Preparing Your Machinery Before Hay Season: A Practical Checklist
Hay season waits for no one. When the weather window opens, the pressure is on and the last thing any farmer or contractor needs is a mechanical failure holding up the workflow. The machinery that sat idle through winter needs attention before it handles a single bale. A structured pre-season check ensures your equipment has a clean run and you avoid costly downtime.
This guide walks through what to inspect, where to focus your attention, and what to replace before the rush begins. Use it as a working checklist, not just a read.
Why Pre-Season Preparation Matters More Than You Think
Most machinery breakdowns during hay season aren’t surprising. They’re the predictable result of wear that built up during the previous season and was never addressed. Bearings that were running warm, chains that had stretched a little, hydraulic seals that were weeping slightly, these don’t fix themselves over winter. They deteriorate.
The cost of a breakdown mid-season compounds quickly. There’s the repair itself, but also the labour sitting idle, the weather risk of cutting hay lying in the paddock, and the scheduling pressure if you’re running a contracting operation. For large-scale producers and contractors alike, a single unplanned day of downtime can ripple across an entire week’s program.
Starting the season with machinery in verified condition eliminates most of that risk. It also gives you time to source parts at your own pace rather than chasing urgent freight on a Friday afternoon.
The Pre-Season Inspection Checklist
Work through this checklist systematically, ideally for four to six weeks, before your first cut. That timeline gives you enough runway to order and receive any parts that need replacing.
1. Structural Frame and Chassis
Start with the basics. Walk around each piece of hay handling equipment and inspect the frame visually before anything else.
- Check all welds for cracks, especially at stress points and pivot joints
- Look for bent or deformed members on the main chassis
- Inspect hitch points, drawbar pins and clevis fittings for wear or elongation
- Tighten all structural bolts and replace any that show corrosion or thread damage
- Check mounting brackets on any attached implements for hairline fractures
Cracks found early are a welding job. Cracks found mid-season are a failure.
2. Bearings and Pivot Points
Bearings are one of the most common failure points on bale handling machines. They run hard during the season, and any that were borderline at the end of last year should be replaced now rather than gambled on.
- Manually spin or rock all visible bearings – roughness, looseness or grinding indicates replacement
- Grease all zerk fittings before testing; dry bearings can mask wear until they fail suddenly
- Check pivot pins on folding arms, stackers and grab mechanisms for wear and play
- Inspect flange bearings and pillow blocks on roller assemblies
- Look for seized bearings that may have locked up during storage
On equipment like Verti-stack and Accumulators, roller and conveyor bearings take significant load across a full season. These deserve extra attention during pre-season checks.
3. Chains, Sprockets and Drive Components
Drive chains stretch with use and the wear is cumulative. A chain that was at the limit last season will be over it now.
- Measure chain stretch using a chain wear gauge or ruler, and replace if elongation exceeds 1–2% of nominal pitch length
- Inspect all sprocket teeth for hooked or shark-fin wear profiles; worn sprockets accelerate new chain wear
- Check chain tension on all drive systems and adjust to manufacturer spec
- Lubricate chains thoroughly before testing under load
- Inspect drive shafts and universal joints for play, rust or worn splines
- Check PTO shafts for straightness, guard condition and slip clutch operation
4. Hydraulic System
The hydraulic system takes a beating during bale handling operations, particularly on machines that cycle repeatedly through a full season.
- Check all hydraulic hoses for cracking, abrasion, bulging or UV damage. Hoses degrade in storage too
- Inspect hydraulic cylinders for external seal leaks and rod scoring
- Check ram ends and clevis pins for wear
- Test hydraulic fluid level and condition – replace if discoloured or contaminated
- Inspect the hydraulic filter and replace if due or uncertain
- Cycle all hydraulic functions slowly to check for sluggish response or drift
On equipment like the Big Bale Stacker and UniStack, hydraulic performance directly affects stacking precision and cycle speed. Any softness in the system will show up immediately under load.
5. Tyres and Wheels
- Check tyre pressure and inflate to spec
- Inspect tyre sidewalls and treads for cracking, cuts or uneven wear
- Check wheel bearing condition — jack the machine and test for play
- Inspect wheel bolts and studs; replace any that are corroded or suspect
- Check any castor wheels on trailing implements for bearing wear and swivel freedom
6. Electrical and Lighting
- Test all work lights, indicators and brake lights
- Check wiring looms for rodent damage – a common winter problem in sheds
- Inspect connectors for corrosion; clean with electrical contact spray
- Test any electronic controllers or monitor systems with the machine running
7. Bale Grabs and Handling Attachments
For operations using small bale grabs or other front-of-machine attachments:
- Inspect tine tips for wear or damage and replace if worn short
- Check tine mounting bolts and clamp bars for tightness
- Inspect grab frame welds and pivot points
- Test opening and closing action under hydraulic pressure
- Check any pivot bushes or guide roller components for wear
Common Wear Points on Bale Handling Machines
Beyond the general checklist, certain components wear faster than others based on the nature of bale handling work. These deserve priority attention every season:
Roller and conveyor components: constant contact with bale string, twine and compressed crop material causes progressive wear on rollers, wear strips and guides. Measure wear against the original spec and replace before they go below minimum thickness.
Bale stops and kickers: these components absorb impact repeatedly and are prone to fatigue cracking at weld points. Check them thoroughly, especially if last season was a heavy one.
Deck and floor wear plates: on stacking machines especially, sliding and dragging loads wear through floor plates over time. Thin areas should be plated before the season, not patched mid-run.
Folding linkages: on machines with folding sections for transport, the linkage pins and locking mechanisms see high loads during deployment and folding cycles. Check for wear, play and positive locking engagement.
Twine guards and string deflectors: these small components are often overlooked but prevent major blockages. Bent or missing guards are a leading cause of mid-season stoppages.
Parts to Service or Replace Before the Rush
When in doubt, replace it now. The cost of a bearing, seal or length of chain is a fraction of the cost of unplanned stops during in-season. Prioritise stocking:
- Spare grease nipples (zerks) as they get damaged and go missing regularly
- Hydraulic hoses for any line that showed age during inspection
- Bearings for the highest-load positions on your specific machines
- A length of matching chain and a joining link
- Spare tines or wear tips for grab equipment
- Any manufacturer-specified service items due by hours or seasons
Talk to your local Jadan dealer before the season peaks. Parts availability tightens as everyone rushes at once, and a brief conversation in advance can save significant waiting time when it counts most.
The Benefits of Getting It Done Early
The practical case for pre-season preparation comes down to four things:
Reliability: Machines that have been inspected and serviced run with far fewer unplanned stops. That reliability compounds across a season, particularly for contractors managing multiple clients and tight turnaround windows.
Safety: Worn structural components, failed hydraulic seals and fatigued welds are safety hazards. A pre-season check is also a safety audit, and it’s one that’s easy to defer until something goes wrong.
Longevity: Addressing wear before it becomes a failure extends machine life significantly. A bearing replaced at the right time doesn’t take a shaft journal with it. A hydraulic hose replaced proactively doesn’t blow out and contaminate a cylinder.
Confidence: Knowing your machinery is in good shape before the season starts changes how you operate and how you plan. You can commit to schedules rather than hedge against them.
For farmers and contractors who depend on their equipment to perform when the weather cooperates, pre-season preparation isn’t a cost, it’s an investment in every day of the season that follows.
