- Location
- Dorset/Wilts
N.b no bad idea getting a fitter to give it a once over if they are doing your air con
I know the weather does not look special at the moment. You are doing better than us, we haven't cut anything.we have a drying floor and a large fan to dry it with. forcast looks changable all week and the week after, i just dont want to get stuck with a combine in the shed and an empty grain shed....tomorrow it depends on the app... some say its fine all day, some say thunderstorms at 1. depends who you believe.
Just because it says it’s closed in the cab doesn’t mean it necessarily is, it may have a lot of ware and be miles out!well it was fully closed i think, so should that be adjusted? dealer is coming out some point to regas the AC, worth getting him to take a look and check adjustment on the concave?
There’s no shame in asking. Combining is a skill you get with experience ive driven one for 18 years and I still feel like a new boy at times often ring somebody up with more experience than me if i have a problemAlright. So must the straw be dry? or is it just a case of needing a bit of sun on it to get it to thrash properly? It was overcast to start the day, but then towards the evening it dried up and the sun came out.
it was wrapping around a little bit yes, so i assume that it was just too damp. Is that because of straw being damp? Please just treat me like an idiot on this because i know very little about the intricacies of combining.
well this is the first field and we have cut about 100 yards.... and we shouldnt really have done that! We did have the chap out to do the straw elevator chains as we found they were worn when a link went, he gave her a once over and couldnt find anything wrong.I know the weather does not look special at the moment. You are doing better than us, we haven't cut anything.
very interesting. So i can take off an access panel at the side of the combine and check that distance with the concave at setting 1 and check its to within the spec, which i assume would be in either the operators manual or the dealer service manual, I do have both, though i dont really think the dealer service manual is much help, its instructions for the straw elevator chain were along the lines of: How to remove the chains, "step one, remove the chain, step 2, reinstall the chain". It kind of expects you to have a decent knowledge of working on combines already, and then just tells you the really complicated bits that are different between machines.Just because it says it’s closed in the cab doesn’t mean it necessarily is, it may have a lot of ware and be miles out!
There will be a measurement for the gap between the bars and the concave at the front and rear and usually some access plates either side. On mine you fully close the concave the measure 7mm at the front and 4mm at the rear.
This is on my Claas but you get the idea
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the heads are pointing almost directly downwards, and it looks dead. So i assume its just too wet.Well on barley when it's completely ripe the heads should be drooped over and kinda hanging down, I just go by look. If the plant looks completely dead to me, I'll chance a bit with the combine to see what the moistures like
looks more akin to the top one. maybe it just isn't quite ready.If it’s necked over like this it’s only just coming ready.
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If it looks like this it’s time to get cutting as it’s not far from the heads snapping off if it comes windy.
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Usually the operators manual will give the settings and adjustments, really all the settings should be checked as a pre season check over/service.well this is the first field and we have cut about 100 yards.... and we shouldnt really have done that! We did have the chap out to do the straw elevator chains as we found they were worn when a link went, he gave her a once over and couldnt find anything wrong.
very interesting. So i can take off an access panel at the side of the combine and check that distance with the concave at setting 1 and check its to within the spec, which i assume would be in either the operators manual or the dealer service manual, I do have both, though i dont really think the dealer service manual is much help, its instructions for the straw elevator chain were along the lines of: How to remove the chains, "step one, remove the chain, step 2, reinstall the chain". It kind of expects you to have a decent knowledge of working on combines already, and then just tells you the really complicated bits that are different between machines.
the heads are pointing almost directly downwards, and it looks dead. So i assume its just too wet.
Unless you’re crimping or in a predominantly wet area you don’t really want to be cutting much above 15% mc, ideally 14.5 when it’s in the barnlooks more akin to the top one. maybe it just isn't quite ready.
how can i tell if the returns are overloaded? I think the seives should be adjusted as we neglected to do this between beans and barley. we were more worried about getting it all off of the straw first! as far as i know all i can adjust the speed of is the drum and fan. The dealer we bought it from (graham holland if you know of them) set it all up for beans before it was delivered, as we said that was what we would be combining first. aparently a very good combine mechanic had checked over it, and it had had several new belts and parts fitted by them. i will check on the concave clearences tomorrow.Never driven or had anything to do with a tx but sounds like something could be set wrong, we have a Cx so this may be of no use to you but we have a second drum/ rotary separator and you can change the speed of that, also you can open or close the concave under it, the other thing is we have toothed threshing plates for cereals or smooth ones for beans/rape that go in the bottom of the returns, if you were doing beans last and your tx has a similar set up then this needs checking, but others on here can tell you if the tx has these, only other thing is how wide is your bottom sieve, maybe try closing it and put more through the returns but be careful not to overload them also. But like others have said cant beat harvesting on a sunny warm day.
Your sieves will be far to wide if still set for beans, that will explain the un threshed heads in the sample. I’d sit down with the ops manual and have a good read, usually it will give some base line settings for each crop to start from and show how to adjust each part according.how can i tell if the returns are overloaded? I think the seives should be adjusted as we neglected to do this between beans and barley. we were more worried about getting it all off of the straw first! as far as i know all i can adjust the speed of is the drum and fan. The dealer we bought it from (graham holland if you know of them) set it all up for beans before it was delivered, as we said that was what we would be combining first. aparently a very good combine mechanic had checked over it, and it had had several new belts and parts fitted by them. i will check on the concave clearences tomorrow.
yes i have a separate book for the settings. doesnt mention seive settings though, but that would explain the unthreshed heads yes. it doesnt explain the grain left on the straw though, which is what im more worried about. can fiddle with seives after thats sorted. but yes, i will have another read of the manual... might keep me from going and trying to combine it again!Your sieves will be far to wide if still set for beans, that will explain the un threshed heads in the sample. I’d sit down with the ops manual and have a good read, usually it will give some base line settings for each crop to start from and show how to adjust each part according.
damp straw will definitely carry grain over the back, and as had been said if it’s rapping around the auger it’s usually time to go home.yes i have a separate book for the settings. doesnt mention seive settings though, but that would explain the unthreshed heads yes. it doesnt explain the grain left on the straw though, which is what im more worried about. can fiddle with seives after thats sorted. but yes, i will have another read of the manual... might keep me from going and trying to combine it again!
I'm guessing you will have a returns monitor in the cab along with sieve and straw walker losses, keep an eye on those, as Phil P said if your sieves are set for beans then that's half your problem, I havnt cut any barley this year yet but as a rough guide I would try 12/14mm top sieve 6/7mm bottom sieve and adjust from there.how can i tell if the returns are overloaded? I think the seives should be adjusted as we neglected to do this between beans and barley. we were more worried about getting it all off of the straw first! as far as i know all i can adjust the speed of is the drum and fan. The dealer we bought it from (graham holland if you know of them) set it all up for beans before it was delivered, as we said that was what we would be combining first. aparently a very good combine mechanic had checked over it, and it had had several new belts and parts fitted by them. i will check on the concave clearences tomorrow.
There is a performance monitor which we had looked at as I couldn't get anything out of it. He said it might work but if it doesn't then there's not much you can do about it except replace the whole unit. We mill all our corn for meal so we don't mind getting some chaff in the tank. Also as its a big combine we can go slowly. Ill look at setting those seive settings next time we have a go, thanks.I'm guessing you will have a returns monitor in the cab along with sieve and straw walker losses, keep an eye on those, as Phil P said if your sieves are set for beans then that's half your problem, I havnt cut any barley this year yet but as a rough guide I would try 12/14mm top sieve 6/7mm bottom sieve and adjust from there.
Your monitors may yet come too life when you close your sieves, no problem hope it goes better when you go again.There is a performance monitor which we had looked at as I couldn't get anything out of it. He said it might work but if it doesn't then there's not much you can do about it except replace the whole unit. We mill all our corn for meal so we don't mind getting some chaff in the tank. Also as its a big combine we can go slowly. Ill look at setting those seive settings next time we have a go, thanks.