GEM Silage Bagger

The following instructions are basic steps to set up and operate most GEM Silage Bagger machines. Newer machines have added options that ease cleanout and bag changes; therefore, the following instructions are a guideline for average silage baggers.

Conditions such as uphill or downhill slopes will affect setup procedures. Use blocks for safety!

1. Move silage bagger into place where bag will start. Block bagger wheels before you disconnect from the transport vehicle.

2. Attach tractor to the silage bagger hitch. Try to align tractor so it is pointed in the direction you want to lay the bag. This is important as it will be difficult to correct misaligned tractors and baggers once the bag is started.

3. Using the jack on the machine, raise the transport end to unhook the vehicle. (If not equipped with a jack, use a hydraulic jack)

4. Before lowering, turn the wheels in “bag” direction before lowering. Be sure jack is fully retracted.

5. Raise the feed table slightly, pull the table safety pin lock, and lower the table to the ground.

6. Raise the PTO end just high enough to unlock and turn the wheels to "bag" position. Lower the jack – be sure it is fully retracted.

7. Unpin the backstop from transport arms using the bag winch. Raise the backstop and swing to the left of the machine. Carefully lower it to the ground.

8. Remove the backstop transport arms.

9. Lower the bag pan (levers on each side of the tunnel) and unhook the elastic cord on one side of the pan and slide it forward as far as possible.

10. Place the bag box close to the machine tunnel floor. Check that the retractable cleanout floor is fully extended (if equipped). Be sure the bag box arrows “toward tunnel” are correctly oriented.

11. Open the box and slide up the box top. Allow the lower box flaps to rest against the bag pan so they act as ramps to ease bag placement. Cut only the blue ties! Do not cut the white ties. Pull top fold of the bag material to the right. Pull the very bottom fold of the bag to the left.

12. Lower the winch hook to the ground and attach the bag lifting fork to the winch hook.

13. Carefully slide the bag fork into the upper half of the bag. Double check that all of the top half is on the fork and that none of the bottom half is caught in the fork.

14. Slowly begin to raise the bag with the winch. Check to see that the upper half is completely on the fork!

15. Raise the bag until the lifting fork clears the top of the machine tunnel.

16. Starting on the upper right side of the machine, work the bag over the outside of the tunnel, pushing up and forward. Repeat this on the left until the bag is over the tunnel edge.

17. Starting on the lower corner, slide the bag into the bag pan. This will require you to reach under the bag to lift it enough to slide into the pan. (placement of the box helps a lot)

18. Starting at the bottom and working upwards, slide the bag into the forwardmost position ahead of the middle of the tunnel. Have a second person climb on top of the machine to pull the top into position.

19. Lower and remove the lifting fork winch and pull it free of the bag. Position the winch/fork to the left of the bag.

20. Cut or untie all the white cords.

21. Lift the bag pan on both sides.

22. Pull a single plastic fold from the inside edge of the bag (closest to the tunnel). Pull off approx. 3 full folds (about 12 ft) evenly on both sides.

23. There are various methods to tie off the end. Repeat folding and then rolling the end toward the tunnel, folding it in the middle and tie off is the most common.

24. Position the knot under the bag, pointing the knot forward. This will ensure the knot stays under the bag and remains sealed. Pull additional plastic free so the knot is covered.

25. Roll the backstop into place behind the bag—minimum 1 foot behind the tunnel, maximum 2 feet in cereal silage. Attach brake cables to the marked position on the backstop chains. You may need to unwind additional cable to hook the chain. Be sure the chain hook is pointed away from the bag.

26. Tighten the brake on the right side to count the turns. It is very helpful to remember or record the number of turns from the previous bag as a starting point. Repeat the brake tighten on the left side.

27. Walk around the machine noting all the previous steps. You are now ready to fill the bag.

28. Flip up the feed table sides, and direct a load of feed into the table just far enough back not to spill on the ground.

29. Start the tractor and operate at 1000 PTO RPM.

30. Begin feeding the material into the machine. It is important to feed the first load slower than usual to fill out the bag end and backstop properly. This is a critical point and needs to be monitored carefully!

31. Note that the backstop is filling out. Make sure the machine does not move until at least 3 feet of bag is full. If the backstop leans back, drive the tractor ahead just enough to correct and bring the backstop back to vertical. If it leans forward, tighten the brake an additional turn to prevent forward movement and fill the backstop. Once the backstop is set, you can begin feeding at maximum capacity.

32. As the silage bagger begins to move, check both bottom corners to see if the plastic is sliding off smoothly and evenly from the machine.

33. After the first load is in, adjust the brake to achieve maximum fill of the bag and compaction of the material. This will vary greatly with different materials, but a general rule is the filled bag should not be more than 12 inches above the tunnel. In addition, the Up North Plastics® bag has a stretch measurement that is also useful to maximize compaction.

34. Continue filling the silage bag and monitor the compaction (stretch) of the plastic at all times.

35. When nearing the end of the bag, count the number of plastic folds left on the machine. STOP filling when there are between 4 and 5 folds left on the machine.

Full Bag- Machine detaches from the bag.

1. Loosen the brake on the right side—count the turns for reference later.

2. Have another person go to the backstop and be prepared to move it away from the bag. This is important—if the bag slumps on top of the backstop, it is very difficult to remove!

3. Release the left hand brake and assist with the removal of the backstop at least 4 feet away from the bag.

4. Be sure cables are away from the bag so they cannot snag on the plastic while rewinding.

5. Retract the cleanout floor, and release the bag pan lift chains.

6. Slowly move the tractor forward and have someone watch the lower corners of the silage bagger machine to be sure the bag does not snag.

7. Once clear of the bag end, stop.

8. Rewind the cable and have someone watch the right side to ensure the cable feeds evenly. Carefully rewind the cable and stop when about 5 feet of cable is left out. Monitor the rewind process so that cables are evenly rewound on the drums.

9. Move the silage bagger machine as required to new location.