2025 John Deere 461M Round Baler

Weave Automation: The Industry's Premier Baler Technology

Overview
Weave Automation is the newest update in Baler Automation. This solution is designed to automate bale shape formation by enabling a weaving mechanism, as opposed to a fixed hitch, to ensure ideal bale shape. This feature allows the baler to align with the tractor's movement in the field, effectively covering windrows of varying shape and volume. ​-make point blank

With the use of bale shape sensors, Weave Automation optimizes crop collection and automates the process of packing of the bale chamber for the operator, eliminating the stress of managing both the tractor and baler

Benefits

• Reduced Labor Costs: The need for highly skilled operators is diminished, leading to lower labor expenses while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Decreased Operator Fatigue: Simplifying the baling process reduces operator strain, allowing for longer hours of productive work without the fatigue associated with manual management.
• Consistent Bale Shape: The technology ensures the production of ideal bale shapes, independent of operator skill, resulting in higher quality bales every time.
• Enhanced Bale Quality: Optimal bale shape contributes to increased bale life. Consistent shape and density prevent moisture infiltration, reducing the risk of premature fermentation and mold growth.
• Streamlined Transportation and Storage: Properly packed and shaped bales are easier to handle, minimizing breakage and the need for rework during transport and storage.

Additional details

• Self-centers in tractor reverse, assist with inadvertent tire to tongue contact​
• Compensates for tight forward turns, or dual tire configuration​, no need to widen tires
• Better baling enabled through display; no additional set up required

1 Series Round Balers - Model specification levels

Round baler models

Round baler model specification

MegaWide™ Classic pickup provides increased feeding capacity

The MegaWide Classic pickup is an exclusive update to the 451E round baler feeding system. Providing a wider pickup and a spiral rotor for improved crop feeding and pickup capacity, the MegaWide Classic pickup works to increase baling efficiency.  Features include:

• 32 percent wider pickup (in comparison to the MegaWide pickup)
• 180-cm (71-in.) flare to flare width
• Regular Duty pickup teeth
• Shear Bolt Protection
• Guage Wheel package available
• Optional hydraulic pickup lift cylinder available 

The small-diameter, low-profile pickup allows for good ground gauging and clean crop retrieval.

• Handles large, heavy windrows of hay and high-moisture crops
• Feeds hay directly to the forming chamber to reduce crop loss
• Low-profile pickup minimizes hay lift to reduce chaffing and retain hay quality

Compressor rods are contoured to control hay over the pickup radius for positive feeding. The compressor rack can be adjusted upward or downward to match the volume of material in the windrow and can be easily removed to match crop conditions.

The adjusting crank positions the pickup to the desired operating height to match crop or field conditions.

Silage configuration

A silage-configuration baler allows the producer to put up silage hay. A silage configuration machine does not offer a precutter. There are three major components to a silage configuration baler: a staggered roller-auger kit (1), a starter roll-scraper knife, and a screen (2). The powered auger sits above the staggered roll on the baler to help keep wet hay from traveling up the belts and reduce buildup on the roll. The screen is bolted on the front of the baler as a safety feature. The knife/scraper is mounted in front of the starter roll to help prevent wrapping of wet crop on the starter roll.

The silage kit is offered as a bundle for field installation if the baler is not ordered as a silage-configuration machine from the factory. Attachment BE32442 is for 1.22-m (4-ft) wide machines and BE32443 is for1.52-m (5-ft) wide machines.

Also offered is a high-moisture kit. This kit does not include the same components that are on the silage-configuration balers. It offers the starter roll-scraper knife but does not include the staggered roll-auger kit. Attachment BE23828 is for 1.22-m (4-ft) machines and BE23829 is for 1.52-m (5-ft) machines.

Base equipment on: 451M Silage, 551M Silage, 461M Silage, 561M Silage, 451R Precutter, 461M, 461R Precutter, 561M and 561R Precutter

Auxiliary take-up rolls prevent belt crossover and flipping in wet conditions. This roll is base equipment on all silage and precutter configuration balers.

Bale scale and moisture sensor

Integrated-sensor measurements for weight and moisture provide bale characteristics (moisture/weight). This technology enables producers to document bale moisture and weight and take data into Operations Center for post-harvest analysis. This allows better management decisions around water and nutrients, plus document that information to get higher prices for their bales, as well as possibly reduce their input costs

Net lift assist and net lighting

Connecting linkage is attached to the net-wrap handles and the net-wrap is moved with the lift mechanism via remote tether. Net-hood lighting illuminate’s net-wrap components.

Preservative system

Integrated Preservative System allows producers to bale sooner and with less worry about bales molding. Comparable hardware to John Deere’s Exact Apply system Tank, pump, sensors, controller (hardware/software), and a distribution system.

G5e external speaker

The G5e External Speaker is an optional attachment for G5e displays only.

• Provides increased volume levels for all G5e display notifications
• Assist baling operations in situations with high in-cab noise or for operators with hearing impairments
• Installed externally on harness for easy access
• Omits sound separate from G5e display speaker to increase volume up to 16 percent
• Manually adjust volume by turning front dial left or right

The external speaker device provides increased volume levels for all G5e display notifications. It will omit a sound separate from the G5e display to assist baling operations in situations with high in-cab noise or for operators with hearing impairments. It is installed externally on the harness and can have volume levels changed by manually turning the front dial left or right. Adding the external speaker increases G5e notification volume by 16 percent. The external speaker is optional and is available as an attachment.

Adjustable hitch to match wide array of tractor drawbar heights

The 1 Series Round Balers came standard with an adjustable hitch. This feature allows the hitch height to be adjusted to optimize crop-feeding performance. Due to the wide array of tractor tire sizes and drawbar heights, hitch adjustment may be necessary to get the proper feed opening of the baler. The adjustable hitch eliminates the need for the 51-mm (2-in.) thick tractor drawbar kit (AE57344) because it has a wider opening.

Benefits of the adjustable hitch:

• Ability to match baler to numerous tire sizes
• Allows for drawbar height to fall within 330 mm to 559 mm (13 in. to 22 in.) from the top of the drawbar to the ground
• Eliminates narrow feed opening on the baler which can cause plugging
• Allows pickup head to follow terrain without missing crop

All eight bolts must be used when adjusting the hitch. There are four different positions as shown below:

Vertical forming chamber maintains uniform bale density

As the hay enters the forming chamber from the pickup, belts immediately turn the hay to form a tight, dense core.

Incoming hay then feeds between the bale and the lower gate roll. Hay is tightly compressed into smooth, dense layers as it enters the bale.

Chaffing is greatly reduced to prevent loss and retain hay quality in the bale.

The idler arm rises with bale growth, forcing oil from the hydraulic cylinder through a pressure-relief valve to maintain uniform bale density throughout the bale-forming process.

Exclusive DiamondTough™ belts with plate-type splices

John Deere's 178-mm (7-in.) wide diamond-tread design ensures fast bale starts and grips the bale to prevent slippage and reduce chaffing. The treads are self-cleaning to reduce carryover. The belts are staggered to reduce the loss of fine material and are closely spaced to contain the hay for fast, easy starts.

The belts enclose 91 percent of the bale width to reduce loss of fine material and retain hay quality.

The staggered belt roll design enables any loose hay under or behind the belts to be returned to the pickup and into the baler. This design helps to prevent buildup at the front of the baler, which could cause hay loss and belt or splice damage.

Every baler in the 1 Series Family uses DiamondTough belts. Belts are constructed using a patented triple-weave process of nylon and polyester materials.

They have the strength to handle heavy shock loads and help maintain consistent belt length.

The DiamondTough belts are more puncture and tear resistant than other belts on the market and provide improved belt life and reliability.

All of the 1 Series Balers use the plate-type fasteners.

This closed-loop design uses a plate fastener with pre-assembled rivets that lock the fasteners into the belt, providing a powerful vice-type grip on the belt.

• The plates and rivets are manufactured from high-tensile stainless steel.
• Strong belt splices mean less maintenance and more productivity.
• The loop area is cold forged, making it extremely wear resistant in the coupling area, resulting in a very long cycle life.
• The spring steel pin is notched and locks into the splice connection without having to bend the pin or use external retainers.