A twine tensioning system for a baler (10) in which adjacent lengths of upper and lower twine lengths are knotted and passed around a bale (30) that is being compressed in a baler (10). Knots are formed to connect twine at the forward and rearward end of the bales (30). A slack arm (20) maintains tension during the process of knotting and severing the twines and a stop bar (40) is removably positioned to provide a lower stop for the slack arm (20) when the bales (30) are being passed through the system to minimize wear.
