Class Convio Flex header vs Macdon Flex Header

[ollie989898]

The Honey Bee has the advantage that other than the reel and cross auger all the other major components are mechanically driven by belts and shafts so there’s no expensive valve blocks or pumps to go wrong nor is there the extra weight associated with them or the oil they need to carry.

I would have thought eliminating shafts, belts and chains and driving them with oil would have been more reliable?

 

[Matta]

@MX7 having just watched the Convio animation on CLAAS website I wouldn't want to touch it with a barge pole . all those sensing bands to adjust a a multitude of rams to move the knife bed, sensors to auto adjust reel speed and torque and belt speed. @warksfarmer is right, most headers are knackered at the end of their life and there is plenty on there to be knackered. The Macdon has 6 plastic or metal skids that run on the ground, 6 big springs, a reel sensor and a pressure sensor and you whack it on the floor and crack on. From what i can see of the Convio it's basically a rigid back platform and reel with a varying height cutter bar? I cant imagine the reel can ever get as close to the knife in a flexing situation cutting laid crop as the Macdon because the reel flexes when the bed is flexing.
however... if you think a Lexion is superior by its complexity then the Convio might be the tool for you!

 

[Matt L]

@MX7 having just watched the Convio animation on CLAAS website I wouldn't want to touch it with a barge pole . all those sensing bands to adjust a a multitude of rams to move the knife bed, sensors to auto adjust reel speed and torque and belt speed. @warksfarmer is right, most headers are knackered at the end of their life and there is plenty on there to be knackered. The Macdon has 6 plastic or metal skids that run on the ground, 6 big springs, a reel sensor and a pressure sensor and you whack it on the floor and crack on. From what i can see of the Convio it's basically a rigid back platform and reel with a varying height cutter bar? I cant imagine the reel can ever get as close to the knife in a flexing situation cutting laid crop as the Macdon because the reel flexes when the bed is flexing.
however... if you think a Lexion is superior by its complexity then the Convio might be the tool for you!

Actually you can if your not careful on PDI put the reel fingers into the running knife and cut them all off!
Reel speed sensors are the same as on the vario so nothing different there.
The convo uses a number of rams to offer a greater range of flex along the length of the knife, in flex more it actually runs on polymer skid plates along the underneath of the knife.
The sensor for the reel torque is because you can actually lift a laid crop and drag it over the top of the knife, the torque limit is so you don’t pull the roots out of the ground.