Setup and Adjustment of the Auto Tier

1. NEEDLE ALIGNMENT
   It is very important to have the best possible needle alignment, and wire guide placement, to provide consistent wire pick up. The needles must be aligned with the tunnels in the plunger head.

   NOTE: DO NOT level the tier with a bubble level.

   1. Put the baler in the HAND mode.
   2. Activate the TIE CYCLE switch/button and PLUNGER ADVANCE switch/button until the ram is fully advanced, LS-4 is made, and hydraulic pressure is supplied to the tier.
   3. Jog the needles forward with the NEEDLE IN switch/button until the needles are fully inserted.
   4. Activate the TENSION DUMP switch/button to the DUMP position.

      NOTE: Wait about a minute for the chamber to relax and relieve the pressure on the bale.

   5. Activate TIE RESET to take the baler out of the tie cycle.
   6. Activate the baler OFF.
   7. LOCK OUT and TAG OUT THE MAIN POWER BOX.
   8. Open the off side tier guard. (Opposite side of the baler away from tier.)
   9. Check the needles are correctly positioned in the tunnels of the ram.
      
      1. The needle should be centered horizontally and vertically in the plunger needle slot.

         NOTE: I prefer to favor the needles being closer to the top to reduce interference from material in the tunnels.

      2. Use a flashlight and view the needle through the plunger tunnel to insure they are parallel with the plunger tunnel floor.
      3. Adjust the tier leveling screws as required to obtain the above settings.
         
2. ADJUST THE OFFSIDE WIRE GUIDE so the wire will contact the center of the needle head.
   1. Close the off side tier guard.
      
   2. Remove the lock from the main power box. Insure the baler is clear and ready to start.
   3. Start the baler.
   4. Activate the TENSION DUMP switch/button back to AUTO.
   5. Hold the TIE CYCLE switch/button and PLUNGER ADVANCE switch/button until the ram is fully advanced, LS-4 is made, and hydraulic oil is supplied to the tier.

      NOTE: On pre-touch screen balers, if LS-4 was lost during the above procedure it will be necessary to do the three button over ride to reacquire LS-4. The three button over ride consist of simultaneously holding PLUNGER ADVANCE to ADVANCE, TIE CYCLE to TIE, and the HORN OFF button.

   6. Retract the needles using the NEEDLE OUT switch/button.
3. ADJUST THE TIER SIDE WIRE GUIDE.

   NOTE: Not all model balers require a tier side wire guide. (This is normally accomplished after the bale chamber is filled with material and the baler is ready to tie.)

   1. Thread the wire on the tier side, and position the wire in the center of the needle slot so the wire will be picked up during the tying process.
   2. Put the baler in the TIE CYCLE, and jog the needles in until the needle heads almost touch the wires.
   3. Adjust the wire guides up or down as required to center the wire on the needle heads. See drawing "Center Wire On Needle Head" for correct wire alignment.
   4. When done, Retract the needles, and hold twist reverse to reset the tie cycle.
4. ADJUSTING THE TWISTER SPEED.

   NOTE: The twister speed is not adjustable on new style balers.

1. With the baler still in the TIE CYCLE depress and hold the TWIST FORWARD switch/button, while watching the twisters. The twisters should be rotating 1 1/2 to 2 revolutions per second forward.
   1. The twisters may be speeded up by rotating the Forward Twister Flow Control counter clock wise, or adjusting the flow control clockwise may slow them down.
   2. Located above the twister drive motor, the left-hand flow control is for twist forward, and the right hand flow control is for twist reverse.
   3. If the tier drops out of the tie cycle during this test use the TIE CYCLE switch/button to reenter the TIE CYCLE.
      
2. With the baler still in the TIE CYCLE depress and hold the TWIST REVERSE switch/button, while watching the twisters. The twisters should be rotating (1) one revolution per second in reverse.
   1. The twisters may be speeded up by rotating the reversed Twister Flow Control counter clock wise, or they may be slowed down by adjusting the flow control clockwise.

      NOTE: If the twisters rotate to fast during twist reverse the momentum will drive the cam past the switch/button resulting in the twisters being in a unsafe position. The baler will continue to run normally until the next tie cycle and then the needles will fail to go in.

   2. If the tier drops out of the tie cycle during this test use the TIE CYCLE switch/button to reenter the TIE CYCLE.
   3. When the test is completed continue to hold the TWIST REVERSE Switch/button until the baler drops out of the TIE CYCLE
5. LS-23 ADJUSTMENT.
   1. Adjust LS-23 so the tips of the twister hooks are at 12:00 O'clock.
      
      1. The actual adjustment varies for each type of baler so the following procedure will need to be modified for your particular baler.
      2. Baler with standard switch/button arm
         1. Put the baler in the tie cycle as described above.
         2. Using the TWIST FORWARD switch/button jog the twisters around until the hooks are pointing at 6:00 O'clock.
         3. Activate TIE RESET to take the baler out of the tie cycle.
         4. Activate the baler OFF
         5. LOCK OUT and TAG OUT THE MAIN POWER BOX.
         6. Open the tier guard giving you access to the LS-23 switch/button.
            
         7. With the cam lobe moved out of the way. Adjust LS-23 actuator so the roller is at 9:00 O'clock in relation to the switch/button. Also the roller should be 1/8th to 3/16th inch from the cam.
         8. Restart the baler as before and reset the tie cycle using the TWIST REVERSE switch/button. The twister hook should stop at 12:00 O'clock. If not repeat the above procedure and compensate in the direction required.

            NOTE: On some earlier balers the actuator arm cannot be set to 9:00 because the switch/button is mounted higher or lower. In this case you will need to use trial and error to adjust the switch/button so the hooks will stop at 12:00. On Proximity switch/button style adjust the proximity switch/button for about 1/16 to 3/16 range.

6. ADJUSTING THE TIER TIMING
   1. The timing flow control is located on top of the tier by the cut cylinder. The flow control establishes the proper twist and cut relationship.
   2. Loosen the lock nut on the flow control.
   3. Screw the flow control full in until the valve is fully closed.
   4. Back the flow control out one (1) full Activate. The flow control may need to be touched up as follows when put into production.
      1. Are the twisters hesitating or stopping for more than a fraction of a second? If yes then back the flow control out 1/8th Activate and evaluate again during the next tie. (CCW)
      2. Examine the knots closest to the tier. (Towards the hopper.) Are the majority of the tails even to within 1/2 inch? If no, Activate the timing flow control in 1/8th Activate and evaluate again during the next tie. (CW).
         
      3. The timing is correct when the tails of the hopper side knots are within 1/2 inch and little or no hesitation of the twisters takes place.

         NOTE: If wire drag is excessive it may not be possible to get the tails even.

7. ADJUST THE NEEDLE/CUTTER BLADE SPACE TO 1/4 INCH.
   Check the space between the end of the cutter blades and the needle head. The space should be about 1/4 inch. Adjust as follows:
   1. Put the baler in a TIE CYCLE.
   2. Advance the ram until the tier is pressurized.
   3. Bump the needles forward about six inches.
   4. Reset the TIE CYCLE, Activate off and Lock out tag out the baler.
   5. Remove the tier guard to gain access to the needle adjusting stop bolt.
   6. Adjust the bolt in or out the estimated amount of change desired. Tighten the lock nut.
      
   7. Replace the guard, restart the baler, retract the needles, Hold the TWIST REVERSE switch/button to reset the tier. Repeat this procedure if the correct spacing was not obtained.
8. ADJUST LS-22.
   Adjust LS-22 so the needle is fully retracted prior to LS-22 being made. If LS-22 is made prior to the needles being full back the twister hooks will strike the needle head resulting in broken hooks.
9. ADJUSTING THE 100-POUND WIRE STANDS. (Balers without wire tensioners)
   1. Each wire stand is equipped with a wire tension adjustment. The tension may be increased or decreased by adjusting the tension nut that increases the spring force.
   2. The tier side stand should be adjusted for about 10 pounds of pull.
   3. The off tier side should be adjusted so the wire spools do not continue to unwind after being pulled. Normally about 5 pounds of pull.

      NOTE: To much drag will cause the wires to slip out of the twister hooks. too little drag will cuase a loop to form at the base of the knot, thus weakening the knot. Also, too much drag may damage the friction disc.

You can reach American Baler's service department 8am - 5pm (EST.) Monday through Friday at 1-800-843-7512. If you have an after hours emergency, use our pager number 1-800-443-2394 (PIN# 3042) and enter the number you can be reached. We will respond as quickly as possible.