Designed for large farms and contractors, the Case IH LB 436 HD large square baler receives some important upgrades for 2024, centered around a new load-sensing hydraulic system. This allows operations typically activated from the rear of the baler, to be controlled from the cab via the baler monitor or tractor ISOBUS terminal. Baler Automation connects tractors and bales for optimal performance.
The new LB baler includes full or partial bale ejection and opening or closing of the bale chute. Tandem axle steering can also be locked from the terminal, with the rear steering axle locking automatically when reversing or when in road mode. For maximum flexibility with different tractor and hydraulic coupler types, flat face hose connectors can now be specified in place of the standard conical types.
Internally, durability enhancements include improved plunger rollers with sealed bearings or heavy-duty units with greaseable bearings, stronger stuffer brake springs, a stronger rotor drive chain, an optional Hardox 400 packer feeder bottom plate, and a more easily accessed pick-up greasing point. There is also a reinforced crop-holding finger shaft, improved optional hydraulic jack with double-acting safety valve, and additional guides on the front-end hinges of the bale chute to enhance strength.
User interface improvements include a swath feed left/right indicator to aid steering for even feeding, bale length calibration, an offset setting for the moisture sensor, and a new bale automation menu for setting automatic speed control and steering. This includes bale chute open/close, knife engagement and knife drawer opening, auto-levelling, releasing pressure in the bale chamber, tilting the twine box for easy access, and dis/engaging the tandem axle steering lock.
Silage Pack fixed chamber round baler updates
Aimed at farmers and contractors making 7,000 or more silage bales annually, the RB 545 and the wrapper-equipped RB 545 Silage Pack produce bales 1.22m wide and 1.25m high. Both are equipped with a 2.3m double cam-track pick-up for handling heavy swaths and a 20-knife chopping unit. They produce high density bales via 18 rollers, which feature a new profile for enhanced bale rotation, and are mounted on automatically greased bearings. These upgrades will positively impact durability and reliability to keep farmers in the field longer.
Beneath refreshed styling that enhances visibility, both balers benefit from main drive, bale chamber, chamber tailgate and rotor drive chains that have all been upgraded to a stronger grade, as have the associated sprockets. Increased chain durability significantly extends chain life.
A redesigned rotor scraper with wider fingers reduces power consumption and provides improved cleaning, reducing the likelihood of wrapping in long crops and improving performance in high-yielding, high-moisture grass. New for both models are a 1,000 rpm PTO option available as an alternative to the standard 540 rpm driveline, providing higher inertia for smoother crop flow, reducing blockage potential in heavy grass and matching the demands of chopping with the full set of knives in dense swaths.
Uptilted gearbox
On Silage Pack models with either of the two PTO drive specifications, the main gearbox has been tilted upward by 3.5 degrees for better PTO shaft alignment to maximize durability. Silage Pack versions also benefit from the addition of a deflector in the bale transfer area to prevent crop accumulation and any need to spend time on removal.
Key component durability has been further enhanced by new greaseable bushings on the tailgate locks and new bushings for the drop floor pivot arms on both standard and Silage Pack models, plus improved sealing for the conveyor cylinder to prevent water ingress and protect the integral position sensor.
Silage Pack versions now benefit from an improved bale quarter-turn system, with a higher-strength gas strut to decrease the manual handling force required while folding from field to road position. A longer plastic stop helps reduce plastic damage risk while tipping the bale. Tailgate opening time is now 38% faster on both models for quicker operation with reduced damage risk.
Baler Automation increases productivity
Case IH also introduces Baler Automation, delivering seamless, hands-free efficiencies in baling. This next generation integration connects tractors and balers for optimal performance when it matters most.
“Efficiencies are the name of the game and the baling business is no different,” said Global Product Leader for Crop Production and Hay & Forage product lines, Monte Weller, Case IH. “With pressures of rising fuel costs, lack of skilled labor and unpredictable weather patterns, an operator’s time in the field needs to be at peak productivity and we purposefully designed our Baler Automation solution to get them there.”
The Case IH Baler Automation solution helps deliver consistent, high-quality bales specifically for large square bale production. Here’s how it works: the automation technology signals to the tractor to automatically adjust speed for optimal crop feeding and preferred slice quantity on the other end. The result is peace of mind for the operation knowing that the automation is boosting throughput, preventing blockages, and reducing fuel consumption as work continues through a field.
Case IH Baler Automation also benefits operators by ensuring greater flexibility, more comfort and reduced stress. The easy-to-use technology optimizes the tractor’s steering, helping maximize baler throughput, preventing overloads, and improving fuel economy, making it simple to deliver consistent quality without operator fatigue.
“Even when you’re not the one in the cab, you can get a lot more done with the Case IH Baler Automation,” said Weller. “There’s an opportunity to view jobs remotely, understand service needs and import bale drop data by field or job—including bale weights, moisture, density, flake count, the list goes on. You don’t have to be in the seat to know how well things are going.”
The new Baler Automation technology will be available for all Case IH LB6 Series and model-year 2024 LB4 Series balers.
