Section 6: Troubleshooting
12/7/18
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Section 6: Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Chart
Problem
Cause
Solution
Cannot lift bale
Insufficient power to lift bale.
Switch to a tractor or skid steer that is
rated for more lift capacity.
Bale Spear moves on hitch plate
Locking pins are not engaged.
Engage locking pins.
Bale Spear Hitch is not properly attached
to loader hitch.
Reattach Bale Spear Hitch to loader.
Always make certain hitch is properly
attached before lifting a bale.
Spears are bending or breaking
Spears are not fully inserted into the bale
and bale is not resting against the hitch
frame.
Reposition bale so that the spears are fully
inserted and bale is resting against the
hitch frame.
Traveling too fast causing the bale to
bounce on the spears.
Reduce speed to a safe non-bouncing
speed.
Misuse of Bale Spears such as prying
objects out of the ground.
Use Bale Spears to carry bales only.
Bale is falling off end of spears
Spears are not fully inserted into the bale
with bale against the hitch frame.
Reposition bale so that the spears are fully
inserted and bale is resting against the
hitch frame.
Traveling with spears level or tilted down at
the front.
Operate hydraulics to tilt spears up
5 - 10 degrees from the horizontal.
Traveling too fast.
Reduce speed to a safe non-bouncing
speed.
Spears are bent down.
Rotate bent spears 180 degrees so that
they point up or replace the spears if they
are bent excessively.
Center core of bale is too loose.
May need to add extra spears.
Skid steer or tractor wants to tip
over on its side
Bale is being carried too high.
Keep bale low to the ground to help
maintain stability of tractor or skid steer.
Traveling sideways to an incline.
Travel straight up and down inclines.
Skid steer or tractor wants to tip
forward.
The tractor or skid steer does not have
enough ballast on the rear.
Add ballast weight to the rear of the tractor
or skid steer.
Traveling forward while going down an
incline with a slope in excess of 10
percent.
Back down steep inclines.
Bale does not carry level
One of the spears is bent.
Replace bent spear
(s)
.