Help - 329 Super Sheller

I posted this to the implement forum also but I know this forum gets a lot of traffic.

We have a New Idea 329 Super Sheller that breaks the drive chain and/or sprocket driving the throw out mechanism every time we start picking/shelling. The throw out mechanism runs the cross auger feeding cleaned corn to the auger going to the wagon. The throw out mechanism also runs the auger going to the wagon.

We have replaced the bottom bearing on the wagon auger, and both bearings on the shaft with the cross auger and throw out mechanism. We still have the issue.

The whole machine runs great when not loaded. Once we hit the corn rows we don't get 100 ft before we break the chain or sprocket.

There is another shaft that runs a gear box running the wagon auger. We have not replaced that bearing or dis-assembled the gear box yet, they turn nicely by hand. Regardless, we will be dis-assembling this next.

Does anyone have any experience with an issue like this? It's a simple mechanism, works well when not loaded but brakes the drive chain and/or sprocket when loaded while picking. We are pulling our hair out trying to solve this. Thanks, Paul

I've never seen your machine but it sounds to me like you've found the drive mechanism to be OK so the next thing to come to my mind is the corn flow being interrupted or slowed down in the wagon auger somehow. One thing to look at is whether the wagon auger can take in the amount of flow being fed to it. I've seen a combine unloading auger break a coupler midway up the tube so the top half of the flighting stops but the bottom keeps going and jams corn against the stopped top half of the flighting till something breaks. A sheared key in a sprocket or gear can drag on the shaft just enough to turn the shaft when it's empty but it can't drive a loaded shaft. Is the solid shaft that goes up inside the bottom of the wagon auger turning inside the auger pipe because a cross bolt or pin fell out? Just some random thoughts about things you have probably already checked out but sometimes verbalizing thoughts can lead to a good idea. Let us know what you find when you get it running. Jim

Check the flighting on the augers, if they are worn out they could be jamming causing your problem. We used super shellers for many years but never had that paricular problem. We would have to replace the clutch that disengages that auger almost yearly tho.

Thanks for the replies. These are good things I will check. Paul

What size roller chain is that? There is the one size (little larger - maybe 50 or 60 - probably 60) that has a "standard" duty and a "heavy" duty chain. I kept replacing the chain with standard duty on a PTO batch grain dryer and it kept breaking. Figured out it needed the heavy duty type and that solved the problem.