There is provided a method for opening and closing a tailgate (31) of a round baler comprising a tail gate actuator (36) that is connected to a source of pressurized fluid. According to the invention information is retrieved concerning the fluid flow from the source of pressurized fluid, the size of the tail gate actuator (36) the distance the tailgate actuator (36) moves between an open and closed position of the tailgate (31). Based on this information an opening time duration and a closing time duration for the tailgate (31) is calculated. In this way no sensors to determine the position of the tailgate (31) are required.
