Your baler just went down. Cardboard is piling up. Your team is standing around. And you have no idea when it’s going to be fixed.
Here’s exactly what to do — and what not to do — to get your operation back up as fast as possible.
Step 1 — Stop and Note What Happened
Before you call anyone or touch anything, take 60 seconds to note what the machine was doing when it stopped. This single step can cut your repair time significantly.
Write down or take a photo of:
- What the machine was doing when it stopped (mid-cycle, end of cycle, during wire tie)
- Any error codes or fault lights on the control panel
- Any unusual sounds, smells, or behavior before it stopped
- What material was in the machine when it went down
- Whether anyone made any adjustments or changes before the failure
When you call your service provider, this information tells the technician what they’re likely walking into — and in many cases, an experienced technician can diagnose the problem over the phone before they ever arrive at your facility.
Step 2 — Do a Quick Safety Check
Before anyone goes hands-on with the machine:
- Make sure the baler is fully de-energized — power off, not just stopped
- If the ram is mid-stroke, do not attempt to manually move it
- If material is jammed, do not reach into the chamber
- Check whether any hydraulic lines are visibly leaking — if so, keep people away from the area
A baler that’s mid-cycle with a full hydraulic system is not a machine to troubleshoot casually. If you’re not certain what you’re looking at, wait for a technician.
Step 3 — Call Your Service Provider Immediately
This is not the moment to submit a web ticket and wait. Call directly.
If you’re an Altitude Recycling customer — or if you need a service provider who knows balers and can get to you — call us now: 720-545-5348.
When you call, have ready:
- The make, model, and serial number of your baler
- What you noted in Step 1
- Your facility address and the best contact on-site
- Your availability for a technician visit
Machine-down situations get priority. An experienced technician may be able to walk you through a quick fix over the phone — we do this regularly for customers with issues that look serious but have a simple solution.
Step 4 — Don’t Do These Things
A down baler is stressful, and stress leads to bad decisions. Avoid these:
Don’t let an untrained employee troubleshoot it. Hydraulic systems under pressure, electrical faults, and jammed rams are serious hazards. The cost of a service call is nothing compared to an injury.
Don’t keep cycling the machine to see if it fixes itself. If something failed, cycling it again can turn a minor repair into a major one — or cause additional damage to cylinders, seals, or the control system.
Don’t wait to call. Every hour of downtime is material piling up, labor tied up, and hauling schedules disrupted. The sooner a technician is dispatched, the sooner you’re back up.
Don’t assume you need a new machine. Most baler failures are repairable — hydraulic seals, electrical faults, wire tie system jams, worn wear parts. A good technician can assess quickly and tell you honestly what you’re looking at.
Step 5 — Manage the Backlog While You Wait
While you’re waiting for service, get ahead of the material backup:
- Stage cardboard and recyclables in a designated area to keep receiving and work areas clear
- If you have a second baler or compactor, shift volume there temporarily
- Contact your hauler if pickup timing will be affected
- If downtime will extend more than a day, consider a rental baler to keep your program running — this is exactly what Altitude Recycling’s rental program is designed for
A rental vertical baler can be on-site quickly and keep your operation moving while your primary machine is down. It’s a much better option than letting material pile up for a week.
Common Baler Failures — and What They Usually Mean
If you’re waiting for a technician and want to understand what you might be dealing with, here’s a quick reference:
Ram won’t move / no hydraulic pressure — Could be a pump failure, a blown hydraulic fuse, low fluid level, or a solenoid valve issue. Don’t cycle.
Machine powers on but won’t cycle — Often an electrical fault, a safety door switch, or a control board issue. Check that all doors and guards are fully closed first.
Wire tie system not cycling — Common on auto-tie and single-ram machines. Could be a wire jam, a broken needle, a tension issue, or a sensor fault. This is usually repairable quickly.
Hydraulic fluid leak — Could be a seal, a fitting, or a line. Keep people away from the spray area — hydraulic fluid under pressure causes serious injuries.
Unusual noise during cycle — Worn wear plates, a failing pump, or a loose component. Don’t ignore it — what starts as noise often ends as a failure.
Machine trips breaker repeatedly — Electrical fault, motor issue, or a hydraulic system working too hard due to a mechanical problem. Do not keep resetting and cycling.
How Altitude Recycling Handles Emergency Service
When you call us with a machine-down situation, here’s what happens:
We pick up the phone. You talk to someone who knows balers — not a call center, not a voicemail box.
We diagnose over the phone first. In many cases, an experienced technician can identify the likely cause and tell you what to expect before anyone drives to your facility.
We dispatch with the right parts. Because we stock common wear items and parts for the brands we service — PTR, BACE, International Baler, Max-Pak, Maren, Excel, Harris, Marathon — our technicians arrive prepared rather than making multiple trips.
We tell you honestly what you’re looking at. If a machine needs a major repair, we’ll tell you the cost and timeline clearly. If a rental makes more sense while you wait for parts, we’ll tell you that too.
Call us now: 720-545-5348
Email: sales@altituderecycling.com
→ Submit a Baler Service Request
What If You’re Not Currently an Altitude Recycling Customer?
That’s fine — call us anyway. We service balers for new customers regularly, and a machine-down situation isn’t the moment to worry about whether you have an existing relationship with a service provider.
We serve Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, and New Mexico. If you’re in our service area and your baler is down, call 720-545-5348 and let’s talk about what we can do.
Prevent the Next Emergency — Preventive Maintenance Pays
Most baler failures aren’t random — they’re the end result of wear that was visible for weeks or months before the machine finally stopped. A regular preventive maintenance schedule catches those issues before they become emergencies.
Ask us about a preventive maintenance visit for your baler. A PM visit typically costs a fraction of an emergency repair — and the downtime it prevents is worth far more than that.
→ Request a Preventive Maintenance Visit
Altitude Recycling Equipment — Aurora, CO
Baler Sales, Rentals, Service & Baling Wire Since 2010
Serving CO, WY, UT, NE, KS, AZ & NM
720-545-5348 | sales@altituderecycling.com