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68 CropHawk Draper Platform Operators Manu-
Harvesting Tips
Harvesting in Dry Crop Conditions
Lower platform until cutterbar cuts below the lowest grain heads or pods.
For maximum combine efficiency, take in only as much crop material as necessary to get all the desired grain.
Minimise reel interaction with the crop, which could increase shatter loss.
Harvesting in Tough Feeding Crop Conditions
Move reel rear-
ward to ensure cut, heavy crop is transferred to draper belts. Oper-
ate the feed drum with fingers rotated fully clockwise so fingers will
sweep rear of centre belt aggressively. Increase belt speed so
heavy cut crop material does not accumulate at outside edges of the
centre belt. Excess material at centre belt edges can result in crop
material being pulled under the side belts.
Harvesting in Short, Thin Crops
Operate feed drum with fingers rotated clockwise (when viewed from right
hand end of platform) to better grab the small crop flow. Position reel low and above the knife and front area of
belt to assist crop onto belts.
Harvesting in Down Crops
Effectively harvesting down crop requires a pickup reel, adjusted forward and down
to lift the crop for cutting. Besides lifting down crop, the reel must also convey the cut crop onto the outer draper
belts. Avoid positioning reel too far forward, which can cause cut crop to accumulate just above the knife causing
feeding problems. Position reel fingers at a more aggressive setting to grab and lift the down crop.
Aside from a pickup reel , crop lifters are the single most efficient aid in cutting down crop. Use when conditions
warrant. Remove the crop lifters when they are no longer needed.
Bushy or High Volume Crops
Rotate the drum fingers counter clockwise to increase ability of the drum to
grab and pull in bulky crop and raise feed drum to (maximum) 190mm height as described in feed drum adjust-
ments.
Sorghum
Set cutting height to cut off the heads and as little stalk as necessary. If cut heads roll forward on the
outer draper belts and load knife, reduce pitch angle of the platform (refer to adaptor section). Adjust the reel
low and rearward as much as possible to assist moving the cut heads onto the belts.
Harvesting in tough feeding crop conditions
Move reel rearward to ensure cut, heavy crop is transferred
to draper belts. Operate the feed drum with fingers rotated clockwise so fingers will sweep more aggressively.
Increase centre feed belt speed so heavy cut crop material does not accumulate at outside edges of the centre
feed belt. Excess material at centre belt edges can result in crop material being pulled under the side belts.
Harvesting in dry crop conditions
Lower platform until cutterbar cuts below the lowest grain heads or pods.
For maximum combine efficiency, take in only as much crop material as necessary to get all the desired grain.
Minimise reel interaction with the crop to reduce shatter loss.