Welger Rundballenpresse / Round baler

A round baler such as the RP 220 Profi picks up swathed forage using a tine pick-up and feeds it into a bale chamber, where rollers, belts or chains shape it into a round bale. On a fixed-chamber baler, the chamber always has the same diameter, while on a variable-chamber baler the bale grows from the inside outward up to the set size. At the end of the pressing cycle, the machine ties the finished bale with net or twine so it keeps its shape and density.

Size depends on the tractor power needed for the pick-up and bale chamber. On the road, the trailed implement is subject to the general rules on width, lighting and marking.

On a used machine, what counts is the condition of the belts or rollers in the bale chamber for wear and cracking, the tension and wear of the chains, the condition of the pick-up tines, and the function of the net or twine binding unit. The bale-chamber bearings and rust on the frame also belong on the checklist. It is also worth checking the tailgate's hydraulic hoses and the chassis tyres, which on a round baler are exposed to unusually high loads. A short test run under load also shows whether the bale forms evenly and without belt slippage, and whether the twine tension is set correctly.