When the last bales are stacked and the dust has settled, it’s tempting to park the baler and forget about it until next season. But as James Pavey, one of Big Bale South’s directors, explains — this is the best time to give your machine some proper care.
James has spent more than 30 years working with bale handling machinery, starting as a field technician fixing breakdowns on-site, progressing to workshop manager, and now serving as one of our company directors. He’s seen first-hand what happens when machines are serviced properly… and what happens when they’re not.
In this guide, he shares his experience and practical advice to help you make the most of your winter downtime: keeping your baler efficient, reliable, and ready for next season.
Why is winter the best time to service your agricultural machinery?
Winter is simply the smart time to get it done. You’re not racing against the clock, and you can plan things properly. There are several clear reasons why winter servicing makes sense:
What should you check during winter service?
Big Bale South’s full-service sheet has 129 inspection points, but even if you’re doing your own winter maintenance, these key areas will help you catch common faults before they become expensive problems.
Start at the front. Check for wear on PTO shafts, and especially inspect the universal joints carefully. Worn UJs are common and can quickly damage the entire shaft — often a £200 repair becomes a £2,000 replacement just because it was left too long.
Make sure the PTO guard is in good order and the anti-rotation chains are in place. Safety should always be top priority — there are far too many accidents every year caused by missing or damaged guards.
Spin the flywheel and feel for any play or movement — this indicates bearings need replacing or at least reshimming. Check the shearbolt hub for wear as well. If you’ve been going through shearbolts regularly, a worn or cracked hub might be the reason why.
Check the condition of every chain on the machine. They can last for years if properly maintained, but they will eventually stretch and need replacement. If they’re still in good shape, clean them thoroughly and lubricate them well before winter storage. Once chains start stretching, they’ll destroy sprockets — you can replace just the chain now, or both chain and sprockets later.
Inspect all clutches, taking into account how they behaved during operation. Were there any issues like overheating or premature slipping? The plates, discs, and pins are wearing parts that will eventually need changing. Replacing worn components during downtime is straightforward — doing it mid-July when time costs more than the parts is expensive and frustrating.
These need to be inspected and cleaned. You can usually see how much life is left in the discs just by looking at them. Changing them during downtime is cheap and easy. If your stuffer or needles run wild during harvest, you’re looking at a very expensive repair bill.
These are absolute priorities. Inspect packer crank bearings and pickup pivot bearings, also called wing bearings, for cracks and wear. On pre-LB22 series balers these were sealed units that didn’t need greasing, but they do have a finite lifespan. On the newest LB22 series, make sure the left-hand packer crank is properly greased. Regardless of series, if you’ve covered 30,000 bales or more without replacing them, it’s good practice to inspect closely and consider replacement.
The consequences of ignoring worn components here can be severe and expensive. Failure can cause extensive damage to surrounding parts, turning a straightforward replacement into a major repair bill involving multiple sections of the baler.
If any tines or wrappers are damaged, change them now. Broken or bent parts significantly reduce your machine’s efficiency.
These are easy to check visually, and you might have noticed extra rattle during operation if they’re worn. That rattle isn’t harmless — it’s wearing all the parts on the pickup and will lead to very expensive repairs if left alone.
Sharpen or replace any worn knives — dull knives reduce performance and affect bale quality. Properly inspect the plunger itself for wear and cracks. Small cracks can often be repaired for a fraction of replacement cost. Removing and reinstalling the plunger takes effort, but once it’s out, a good welder can get it back into shape fairly quickly. Leave cracks to spread and you risk writing off the entire machine.
Check billhooks, strippers, needle rollers, and needle positions. Replace worn parts and make sure everything is working as smoothly as possible. Even small adjustments like reshimming your billhooks can prevent major headaches later. The knotting system is intricate and complicated — diagnosing tying faults in the middle of a field wastes enormous amounts of time. Misties are one of the most common mid-season problems we see.
Address any damage or leaks on pipes, hoses, or cylinders. Bent or damaged cylinders need repair or replacement. During winter, a cylinder can be repaired properly. During harvest, time pressure means you’ll be forced to replace it — and that costs significantly more.
Replace the hydraulic filter and clean the breather on the tank while you’re at it.
Those error codes you ignored during the season? Now’s the time to diagnose them. Replace sensors that need replacing, adjust magnets that have shifted, and repair any damaged wiring. A few minutes with tape, cable ties, and heatshrink can save a wiring loom from complete failure.
Walk around the baler carefully. Inspect the chassis, bale chamber, bale chute, and density doors. Any cracks or deformations need immediate attention. Don’t ignore warning signs — a quick welding job caught early can save the machine from being written off later.
Check lights, road brakes, wide load boards, and rails. Your safety and everyone else’s on the road should always be top priority. It feels like a chore until an avoidable accident happens and the cost becomes far greater than money. Every year machines fail basic safety inspections for things that could have been fixed in minutes.
How does early servicing save time and money?
Early servicing gives you time to plan, order parts, and spread costs comfortably:
At Big Bale South, we offer 20% off labour when you book your winter service early (terms apply).
Which components need replacement most often?
Balers are large machines with many moving parts, so there are quite a few wearing components. Bearings, universal joints, chains, and tines are the usual suspects. Even with proper maintenance, they’ll eventually need changing — it’s just the nature of the work these machines do.
Common mistakes farmers make with winter maintenance?
Should you always use new genuine parts?
Not necessarily. If something can be repaired safely and properly, that’s often the best approach. Used parts also make sense in certain situations — particularly for older machines where fitting brand-new components doesn’t match the machine’s overall value. For example, older 100 series balers can easily rack up repair costs that match the machine’s worth if you’re using all new parts. You end up with one shiny new section on an otherwise aged machine. In those cases, quality used parts with plenty of life left make better economic sense.
What are the risks of leaving servicing too late?
You risk not getting your baler serviced at all. There might be no technicians available before harvest starts. Parts availability becomes an issue too, especially late in the servicing season when some components go on back order before harvest supply arrives. If your baler uses uncommon parts from a short production run, you might be cutting it dangerously close.
Signs your machine needs more than routine service
When winter servicing prevented disaster:
Failed conrod bearing. Easy to miss without experience, but catching it prevented damage to the conrod and plunger. In extreme cases, this failure can write off the entire baler — and it happened more than once.
Partial failure of stuffer shear hub arm. The customer had no idea. These can crack completely, and worst case scenario is baling your needles when the safety link fails. Repair costs can reach thousands of pounds.
How long does a typical service take?
An average service with no major issues takes around 15 hours, though this varies with machine age, model, and maintenance history.
When should you book your winter service?
As soon as possible, ideally between October and February. There’s usually good availability during this window. By March, most slots are filled. By mid-May, it’s difficult to book anything.
Benefits of booking early with us:
Why choose Big Bale South for your winter service?
What should you prepare before your service appointment?
Make the machine accessible. Clear a path so the technician can reach it easily.
Note any issues you observed. Try to remember problems you noticed during operation and mention them when booking. This helps the technician come prepared with parts that might not be on the van, saving time waiting for deliveries.
Have the tractor and screen available. Running the machine is part of our service process to verify everything operates properly.
Keep your serial number and bale count handy. This information helps determine what parts your machine needs and the wear level to expect, making the service run more efficiently.
Can I get in touch if I need help?
Contact John Corfield, our Workshop Manager, by phone or email. He can answer any questions about winter servicing and schedule a technician visit. You can also reach us through the contact form on our website.
Even if you’re planning to do the work yourself, we’re always happy to offer advice. Don’t hesitate to call John with any questions about your baler or maintenance concerns — we’re here to help the farming community, whether you use our services or not.
Final thought
A proper winter service costs a fraction of what a breakdown costs during harvest — and we’re not just talking about parts and labour. Consider the downtime cost of your machine and operator, lost contracts, and missed opportunities. Even if you only break down once every few years, those costs far outweigh the price of preventive servicing.
Do it early, and you’ll thank yourself later.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book my winter service?
Between October and February for best availability and pricing. By March most slots are filled, and by mid-May booking becomes extremely difficult.
How long does a winter service typically take?
Around 15 hours for a standard service, varying with machine age, model, and condition.
What parts usually need replacement?
Common wearing parts include bearings, UJs, chains, tines, clutch components, and knotter parts. Even with good maintenance, these eventually need changing.
Do you offer early booking discounts?
Yes — we’re currently offering 20% off labour for early winter service bookings. Terms and conditions apply.
Should I always use genuine new parts?
Not always. Safe repairs are often the best option. For older machines, quality used parts can make better economic sense than fitting new components to an otherwise aged machine.
What if my baler is unusually noisy or breaking shearbolts frequently?
These indicate problems beyond routine service. Contact us for a deeper inspection — these symptoms usually point to underlying issues that will worsen if ignored.
Can servicing really prevent breakdowns?
Absolutely. We regularly find issues like failed bearings or cracked components during service that would have caused catastrophic failure during harvest. A proper service costs a fraction of what a mid-harvest breakdown costs in repairs, downtime, and lost opportunities.
Can I get in touch if I need help?
Call or email John Corfield, our Workshop Manager, or use the contact form on our website. Have your serial number and approximate bale count ready. Even if you’re doing the work yourself, we’re happy to offer advice on any maintenance questions about winter servicing and schedule a technician visit. You can also reach us through the contact form on our website.
