IH 863 Corn Head question

Dave H (MI) · Aug 20, 2015

For a lot of reasons, I have not been able to address this sooner. Last winter when taking the corn off the field, the head started to not function on certain rows. Chains would stop going round. Eventually (trying to remember) I think we were down to 3 rows working and the rest stopped dead...no grinding and nothing appeared to be stuck in them. So, since I had only about an acre to finish and two outside rows were working, I finished the field as a "two row" corn head. I may have put up a post or it may just have come into my head, but I had been thinking there were shear bolts that were gone and it would be an easy fix this summer. But when we got the combine running again last week and I operated the head, only one row on the end is not functioning. I have no idea why the others would have stopped and then started working again 9 months later. This is a big worry because I have a lot more corn to combine this year than last. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Why would rows stop functioning and then start again?

IaGary · Aug 20, 2015

There are slip clutches on the main shaft. One clutch for each row. Check these out to see if they would be defective.

Usually when a clutch slips in makes a loud chattering sound.

If they were slipping that long they would be junk by now.

I can't imagine what would quit last fall and now work unless rust on a shaft has enough friction to turn it now.

Are the knifes or snapping rolls still turning when the chains are stopped?

Are the chains on the top sprockets like they belong?

Make sure you put the safety bar in place on the cylinder before you crawl under the head.

Dave H (MI) · Aug 20, 2015

Yes, I'll be clear on that one...I am more than a little freaked out about going under something that heavy hanging in the air like it is!

I had thought about the rust issue. It sat on the ground all winter until we could get someone out to help lift down the engine. So anything that wore shiny was rusted up good. I do not see any worn slip clutches. I guess just use the one row that is still not working for some clues. Otherwise I have to start picking and wait for it to fail and THEN do a fast repair. Making me a little jumpy. I have a pretty nice stand and would like to take it off without too much trouble.

JMS/.MN · Aug 20, 2015

Dave- here"s a photo of a mechanical lock I made for my Gleaner F2, which relied only on a hyd valve shutoff. Other combines have a similar lock over the lift cyl, but for this one, because of springs over the lift cyl, I added a dummy cyl from a JD 55, and made the lock to fit over it.

Paul swpa · Aug 20, 2015

We had a key come out from under a sprocket one time that did something similar one time. Things would run then quit, took two people to find where it was, had to follow the power transmission to see where things stopped turning.

IowaJohn · Aug 20, 2015

Dave, you can use some good wood blocks to hold the head up, if you don't trust the mechanical lock. Use both. I lay some up under the front of the feederhouse, back of the cornhead to be extra safe when I'm filling the gearboxes full of grease. Mine is a Deere and it takes awhile to pump the boxes full.

Dave H (MI) · Aug 21, 2015

Now that makes a lot of sense. I had something like that happen on a PTO lever once. Drove me nuts trying to adjust it until I figured out the key on the handle was trashed. I'll look into that!

IH 863 Corn Head question

Dave H (MI)

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IaGary

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Dave H (MI)

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JMS/.MN

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Paul swpa

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IowaJohn

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Dave H (MI)

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