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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Combine header question

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Michael

12-10-2003 20:34:19




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I know what a Corn head is used for. And I know what a bean head is used for (soybeans).

What is a flex head and what is it used for?

Can a combine used for corn and beans also harvest wheat, for example, if it has the proper type of head?

Are the internal workings of the combines used for corn/beans and wheat different?




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paul

12-11-2003 09:07:45




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 Re: Combine header question in reply to Michael, 12-10-2003 20:34:19  
In the northern damp climates small grains (oats, wheat, etc.) are swathed in rows to dry out (looks like a raked hay field). this is combined with a 'dummy header' or 'pickup header'. this is a narrower ridgid header with most of the parts taken off of it, and a set of belts or fingers bolted on the front to gently lift the crop up into the auger.

So we are up to:
Corn head - fixed row width corn

row crop head - fixed row width bean/ sunflower head

Ridgid head - straight combining small grains (and soybeans if you have very flat ground & don't mind some losses; or add 'pans' to harvest sunflowers)

Floating head - ridgid head with a floating sickle bar added for beans

Flex head - factory built floating sickle bar

Dummy header - belts or finger pickup on a narrow ridgid-type header to pick up swathes.

Combines are designed to be adjusted to meet most grain needs, you may need to change a few pulleys or sprockets for speed changes and adjust several settings. For really different crops, there can be specialty seives, thrashing bars, and the like that are needed, but in general it's all just settings changes.

--->Paul

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Rick

12-11-2003 06:05:34




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 Re: Combine header question in reply to Michael, 12-10-2003 20:34:19  
Michael; Yes the same combine can be used for wheat, rye,oats,corn,soybean and several other crops. You can find them all listed in the operators manual and variuos starting settings. Corn head is a sole purpose head. The bean head you mention can be purchased and it can do sunflowers and soybeans. It is for rows only.This can be used in soybeans if you plant them in rows 6_30" 8-38" etc. The flex head is just a newer versious of the platform heads basically. It cuts the full width with a knife(sickle). So if you drill beans or have them in rows or broadcast wheat you can use the exact same head. The flex part was added because when you cut soybeans you want to basically shave the ground. They will now basically float over the ground surface following its shape so you have the beans all cut very close to the ground all across the platform. With it rigid you have to run the head up and down to try to do same thing without digging into the ground or cutting the beans too high off the ground. When you cut oats or wheat you put the flex head(cutter bar part) in rigid position. This make it cut straight. You do this because when you cut these crops you do not cut close to the ground. You leave whatever stubble you choose. You can cut with it in the flex mode thou it just won't be as level of a cut because they sag and flex hangin in that position,because it that position they are suppose to be on the ground. You also have to change your hyd setting on the combine in this position so it will let the entire head FLOAt. Rick Let me know if wnt more info. This is all I have ever done is farm. You asked about internal works are they the same. Yes and no. The same machine will do all crops but you can change seives types and chaffers can also be of different styles. Most come with universal setting ones. But if you want to do small seed crops mainly you can get tigher seives,chaffers etc. Just Let me know Rick

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dd

12-11-2003 05:42:21




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 Re: Combine header question in reply to Michael, 12-10-2003 20:34:19  
A bean head is a head that looks from a distance similiar to a corn head. The internal parts are the difference.



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paul

12-11-2003 08:55:16




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 Re: Re: Combine header question in reply to dd, 12-11-2003 05:42:21  
Oh, you are talking about the JD row crop head. Lost popularity when beans went to marrow or drilled rows. These are a really different header.

--->Paul



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JMS/MN

12-11-2003 00:16:40




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 Re: Combine header question in reply to Michael, 12-10-2003 20:34:19  
A corn head is a head designed to harvest corn only, and according to the specific row spacing that it is made for. A bean head, either rigid, floating, or flex, cuts across its entire width. A rigid head cuts at the same level, across its entire width. A floating cutterbar has a vertical range within which it operates, at least eight inches, and there is some flexibility across the width of the cutterbar. If one side is on the ground, and the other ends encounters a rock, it can raise a limited amount to go over the rock, without raising the entire floating head. A floating head is normally operated in the middle of the height range, to allow for floating over rocks. A flex head is much better because it can hug the gound and flex over most obstacles, better than the floating head. A floating head can be locked up in a fixed position to cut small grain like a fixed head. The base combine is adjusted for corn, soybeans, wheat, etc., depending on what is being harvested, and using the appropriate head.

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Tim(nj)

12-10-2003 20:50:47




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 Re: Combine header question in reply to Michael, 12-10-2003 20:34:19  
A flex head is used for soybeans. What is a "bean head?" Seems to be a term used by some to mean a rigid grain head that has a floating cutterbar attachment on it. A flex head is the next evolution of the floating bar. The floating bar can only move vertically, maybe 6" travel max, across its whole length, at the same time. If the left end of the bar has to rise 3" to clear a lump of dirt, so does the right side and center of the bar. A flex cutterbar is flexible over its whole length. If the left side has to rise 3" to clear a lump of dirt, the center can remain right down on the ground, while the right side can be dipping 1" into a furrow, all at the same time. Flex heads and floating bars can be locked-up rigid to allow them to harvest small grain crops. A rigid header, like used in wheat, can also be used to harvest beans, but it has no float or flex in it at all, so the ground better be smooth.

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jd guy

12-14-2003 11:26:44




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 Re: Re: Combine header question in reply to Tim(nj), 12-10-2003 20:50:47  
row crop head looks like a cornhead(low snouts) small rubber belts pull in the stems of the crop..john deere engineers actuall made the row crop head by mistake...they were trying to come up with a new design for stripping cotton..the design didn't work good for cotton but worked pretty good for row crops..i used one once to cut downed milo..



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