Threading Baler Twine: A Square Baler Guide

Properly threading square baler twine is crucial for producing well-formed, tightly bound square bales. This guide will help you get it right with your square baler when you’re using TamaTwine for Square and Round Bales.

Select high quality baler twine suitable for your square baler model and crop so consult your baler’s manual for twine specifications to avoid breakages and poorly tied bales. Tama offers a variety of twines for different baler types, including the TamaTwine+™ product range.

When choosing the right baler twine consider:

• Make and model of your baler
• Crop types such as silage, hay or straw
• Conditions for baling eg. extreme (e.g. short straw, heat, low humidity) or normal

Tama’s colour-coded twine guide can help you choose the right twine for specific baling conditions and crop types.

Ensure the PTO drive to the baler is switched off and the flywheel brake has been applied completely. Remove debris and old twine fragments and check that all twine guides, rollers, and tensioners move freely.

Place new spools of Tama Baler twine in each twine box compartment.  When connecting multiple spools of baler twine you should use a reef or square knot. This flat knot passes more easily through the twine guides and tensioners. However, on double knotter balers, do not join baler twine of different thicknesses to avoid knotting problems caused by twine slipping and knots opening.

Threading and knot style vary according to baler type so follow the twine path as outlined in your baler’s manual.
Begin at the twine box and feed the baler twine through the guide eyelet inside the twine box. Thread the twine through each eyelet, in the correct order, paying attention not to cross over the twines. Then, thread the twine through the spring tensioner plates and through the eyelets in the frame.

Depending upon the knotter type (single or double) the twine path will vary.
For a single knotter baler, the baler twine will now need to pass through the twine guide arm and through the needle eyes, repeating for each needle.

In a double knotter system the upper twine will need to pass through stack tension arms and in through the gears of tensioners. Then thread it through the slacker arm roller and the tucker arm. The lower twine will need to pass through stack tension arms and in through the gears of tensioners. Then, thread it through the lower slacker arm roller and the second needle roller.

Finally, for a single knotter system secure the twine to the baler frame using the twine hooks. For a double knotter system tie the upper and lower twines together when the bale chamber is empty. With a bale inside the chamber, tuck the upper twine inside the existing bale flake and tie the lower twine to the twine hook on the baler frame.