Case IH LB324–LB434 Square Baler Service Manual (incl. Wiring)

Inspect the roller track and bale chamber contact zone before each season and every 50 operating hours during heavy use. Remove any debris buildup from the track surface. Check the grease lubrication system: verify pump element rotation, confirm all feed lines deliver grease, and top up the reservoir to its 2 L capacity. Worn bearing surfaces on the roller track should be measured for clearance and replaced before they cause plunger misalignment.

Check the pickup float spring tension immediately. The pickup must maintain consistent down-pressure contact with the ground contour. Inspect the spring weight kit for missing or collapsed components, and verify the locking clip on the chain adjustment mechanism is fully seated and secured. Adjust wind guard height so it guides crop cleanly into the pickup throat without lifting the unit. Review the Product Feeding section starting at page 570 for float adjustment procedure and spring specifications.

Disengage PTO and lock out the machine before inspecting. Check needle-to-plunger timing: the distance X between the middle of the needle top roller and plunger knives must be 0 - 40 mm (0 - 1.6 in) as specified on page 645. Inspect knotter gearbox bearing preload: target 0.4 - 0.8 N·m (page 726) for the gearbox bearing and 0.3 - 0.6 N·m (page 728) for the cover bearing. Replace frayed twine, clean the bill hook and twine disc of crop wraps, and verify the knotter gearbox sensor (B-007) is generating a clean signal per .

Check the bale density circuit overview at page 154. Verify PTO is running at the correct RPM before diagnosing pressure faults. Inspect the oil pressure sensor (B-016) per : measure voltage output and compare against spec; replace if out of range. Check the density valve (Y-002) wiring harness and fuse panel per . Bleed any air from the hydraulic circuit and confirm the bale chamber actuator is reaching operating pressure without excessive foam or overheating.

Check fault code reference and record the exact code before clearing. For battery voltage faults, inspect the alternator output and test for blown fuses per . For pickup speed open circuit faults, check the sensor connector and wiring continuity per the wiring harness check: test for short circuits and confirm continuity end-to-end. Inspect the control box for oxidation on connectors and verify cable integrity before replacing any module per .

Stop the machine immediately if the chain skips or goes slack under load. Disengage PTO and inspect the chain locking clip: confirm it is fully installed and the adjustment is locked. Check chain wear against the roller chain wear tables in the Introduction section starting at page 6. Measure feeder and pickup drive shaft backlash; acceptable range is 0.05 - 0.15 mm (page 97). Replace worn chain links or the full chain if wear limits are exceeded, and re-verify locking hardware before returning to service.