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http://www.agcopartsbooks.com/PartsBooksN/Viewer/book.aspx?book=agco/79001525" rel="nofollow - http://www.agcopartsbooks.com/PartsBooksN/Viewer/book.aspx?book=agco/79001525 Looking at the parts book page for the 444 baler ram/plunger (page 84 of the link), I am wondering if the stationary knife was meant to have shims under it from the factory. I noticed that the ram knife shims (item #6, two part numbers listed) have no quantity listed and say use as required in the description. The stationary knife shims (item #11, three part numbers listed) however does list a quantity for two part numbers with the third part number receiving no quantity and again being told to use as required. I am slowly re-assembling the baler and when I bolted up the stationary knife with no shims it doesn't seem to clear the vertical leg of the right-bottom track angle which would make setting the ram knife clearance quite hard. As a side note when I took it apart there was only a partial shim at the bottom of the stationary knife which might have been put there to accommodate the rotated ram/plunger which was caused by a disintegrated roller. My questions are as follows: - Does two of the stationary knife shims item #11 having specific quantities listed mean they should have been there from the factory?
- If yes, that means I need to install one wedge shim, I assume the thick side (left long side-to-right long side) should be installed under the leading edge of the stationary knife so the clearance opens up as the ram knife travels rearward to the trailing edge of the stationary knife?
- If no, do I just install the shims as needed for the stationary knife to protrude past the track angle and/or only use a wedge shim to roll the knife if the trailing edge is intruding?
- Should the stationary knife be parallel to the ram knife (leading edge to trailing edge)?
In general I would love to talk to someone who has set these 40+ plus year old balers up as sometimes written questions aren't always conveyed or understood as well as a two way conversation. If anyone is out there your help would be appreciated! Mike
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