Sun Nov 04, 2018 10:47 pm by K Effective
Today I pulled the flywheel off of my square hay baler and replaced the bronze bushing on the main shaft and the steel bushing through which the shear bolt is threaded. I managed not to ruin either new part during installation nor drop the 300+ pound flywheel on my body parts.
During storage lubrication, I found six of the zerk fittings on the knotter assembly plugged. Those knotters are a work of genius- taking a continuous spool of twine, wrapping it around the bale and tying a knot in a matter of seconds, without stopping forming the next bale. I learned from an old-timer to never overgrease the knotters- one pump only. Well, when you can't even get one pump in, it makes for some consternation.
I tried my injection tool- load it up with diesel fuel and tap the plunger to force the fuel into the fitting, loosening up the grease area. No luck. No luck removing the fittings and reaming it out with small tools. I should remove the shafts and clean the bushings out, but I will not tear into this knotter system- no way it will work as well when I'm done, if at all. Next may be a heat gun to melt the old grease out.