A baler including a frame, a feed system coupled to the frame, a baling chamber, a gearbox, a crank arm driven by the gearbox, a plunger at least partially positioned within and reciprocally movable with respect to the baling chamber, and a connecting rod extending between and coupled to both the crank arm and the plunger, where the connecting rod defines a connector length, and where the connecting rod defines a fluid volume therein. The baler also including a hydraulic system in operable communication with the connecting rod, a pump, a first feed line extending between and in fluid communication with the fluid volume of the connecting rod and the pump, and a lockout valve adjustable between a first configuration in which the fluid volume is in fluid communication with the pump, and a second configuration in which the fluid volume is not in fluid communication with the pump.