Setting Your Baler; Operation - MacDon 1000 Operator's & Parts Manual

SETTING YOUR BALER

Remember, the moisture range of the bale should be 40 to 55 percent.
The bale diameter must be carefully controlled to maximize efficiency of the system. On the one
hand, you want to make bales as large as possible yet not so large that they will not go through the
BAG DRUM and/or the plastic tube itself.
When using the standard 58 inch diameter tube, bale diameter must be limited to something less
than 58 inches.
The best size may be determined by setting the bales for approximately 54 inch diameter, try one or
two bales and adjust the bale size as needed. A more accurate way is to measure the
circumference rather than the diameter. For example: 58" x 3.1416 = 182" circumference. A 54 inch
bale would be approximately 169 inches. Depending on weather and bale conditions, it may be
possible to process bales with a circumference of 175 inches.
The collapsible drum will accommodate plastic tubes varying slightly from the full 58 inch diameter.
A 56 inch tube may work well; however, bale size must be adjusted accordingly. A small change in
the tube size has a significant impact on volume. For example, reducing the tube diameter from 58
inches to 56 inches reduces a theoretical 62 inch long bale by a volume of 6.5 cubic feet.
through the BAG DRUM.

OPERATION

METHOD 1:
Pick bales in the usual manner, do not
overload. At 50 percent moisture, a bale will
likely weigh approximately 2000 pounds.
Seven bales of this weight would be
overloading. Better feed quality and greater
dry matter payloads are obtained if moisture
levels are in the 40 percent range.
PUSHER EXTENSION IN DOWN
The storage area should be well drained and
POSITION
reasonably level and free of sharp stubble or
other debris that might puncture the plastic
tube. Grass free areas away from other feed
storage is recommended to discourage mice
that may damage plastic. Tie off the tube and
carefully unload. Plastic is very slippery and
bales will tend to slide inside the tube when
starting a new row; therefore, tractor ground
speed must be synchronized with unloading
speed to prevent damage to the tube. When
the main pusher is about one foot from the
rear limit, bring pusher forward a few feet and
release PUSHER EXTENSION LOCK PIN.
The PUSHER EXTENSION should drop into
position and the last bale can be pushed
40