Baler maintenance tips – Dos and Don’ts

Baler, also known as a hay baler, is an equipment that is used as farm machinery to cut and rake crops. Cotton, hay, flax straw, and silage are made into compact bales with the help of this machinery so that they are easier to handle. However, if you are not carrying out the regular maintenance regime for the balers, you might have to shell out a considerable amount of cash. And it is even worse if you do not find the right parts.

In this article, let us go through a few measures that you must avoid and few that you must carry out for maintenance. So, read on for more information.

What are the consequences of non-maintenance?

Balers require upkeep at regular intervals. A failure to do so will result in the following-

Extensive periods of downtime
Non-availability of the right parts like valves, pumps, and cylinders

Dos and Don’ts for baler maintenance

First and foremost, as mentioned above, regular inspection is a must. Do not skip the maintenance schedule even if it is that you are trying to defer it for a short period.

Make sure that the professional attending to the maintenance work religiously follows the instructions as provided by the manufacturer. Do not opt for repair or maintenance work other than what the manufacturer recommends.

As far as different spare parts of the baler are concerned, make sure you have an inventory list of the same. Do not wait for any of the working parts to get damaged to shop around for it in the market only then. There are times when certain parts are not readily available. Under such circumstances, the baler equipment will be lying idle affecting work if you have to look for a part that is not currently available in the market.

An important aspect that you must keep in mind is to do the maintenance only by reliable baler repair companies. The local ones often claim to have expertise in dealing with troubleshooting situations, but they are not. The condition of the baler machine can become worse so do not allow a situation when it is beyond repair or maintenance.

Preventive plan maintenance is much better as compared to a situation when you have to suffer downtime because a part is not working due to lack of maintenance.

From time to time, the baler will require what is known as relining. The requirement for this process usually depends on the bulk or the volume of work that the machinery handles. However, if the volume of the load is high, it is a wise move to get it relined as a preventive measure.

Last but not least, remember, relining means it will take up to a week or more. The time taken also depends on the type of baler in terms of size and type. So, schedule the process not when the machine’s working capacity has reached the brim or a point of break down but well before that.