Over the years, a bale wrapper has become an important part of machinery that has been quite useful in agricultural tasks. As the name suggests, the job of a bale wrapper is to wrap a bale around in plastic. In this way, farmers are able to turn a bale into silage.
There are different forms of bale wrappers, each varying from the other in its specific use and size. The market is replete with agricultural machinery providers who offer the products of bale wrappers at the consumer level.
McHale is one of the most renowned companies whose bale wrappers have won a lot of appreciation worldwide. It’s not just the bale wrappers that McHale provides but a number of other heavy machinery equipment as well.
People who are wondering about getting a McHale bale wrapper should hold on for a while because the latest reviews of these bale wrappers have not been great. Just like any other machinery, they are not free of problems.
The article given below explores the most common problems faced by McHale bale wrappers and provides effective solutions to these issues. If you don’t want to miss out on anything, make sure you read the article till the end.
Common McHale Bale Wrapper Problems
- Ram Won’t Release While Wrapping.
The issue that the customers have come across the most is that the ram doesn’t release from the wrapper while it is wrapping.
As far as the process of cutting the plastic is concerned, the McHale bale wrapper does that job perfectly. The problem arises when it comes to starting the wrapping. It doesn’t allow the release of ram.
The main culprit behind this issue is a faulty accumulator. With time and age, the accumulator can get defective. Besides, the poor maintenance of the wrapper also gets the accumulator faulty.
Therefore, check the accumulator and look for the pipes and their fitting. Make sure they are fitted properly. If there is any loose connection, tighten it with the help of a wrench. If the accumulator is not fixed despite the troubleshooting, get it checked at the mechanic shop.
- Broken Wrap Sensor
The number of users who have complained about the poor operation of the wrapped sensor is immense. With frequent use of the bale wrapper, the sensor starts wearing out. However, there are no such troubleshooting steps to fix it.
In case you are taking a remote run, it is recommended that the beacon should be disconnected. Only one option is left if the case is not about running the sensor remotely; you have to get the wrapper a new wrap sensor.
- Wraps Breaking Randomly
On the list of the most common issues with McHale bale wrappers, the next one is the random breaking of the wraps as soon as the new batch of bale starts. This problem is quite frustrating among the users.
However, by following a few troubleshooting tips, you can deal with this problem in an efficient manner. All you need to do is check the swiping arms and make sure they are working alright.
There is a possibility of too much or too far wrapper rotation. Another scenario involves the need to alter the magnet rotation. Therefore, as the wrapper wraps, keep a close eye on it.
- Lift Arm Not Operating
Under certain circumstances, the operation of the lift arm is interrupted, and it fails to perform. The possible reason behind this problem is either a defective power supply or poor electrical connections.
You should check these components. Tighten the loose electrical connections and take the faulty power supply to the mechanic. Using a faulty power supply can only make the equipment worse.
- Table Issues
Another problem with the McHale bale wrapper is that its table rotates without the indexing of the bale. There is a high chance that it is caused by a broken table drive roller shear bolt. In that case, you have to get the shear bolt replaced.
Users have also complained about stopping the table in the wrong position.
There are multiple reasons behind this problem, including faulty magnet settings, starting at an incorrect position, slowing down in the control box, the inability of the slow speed valve to work, contaminated slow speed cartridge and setting the speed to fast instead of slow.
If you find any problem with the magnet settings, reset them. Make correct adjustments for the table if it had an incorrect start. An important thing to remember is that the table rotation must be set to 10 rpm.
A loose drive chain can cause the table to move in the tip position. Therefore, tighten it as soon as possible. Certain factors can bring a rise in the back pressure and get the table slow to tip down.
In that case, you have to make sure that the free flow return fits. This problem can also be caused by defective quick-release couplings, which you need to replace.
Broken magnets and faulty tip sensors can cause the machine tips to bale but prevent its resetting from loading. You need to locate the defective magnets and replace them with the functional ones.
- Plastic Film Problems
Although the issues with the plastic film are not that common, they can still be very annoying. One of these issues involves the splitting of the plastic film as soon as the ball leaves the table.
It is usually caused by the very high adjustment of the bale damper ram. Another reason behind this problem is the sticking of the bale to the roller at the time of it leaving the table.
The best way to solve this issue is to minimize as much friction as you can by shaking chalk under the belt. You also need to make correct adjustments to the damper cylinder.
If your plastic film is not stretching, glue might be building up on dispenser rollers. Check for the glue, and if it’s there, get it cleaned by using kerosene. A weak torsion spring on the dispenser can also prevent the stretching of the plastic. Find a replacement for the spring.
Most of the time, the setting of the table-down magnet is too high, which leads to the catching of plastic around the cut. Therefore, make a reset for the table down magnet.
- Damper Issues
Users have come across the damper problems where it either fails to come down, or it’s just slow. It results from the too-tight setting of the restrictor tap. You can adjust the restrictor and get the problem solved.
Other examples of damper problems include the rise of damper during the wrapping cycle, which is caused by the high hydraulic back pressure. The best way to resolve this issue is to fit the flow return free.
Dampers could also be rising because of a faulty quick-release coupling. So, get it replaced with a new and functional release coupling.
- Cut And Hold Issues
If the cut and hold fail to catch the plastic film, it is either positioned incorrectly, or the stopping position of the table is not correct. Check for the position and adjust the magnets as well. It will enable the cut and hold to catch the plastic film.
If you find yourself in a situation where cut and hold is not opening, it is because the pressure exerted on the accumulator is low. On the other hand, when the cut and hold is not closing, the pressure is high on the accumulator. You need to release the pressure from the accumulator to stabilize it.
One of the cut and hold problems is its slow leaking because of the weak seals in the gearbox. It could also result from the loose hydraulic fitting on the gearbox. You need to replace the weak or broken seals and tighten the hydraulic fitting.
Sometimes the cut and hold and tip-up cycles have a slow speed. It can be caused by low tractor pressure. Therefore, the condition of keeping the bar pressure of the wrapper to 150 must be met. The slow speed can also result from the non-functional pressure switch. If that’s the case, replace the switch.
A closed knife guard or deteriorated blade can prevent the cut and hold from cutting the film. That is why keep the knife guard open and get rid of a damaged blade. Use a new one.
Other Problems That Are Likely To Occur
The problems discussed above are the ones that have the most chance of occurring. However, you can still face some other issues with the McHale bale wrapper. Let’s take an example of the wrapper’s engine, where it fails to make a start.
There are multiple causes of this problem, the first one being the poor quality of fuel. You need to check the fuel tank and see if there is any contamination in there. If yes, get it cleaned and replace the fuel with a new and fresh one.
No matter what the problem is, it is important to learn the troubleshooting steps to solve it. Not only does it save you the trip and cost of going to the mechanic shop, but it is also time-saving.
Always keep inspecting the vital parts of the wrapper every now and then. If you see any sign that is unknown to you, contact a professional as soon as possible.