What causes hay balers to catch fire?
“Baler fires generally start because of friction,” Jones says. Faulty or worn bearings can cause “hot spots” on the baler, which when exposed to forage at a moisture content below the recommended 20 percent can ignite disaster, says Tracey Erickson, South Dakota State University Extension dairy field specialist.
How do you stop a baler fire?
To reduce the incidence of a fire, the baler should be blown off before and periodically during baling. Dry matter can accumulate on flat surfaces of the baler and quickly ignite if not removed, Heston says.
Can straw bales catch fire?
Causes of Fires in Baled Hay or Straw Moisture content is the main factor that causes hay and straw to spontaneously combust. Hay fires are more common than straw fires, for reasons involving the type of forage, the moisture content in the stored forage, and heat production.
How many HP do you need to run a hay baler?
Most standard square balers on the market require 35 horsepower at your tractor’s PTO, and a minimum tractor weight of around 3000 pounds. That means that they cannot be run with today’s compact tractors.
At what temperature does hay spontaneously combust?
When hay’s internal temperature rises above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius), a chemical reaction begins to produce flammable gas that can ignite if the temperature goes high enough. Fire is possible in hay that’s loose, in small or large bales or stacks, and stored inside or outside.
What happens if you bale hay too early?
Hay that is cut and baled with high moisture is at risk for spontaneous combustion for up to three weeks as the plant cells are still respiring. Most fires occur within the first six weeks after baling.
Do hay bales spontaneously combust?
While hay fires can occur during transportation, they are more likely to be caused by spontaneous combustion once the bales are at the farm. When the internal temperature of hay rises above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees C) it provokes a chemical reaction producing flammable gases that can ignite.
Why does wet hay explode?
Moisture. If the hay is baled before it is totally dry, it can blow up. storing hay with an excessive moisture content are most likely to occur during the first month of storage.
Will a Ford 8N run a square baler?
You can bale with an 8N. Google youtube for some videos of it being done and you’ll have to learn how to kick it out of gear quickly if the baler starts to choke without letting the baler plunger stop – else you’ll be on your knees cleaning out the wad of hay jamming up the baler!
What size Bale does a John Deere 535 make?
5.1 ft
The John Deere 535 is a pull-type, 540 rpm PTO driven baler with a variable cylindrical chamber and a drum pickup. The 535 baler produces hard core bales measuring 5.1 ft (1.6 m) wide and 1. 2.
What to do if a hay bale catches on fire?
In the unfortunate event a fire does occur, producers should use the resources they have to put out the fire, Erickson says. If at all possible, empty the baler of the bale to eliminate the combustion source and unhook the baler from the tractor.
What causes a baler to catch on fire?
A common cause of baler fires is mechanical issues, primarily problems with bearings within the baler like in Bailey’s case, says Carol Jones, a biosystems and agricultural engineering professor at Oklahoma State University. “Baler fires generally start because of friction,” Jones says.
Should the baler be blown off before or after baling?
To reduce the incidence of a fire, the baler should be blown off before and periodically during baling. Dry matter can accumulate on flat surfaces of the baler and quickly ignite if not removed, Heston says.
What causes hay to spontaneously combust?
Causes of Fires in Baled Hay or Straw Moisture content is the main factor that causes hay and straw to spontaneously combust. Hay fires are more common than straw fires, for reasons involving the type of forage, the moisture content in the stored forage, and heat production.