{"id":10779,"date":"2021-11-12T08:05:35","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T08:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=10779"},"modified":"2021-11-27T09:12:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-27T09:12:15","slug":"how-to-clean-a-hay-baler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-clean-a-hay-baler\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Clean A Hay Baler?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A clean hay baler is going to have more uptime, have less propensity to rust, and work more efficiently<\/a>. However, cleaning a hay baler may seem a bit complicated to those that don\u2019t have experience with baler maintenance. Whether you need to clean off debris from haying, winterize your baler for storage, or simply want to ensure your baler is functional and long-lasting, learning how to clean a hay baler is pretty simple!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cleaning<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before we talk about what we can do to clean a hay baler, it needs to be mentioned that safety is more important than anything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some obvious rules to follow are to ensure that no power is connected to the baler when you want to clean it and don\u2019t do anything that your owner\u2019s manual tells you not to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds simple enough, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning A Hay Baler With Air<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Air is your best friend when it comes to cleaning your hay baler. While many people would think of using water right away, there are many stories from farmers that used water on their balers and had rust and bearing issues from doing so. Air can get the job done just as well without moisture issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaf blowers are a good tool but, for stuck-on debris, an air compressor is the right tool to use. Using forced air like this will easily remove built-up dust, dirt, and debris in each part of the baler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just be cautious and wear safety goggles as it never fails to get some debris blown into your face after it flies off the baler from the blown air. Nobody likes dust or a small piece of hay in their eye, I can tell you that much!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can You Pressure Wash A Hay Baler?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you can pressure wash your car, you can pressure wash any machine, right? While pressure washing may have its place for deep cleaning projects, it\u2019s best to steer clear of this when cleaning a hay baler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel the need to use water to clean the exterior of your baler, it\u2019s probably better to use something with less pressure to ensure water doesn\u2019t ricochet into the bearings and chains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to replace bearings and chains regularly? If so, pressure washing your baler may be an option. But, most farmers aren\u2019t looking to fork over more money for replacement parts when they could have easily been safe without using water to clean the baler!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who are dead-set on using water to clean the hay baler should use the air compressor to dry everything off meticulously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Forget To Grease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bearings and PTO drivelines need to be full of grease to ensure no moisture can collect in the joints. Greasing any bare metal is also a good idea to prevent rust and corrosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have bare metal that comes in contact with the hay itself, you probably don\u2019t want to use typically grease from the grease gun. That\u2019s not a good feed additive for the livestock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use vegetable shortening in those places as a safe alternative to grease that will keep your hay baler maintained properly without tainting the hay you are making with it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Clean A Hay Baler?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eNr-4EnFNcY<\/a>