Cracked wheat grains

[Laggard]

More cracked wheat grains than I would like. What can I do to reduce this. I’ve opened the concave up.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Concave
Drum speed
Returns

 

[Badshot]

Check your clean grain elevator tension.
If it's loose that can crack a lot of grain.
Should be able to just slide the chain side to side, not up down on the bottom sprocket.

 

[Two Tone]

Excessive Drum speed (on a conventional Combine) is always the first cause of cracked grains.
Reduce this before making any other adjustments.

 

[Jam Tomorrow]

Check your clean grain elevator tension.
If it's loose that can crack a lot of grain.
Should be able to just slide the chain side to side, not up down on the bottom sprocket.

More likely to lead to squashed grains ime

 

[Zippy768]

Excessive Drum speed (on a conventional Combine) is always the first cause of cracked grains.
Reduce this before making any other adjustments.

I thought you'd want to increase concave before dropping speed of drum

N.b still v much a combine amateur

 

[Phil P]

I thought you'd want to increase concave before dropping speed of drum

Unless the concave is really tight excessive drum speed has more effect on cracking grains.

 

[Brisel]

More likely to lead to squashed grains ime

In wet grain, that's true.

 

[Brisel]

More cracked wheat grains than I would like. What can I do to reduce this. I’ve opened the concave up.

What was the grain moisture and outside air temperature? You'll find more cracked grains in the hottest part of the day. In mornings and evenings you can speed it up a bit more as it will help output. Fast forward speed, fast drum and a wide concave is the best but you have to slow down and widen accordingly for the conditions.

@Two Tone is the best person to set up a combine!

 

[PSQ]

Claas Advisor app lists decrease drum speed, increase concave gap, and open bottom sieve, in that order.

 

[JWL]

I have dropped drum speed down to 800 from 1000 in some conditions when I am seeing cracked grains in the tank. If it's rubbing out easily in your hands then open up the concave and push more through and start working the combine to it's full capacity as long as you can get it over the knife and up the trunking

 

[davidroberts30]

drop drum speed down 50rpm,check sample
if still cracking drop another 50 rpm
next step is lower concave a notch

 

[Two Tone]

What was the grain moisture and outside air temperature? You'll find more cracked grains in the hottest part of the day. In mornings and evenings you can speed it up a bit more as it will help output. Fast forward speed, fast drum and a wide concave is the best but you have to slow down and widen accordingly for the conditions.

@Two Tone is the best person to set up a combine!

Kind of you to say so @Brisel , but I really only know about NH Straw Walker and TF Combines.
Though much of what I know is the same as on most makes.

You are absolutely right about moisture content and time of day causing all sorts of foibles.

Though generally it will be excessive Drum speed that causes cracked grains, first of all.

 

[Two Tone]

What was the grain moisture and outside air temperature? You'll find more cracked grains in the hottest part of the day. In mornings and evenings you can speed it up a bit more as it will help output. Fast forward speed, fast drum and a wide concave is the best but you have to slow down and widen accordingly for the conditions.

@Two Tone is the best person to set up a combine!

Speaking of Combines, WTF has happened to my Dual Stream Header Avatar picture?

 

[Zippy768]

Speaking of Combines, WTF has happened to my Dual Stream Header Avatar picture?

Was about to comment, that I don't recognise you without your yellow header!