FNH baler breaks away from chains.

FNH Baler Breaks Away From Chains

BREAKING away from the chains it used in the past, Ford New Holland has joined the highly competitive rubber-belt baler race with a new "Roll-Belt" system in a line of new round balers.

FNH notes that the system in its New Holland 630, 650 and 660 balers is different from competitors because the bale is not supported on rubber belting. Instead the load is carried by a powered roller that stays in the same position throughout the bale-making process.

The bale is started and shaped by rollers at the front of the chamber. These rollers pivot outward as the bale enlarges. Rubber belts surround the top and rear sides of the bale as it is being formed, and these belts de-clutch and lift away, as part of the tailgate, when the bale is finished.

Both twine and net wrapping is available, with both systems controlled by electronics that simplify setup. The operator can switch between twine and net wrap by flipping a toggle switch. Bale density is controlled by adjusting hydraulic pressure with a single valve, and bale diameter is controlled with a single adjustment. Shear pins have been eliminated, with slip clutches used for overload protection.

Jim Payton, program manager for round balers, told a product introduction meeting in St. Louis that FNH decided to phase out its chain-type balers and join the belt-baler brigade after an engineer, working partially at home, came up with the roller-and-belt design.

Payton said the roll-belt design is significantly different from other belt-type balers. For example, he said, FNH unit uses belts 425 inches long, compared to the 525-inch belts in a competitors' baler.

Working in dry straw left by a FNH twin-rotor combine, Payton said, the new balers produced 1,400-pound bales, while the best competitors could manage was 900 to 1,000 pounds. "We believe we have the highest density available, with the easiest system for controlling density, and that we make the nicest-looking bales in the business. Farmers want their work to look good, and that was a big consideration in this new design."

The company said the current model 853 and 855 balers will be replaced for the 1992 season by the 650 and 660 models, which produce bale widths of 46.5 and 61.5 inches respectively, with diameters of 45 to 70 inches. Also offered for 1992 will be an economy model 630 roll-belt baler with bale width of 46.5 inches and diameters of 30 to 48 inches.

Payton said the current model 848 chain baler will remain in production for the 1992 season, but will be replaced in 1993 with a roll-belt baler.

He said the new design works well in sandy and rocky conditions, which was hard on the metal parts of the chain bale-forming systems. He said the new machines offer improvements in operator visibility, visual indicators for bale size, twine movement and the tailgate latch indicator.

As is typical of all belt balers, he said, the new machines take somewhat more operating horsepower than chain balers of the same size.

PHOTO : A NEW SYSTEM for forming round bales is used in the 600 series balers introduced by Ford New Holland.