Rev 4/2018
99
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing problems with the twine knotter, or missing a knot on one twine or another, it is
important to determine which twine is not tying properly. The TOP twine is the twine that is being
held in the knotter while the bale is being formed. The BOTTOM twine is the twine that the needle delivers
to the knotter to tie the bale.
When a miss tie occurs you must locate the problem twine and determine:
1. Is the knot missing in the TOP or BOTTOM twine?
2. Is the end of the untied twine frayed, or squared cut?
3. Is there any damage to the twine? Frayed along the length, frayed beyond the knot?
4. Is the twine long enough to wrap around the bale?
5. Are there any scraps longer than one inch in or around the knotter?
6. Is twine tangled in the knotter?
In the majority of cases, the miss tie caused is external to the knotter frame. Some things to
always check before condemning the knotter are:
1. Check twine delivery from the twine box. Twine boxes should be correctly tied together and not
obstructing free feeding.
2. Twine is properly routed to the needle.
3. Twine guides and/or needles have no sharp worn edges.
4. Twine tensioners are properly adjusted so that twine has approximately 4 pounds of pull, while
the knotter is tying.
5. Check hay dogs for proper operation, and/or broken or missing springs. Hay dogs will wear and
are very important. If unable to correct a twine finger miss tie, it is possible that the hay dogs
have worn and are not properly holding the end of the bale.
6. Check bale weight/density. Too light of a bale may cause the knot to hang on the bill hook, and
too heavy a bale can cause several different miss ties (see chart).
7. Are all the necessary components in proper adjustments? Remember, any time you replace or
adjust a needle, the twine finger must be checked and probably adjusted at the same time.
8. Next to the hay dogs, the twine fingers are important to keep in good operating condition. They
cannot have excessive play in the pivot, and they must be free of any nicks or burrs that may
damage the twine.
Following are a few examples of failed knots with possible causes for, and possible remedies.
Knotter
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