3.7.3
Header Angle
Header angle is adjustable to accommodate different crop conditions and/or soil types.
Header angle (A) controls the distance (B) between the
knife and the ground and is a critical component for
effective cutting on the ground. Adjusting the center-link
determines the position of the knife and guards and pivots
the header at the point of skid shoe/ground contact (C).
Header angle (A) is equal to guard angle (D) which is
the angle between the upper surface of the guards and
the ground.
Figure 3.27: Header Angle
Adjusting Header Angle
Header angle can be adjusted using the center-link between the windrower and the header.
Refer to your windrower operator’s manual for adjustment details.
3.7.4
Reel Speed
Reel speed is one of the factors that determines how crop is moved from the cutterbar onto the drapers.
The reel performs best when it appears to be driven by the ground. It should move the cut crop evenly through the
cutterbar and onto the drapers without bunching and with minimal disturbance.
In standing crop, reel speed should be slightly higher than, or equal to, ground speed.
In
fl
attened crop or crop that is leaning away from the cutterbar, the reel speed needs to be higher than the ground
speed. To achieve this, either increase the reel speed or decrease the ground speed.
Excessive shattering of grain heads or crop loss over the header backtube may indicate that the reel speed is too
high. Excessive reel speed also increases reel component wear and overloads the reel drive.
Slower reel speeds can be used with nine-bat reels, which is advantageous in shatter-prone crops.
Refer to
3.6.2 Header Settings, page 39
for recommended reel speeds in speci
fi
c crops and crop conditions.
The reel speed is adjustable using the controls in the windrower cab. Refer to your windrower operator’s manual for
adjustment details.
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