For the most part, belts do not stretch, but I have seen a few that did. If belts are overly long, they will be loose when the tailgate is closed with no hay in the chamber. Loose belts will walk. If the bale core breaks down while baling, belts will get loose and can flip.

When should I replace my round baler belt?

If your baler uses belts, it is a good practice to pull out the belts and replace them every 10,000 bales or so. After belts stretch, they can't apply the same pressure as when they were new and set at the correct factory measurements.

How long do round baler belts last?

Some baler manuals provide guidance about the lifespan of belts. Many will need replacing after a decade or so. But some farmers are still baling with 20-year-old belts. A better indicator is bale volume.