MacDon D60 Draper Headers - Manual (Page 50)

SECTION 7. OPERATION
Form 169441 48 Revision B
7.12.10 REEL TINE PITCH
IMPORTANT
The following describes the concept
and operational guidelines of the
pick-up reel. Please read carefully
before operating the machine.
7.12.10.1 Concept
The pick-up reel is designed to pick up flattened
and severely lodged crops. It is not always
necessary to increase the tine pitch (higher cam
setting) to pick up crops that are lodged, but
rather the cam settings are mainly used to
determine how the crop will get delivered to the
drapers.
The position of the fingers relative to ground (tine
pitch) is not significantly affected by the cam
setting. For example, the cam position range is
33 degrees, but the corresponding finger pitch
range is only 5 degrees at the lowest point of reel
rotation.
For best performance, use the minimum cam
setting that will deliver the crop past the rear edge
of the cutterbar and onto the drapers.
7.12.10.2 Operating Guidelines
The following outlines the function of each cam
setting and includes guidelines for set-up in
various crop conditions. The setting numbers are
visible above the slots on the cam disc. Refer to
Section 7.12.10.3 Cam Adjustment.
• Cam Position 1 - Delivers the most even
crop flow onto the drapers without fluffing up or
disturbing the material. The crop is released
quite close to the cutterbar, and works best with
the cutterbar on the ground. Some crops will not
be delivered past the cutterbar when the cutterbar
is raised off the ground, and the reel is pushed
forward. Initially, have the reel speed “about
equal” to the ground speed.
• Cam Position 2 - Recommended starting
position for most crops and conditions. This
setting gives a finger tip speed approximately
20% faster than the reel speed.
If crops tend to stall on the cutterbar with the reel
in a “forward” position, the cam angle should be
increased to push the crop past the rear edge of
the cutterbar.
If the crop is getting fluffed or the flow across the
drapers is disrupted, the cam angle can be
decreased.
• Cam Positions 3 and 4 - Mainly used to
leave long stubble. Allows the reel to reach
forward and lift the crop across the knife and onto
the drapers. The further forward the reel, the
higher the cam angle should be.
Cam 4 would be used with the reel being fully
forward to leave the maximum amount of stubble
in lodged crops. This setting gives a finger tip
speed approximately 30% faster than the reel
speed.
Cam Position 4, Header Angle At Maximum,
and Reel Fully Forward - Provides the maximum
amount of reel reach below the cutterbar to pick
up lodged crops, and gives a finger tip speed
approximately 35% faster than the reel speed.
Cutting height is set to approximately 8 inches
(203 mm) to leave a significant amount of
stubble. In some crops, it is possible to double
ground speed because the amount of material
that is being cut is less.
NOTE
High cam settings with the reel fore-aft
position at 4 - 5, severely decrease the
draper capacity because the reel
disrupts crop flow across the drapers.
The fingers are still engaged in the crop
that is moving on the drapers.
High cam settings are recommended
only with the reel at or close to “full
forward” settings.
IMPORTANT
The reel to cutterbar clearance should
always be checked following
adjustments to reel tine pitch and reel
position.
Refer to Section 8.9.1 Reel Clearance
to Cutterbar and, 8.9.2 Reel Frown
Adjustment.
For detailed reel set-up information, refer to
Section 7.11 HEADER SET-UP.