Started combining oats on Saturday with my #80. As a follow up to my previous post about swathing & combining the cover crop, it was working pretty good, no problems feeding through. Only issue was a loud clacking sound that started almost right away. Sound looked to be from the adjustment levers on the ends of the cylinder slapping against the stop that a previous owner welded above the levers (the adjustment notches were no longer there.) Not long after I unloaded for the 2nd time, I heard a snap, then a bang, then other bad sounds. The lever on the left side broke off, allowing that end of the cylinder to move. I opened up the front door, and found the cylinder had broken away from the two hubs that are mounted on the shaft. They had been welded up before, and the welds broke.
Took it back to the shop and welded it up as best as I could, but I'm sure it was probably even further out of balance. Welded a piece of steel onto the adjustment handle, and went back to the field. Ran another two tanks of grain, then the lever broke off again, as well as the two bolts that hold the lever on. Time to hang it up for the day and go fishing. Rained that night and every day since, still have about 2 acres or so left to combine. Have about 100 bushel in the wagon, would be nice to finish it yet, otherwise I'd have to roll it up into rounds and get it off the alfalfa.
SO the cylinder looks to have some major problems. Since the previous owner had welded it to the shaft and welded stops on the clearance adjustments, it must have some bad balance problems. And two years ago when I cleaned out the rock trap in front of the cylinder, I found a 4" long chuck of one of the rasp bars that had broken off, so that ain't helping either. So probably not much option other than to find a replacement cylinder somewhere, right?
Looking on Craigslist on Monday morning, found a #80 for sale in my home town. Called the number, found out it's less than 2 miles from my house. Went to look at it, and it's in good condition. Melroe pickup on it, machine & belts good, cylinder looks good and adjustment levers haven't been messed with. And it's less money than the one I bought with the cobbled up cylinder. Picking it up tomorrow afternoon. Looks like I might get the field done yet when it quits raining. And I'll keep the other one for parts too. Now I just might plant that 10 acres of barley next year that I've been considering.
Took it back to the shop and welded it up as best as I could, but I'm sure it was probably even further out of balance. Welded a piece of steel onto the adjustment handle, and went back to the field. Ran another two tanks of grain, then the lever broke off again, as well as the two bolts that hold the lever on. Time to hang it up for the day and go fishing. Rained that night and every day since, still have about 2 acres or so left to combine. Have about 100 bushel in the wagon, would be nice to finish it yet, otherwise I'd have to roll it up into rounds and get it off the alfalfa.
SO the cylinder looks to have some major problems. Since the previous owner had welded it to the shaft and welded stops on the clearance adjustments, it must have some bad balance problems. And two years ago when I cleaned out the rock trap in front of the cylinder, I found a 4" long chuck of one of the rasp bars that had broken off, so that ain't helping either. So probably not much option other than to find a replacement cylinder somewhere, right?
Looking on Craigslist on Monday morning, found a #80 for sale in my home town. Called the number, found out it's less than 2 miles from my house. Went to look at it, and it's in good condition. Melroe pickup on it, machine & belts good, cylinder looks good and adjustment levers haven't been messed with. And it's less money than the one I bought with the cobbled up cylinder. Picking it up tomorrow afternoon. Looks like I might get the field done yet when it quits raining. And I'll keep the other one for parts too. Now I just might plant that 10 acres of barley next year that I've been considering.