Week 1 - Starting in the Imperial Valley Moin moin,
so the first week in the Imperial Valley in Southern California on the border with Mexico is over, and it has done a great deal.
After last week my colleague Blake Fuller in San Diego had met at the airport, we went Monday evening to El Centro. Tuesday morning we started our service on the Crown site in Holtsville. If we wanted to prepare the Anthony Mertens Vorführgespann final. The JCB 8250 there was already on the farm, the press should be delivered up to 14 hours. Thus, we had little time for errands. On my shopping list at the top of an air hose was a connection for the supply line (red) of the air brake system on JCB, with whom I can then blow out in conjunction with a blow gun and the filter and the cabin free of dust.
At 14 clock we received a call that the truck is stuck with the press on the border with California, because transport documents were missing. We were assured however that this had already been requested and that it would soon go on.
At 17 clock finally came the van of the press and everything was unloaded quickly. First, the ball collection vehicle with a forklift, and then the press with the JCB.
Immediately after unloading, we noticed that a Half had suffered in the sprue lying and not lashed drive shaft while driving, also was missing some additional components of the ball collector car. Fortunately, Anthony stood at a different Vorführpresse (BiG Pack 12130) with ball collection vehicles so that we could borrow the missing pieces there.
clock against 21 we had our team shots and the first trial run should take place early the next morning.
hay or alfalfa is better in this region, preferably at night, pressed as it is too dry during the day. If we were to press the day, would the pistons in pressing all the delicate leaves from the stems , Cut off and they would remain as crop losses on the field. But since most of the energy lies in the leaves, you should avoid if possible. At night, when the humidity is somewhat higher break, the leaves are not as fast on the stems.
meant for us that we wanted to leave on Wednesday morning at 3:30 clock - if the plan! But first, everything is different, and as you think. By 3 clock rang my alarm clock, and when I was ready to go straight, got the call that it was too windy out there and too dry. And so it stayed all day.
Thursday morning, we finally had the desired Conditions. 5:30 clock we went to the field of prospects, and the BiG Pack has now shown what it can. I had a round to get settled, and then also very interested in the customer came with the tractor. Three laps I have explained the operation of the tractor and the press, then we have switched places. Thanks to the easy use of both machines, the presses worked directly very well, and the first bale all had about 1600 lbs at 86 inch length. Thanks to the ball collection vehicle integrated scale we could check the weight of every third bale directly.
The handheld meter indicated a moisture content of just under 14% - that is really perfect. Per bale we usually had 55 - has 60 food packages, and the VFS system supported per stroke. Unfortunately suddenly attracted to dark clouds and it was actually raining in the Imperial Valley. Thus, the last bales were a little more moisture, causing it to export really makes no longer usable. Last, the meter almost 30% of moisture, and the ball went high weights lbs to 2165th Aborting!
afternoon against 16 clock, after repeated turning of the windrow, we launched a new attempt. also began the prospect and his current press, as he pressed the chamber for the following day wanted to fill already.
Somehow it works but not as it should and it took some balls, to a reasonably prudent and fully adorned with all the threads tied bale bale chamber of the red press. Since our prospect had to remove the meantime also some pressing product by hand from the collection vehicle, he was pretty sweaty for BiG Pack-back test drive. His comment after 87 elegant and highly compressed bales "Finally a nice team."
The successful day ended with an invitation to a barbecue at our cozy Interested ends.
On Friday morning we talked with Anthony and Tom Brown, the sellers of our distributors Central Implement, the way forward. Since we are still a little early in the season, and Easter is at the door was, unfortunately, none of the prospective mowed alfalfa, so that was planned for the entire Easter weekend, no demonstration.
So we have Friday morning the team made it all clean again. The dust in connection with the rain the day before had left a layer of dirt on the press, from our Stihl leaf blower did not really impress. Here, then, only half of water, preferably from a high pressure cleaner. As the truck wash in El Centro for my taste demanded a significantly high amount, we have searched for another option, and found in Holtsville a car wash self-park. The height of the boxes was provided with 11 ft, the height of the JCB is inch by 11 ft 6th But then everything went smoothly. Also, the collection vehicle fitted up to 20 cm (10 cm on each side) through the box. Although everything was pretty close, but ultimately we could not only purify more cost effective but also making sure that did not flow too much water to sensitive areas such as electronics, bearings and other lubricated parts.
After this was basic cleaning it then once a round with all interested parties to past and the coming week.
The Bottom Line: So far, unfortunately, only a demonstration, but under these very adverse weather conditions and still very successful. And for the next week, there are already several requests.
Until then, all a wonderful Easter weekend and many greetings from California
Niklas