[lachlanandmarcus]

[smithycraft]

We were so tempted to cut ours today but we've decided to hold off.  Hope we made the right choice.  Good luck with yours.

[FiB]

It's a fine sight - Good luck 

[Sudanpan]

Much MUCH neater than my effort....
 

[Sudanpan]

Well we've been through the hoops with our first attempt at hay making this year.


We bought an old international harvester finger cutter - probably late 1950's - then a beaten up, rusted solid Lely hayzip, and a Bamford BL 58 for our equipment.


The finger cutter cut for 50 yards before the rivets holding the clamp for the blade disintegrated - we managed to source some, hit it with a big hammer and got the cutting done 


Then came the hayzip - we'd stripped it down completely and then rebuilt after de-solidifying the rust etc and giving it a coat of pain, replacing some of the tines and re-welding bits, oh and having to sort out an extension for the PTO. So, set of spreading and everything going fine until a couple of the struts broke - so a re-weld was required, then off again. Managed a couple of sets of spreading and mounding up for drying which was great - then the UJ on the PTO end broke and sheared the yoke for the shaft - off to the local agric merchants for a new bit (was more expensive than the whole hayzip!) but got it going again so all was hunky dory 


So - now to the baling. We'd made sure all greasing had been done, the chains were correct tension, new drive belt purchased and our neighbour (who used to have one many moons ago) had helped us set it up so all looked positive    Got going along the first row and the pickup looked fine, making all the right noises, moving along nicely and the first bale plopped out 


Carried on up the row ok but after another couple of bales started to get a bad knocking and slipping happening - so all shut down to investigate - the UJ at the flywheel end was worse for wear so we thought that was the rpoblem. Off the agric merchant again and managed to get a UJ to fit, back to the field, fitted the UJ and started again - but the knocking and slipping much worse 


We traced it to the bearing in the clutch mechanism - it had disintegrated    In retrospect we think the spring nuts on the clutch plate had been screwed down so far that it seems like the issue had been brewing for some time previous to our possession of the baler - the clutch plate had been screwed donw so far that no slippage was possible so any slip that was needed came from the bearing - over time this has taken its toll and it broke 


So now its Fri evening - agric parts place not open til Mon - not sure if we'll be able to source a part anyway - but the rain is on its way 


We have got 5 bales though 

[Bionic]

sudanpan, with hindsight do you still think it was worth it to buy old equipment?
Sally

[Sudanpan]

Sally - given that new equipment would have set us back several thousands of pounds, we only have 2 acres and the one of the reasons for getting the older equipment in the first place was in the knowledge that they would require TLC    then yes    Our outlay on the equipment (incl parts) was under £1000.


However it doesn't dispel the immediate frustration of having got so near but yet so far.


We've had a good chat with our local agric parts merchants this am - in fact they were the ones who supplied the baler from new back in the early 70's! - and we have found out what we need. So now we are on the hunt for a Bamfords BS2982 complete clutch unit - any ideas anyone 

[Brucklay]

Oh Sudanpan - hope you find it - we've had local 'small bale man' in to do ours for the last couple of year and I'm always so nervous when it's lying there waiting to be baled    for you

[robert waddell]

is it the complete clutch unit that is required       could the metal parts not be salvaged  and rebuilt with a new friction plate or plates      better that than looking for hens teeth    there are company's that will make up clutch linings
 
the last new b23 cutting machine that we had cost £110 new   and from memory the hayzip cost about £300    both never gave any problem          maybe your hubby was chasing the baler on to fast    old equipment are like old people they just need more time to get here

[Sudanpan]

Robert - the bit that has disintegrated is the internal directional bearing - the one allows the shaft to rotate freely anti-clockwise (to allow the baler ram to slowdown once the PTO power has been stopped). If it was the clutch plates themselves then I am sure we would be able to fashion something, but this is the bit inside. OH did think about welding it but the problem there would be there would be no way of stopping the PTO - the baler momentum would drive the tractor!


We are staying positive (may be unrealistic but hey ho!)
 

[robert waddell]

ah the dog clutch      would it not be common to other balers

[Sudanpan]

Here are some piccies of the offending articles:

[Small Farmer]

Well the lad from Agri college actually turned up on Monday and cut on Tuesday saying that he estimated a minimum of 75 small bales but it could be up to 100. The rain continued to hold off all week and he baled today producing 280 bales.  I'm knackered!


Since we have tarpaulins for about 150 and it's going to rain tomorrow we've been running all over the place for alternatives.

[Sbom]

Hi  SUdanpan, just shown my OH your post, he's an Agric mechanic, he says if the drive shaft on the clutch was to be a solid shaft a PTO shaft could be purchased with an overrun assembly on the shaft. Means nothing to me but basically sounds like it could be modified if you can't get the bits you need in time. Is there no one who could bale it for you save it getting wet? Even if you have it round baled you could re bale them on the yard when yours is fixed.
Made us chuckle reading your experience, bloomin typical!
Not that it's gonna make you feel better but we have just got ours in and undercover. Had the 9 year old driving the tractor while we loaded and 5year old been helping stack, starting them young 

[Sudanpan]

Sbom - many thanks for the input from your OH    We've been having a bit of a look see on the web to see what options might be avail on that score and have found a tractor PTO overrun clutch that looks like it might be just the ticket     http://www.silverfoxtractorspares.com/tractor-pto-overrun-clutch-606-p.asp


The shaft on the baler is a smaller diam than a normal PTO, also has more splines, so if we can get this overrun clutch that goes on the tractor PTO, then we can use the baler PTO that has the right coupling for the baler shaft, and all (!) OH has to do is to fix the baler shaft so it doesn't move.....


OH is going to talk to a couple of outfits about the actual Bamford part tomorrow am, but we think the tractor overrun clutch might be a better option in any event.


Will keep you posted!