.
• Check your belt tension – the belt tension is adjusted via hydraulic pressure (density settings) and monitored via the front gauge, with proper tracking requiring belts to be within 1–1½ inches in length of each other. Proper tension prevents the belts from tearing, or jamming, which significantly reduces downtime and ensures consistent, high-quality baling. Low tension can also cause belts to slip, which reduces efficiency, causes overheating due to friction, and can damage bearings.
• Lowering pickup wheels - Lowering the pickup wheels on a New Holland baler is a straightforward adjustment designed to set the proper clearance between the pickup teeth and the ground, typically about 1.5 inches for optimal performance. The 1.5” of clearance is to prevent the pickup teeth from digging into the ground, avoids the excessive wear and tear on the tines, and prevents debris like rock and soil from getting baled in with the hay.
• Check hydraulic hoses – Hydraulic fluid is the "lifeblood" of the baler; broken hoses or leaks cause hydraulic pressure to fail, disabling the tailgate or pickup. Routine inspections prevent leaks, hose bursts, and hydraulic contamination that can damage cylinders and reduce performance. Regular inspections detect worn, cut, or damaged covers, as well as twisted or kinked hoses caused by improper routing, ensuring they do not burst.

As you inspect your baler and prepare for this coming hay season, don’t forget to reach out to your local Cornerstone location for any netwrap, baling twine, New Holland parts, or even service on your equipment.