Corn Head feeding at center feeder house area
In dryer corn, one of the age old issues on cornheads getting the corn ears to transition between the center cornhead auger to the feeder chain. Here are a few tips we try to follow:
- Run the head at the correct angle to reduce MOG (marterial other than grain). Try to run the head so it has the least amount of leaves coming in as possible. Usually, the best angle is about 23 degrees on the deck plates. Measure with a angle finder right on the deck plate with the head down in cutting position (with the corn head skids about 2 inches off the ground.)
- Run the corn head the correct speed. This is about 570 RPM on the jackshaft (feeder speed).
- On the new 4200 and 4400 series heads, they have a hood shield that is adjustable. Drop it down all the way so it deflects ears and kernels back into the auger area. However, it is important that the head picks clean because if you have too many leaves coming in with the hood down, it may plug. Just watch out for this.
- If you have a lot of that boiling action between the corn head auger and the feeder chain, make sure you have the drop stop in the highest position. This way the ears can get under the feeder chain easier. Also, if you can, perhaps, add a feeder chain link or half links to get the feeder chain out forward as far as possible. Get it so the slats are as close to the face plate as possible without hitting. The closer the chain/slats are to the front, the better it will feed.
- As dumb as it sounds, make sure you have the correct rotor speed and concave settings. For example, if you have the rotor running too slow (like 300 rpm), or the concaves too far open (loosing traction on the crop), you will not be letting the rotor process the crop correctly and will literally back up corn into the feeder house. The back feeding can be the root cause of the feeding issue. Typical corn settings are 380 Rotor RPM and concaves set to the thickness of a cob (about 20 to 5 mm).
- You can also try changing the face plate angle (move top backward more yet). The transition may be a little better. However, when you run the head more shallow angle, you may get for MOG , so make sure the head is picking clean. May depend on variety also.
3162 Checklist and Operating Tips
Attached is a check list I use when starting out a new 3162 draper header. The Pdf file will give you some good operation tips on the 3162 draper head. Click one time on the following link: Suggested Operating tips for 3162 head (1)
Notes on Corn head settings in general
Here are some general Corn Head operation tips:
- Make sure the head is running approximately 23 degrees in cutting position. The angle can be measured on the stripper plates (use a angle finder). If you run to flat angle, you will increase the amount of leaf material into the combine. If you run to steep, kernel loss counts will be higher due to gravity.
- For 3200 and 3400 series heads- Gathering chains can be run with a staggered pattern or a timed pattern. A staggered pattern will pick cleaner and might be useful in green sticky leaves. Running a timed pattern will pick dirtier, but will save a few kernels as the leaves will act as a broom to sweep kernels up into the head. Use this, if the leaves a very dry and kernels are dry.
- Check your stripper plate dimensions. The opening gap should be 1/8 inch wider at the back of the stripper plates, verses the front. The fixed side of the stripper plates have slots for adjustment ( I use sockets that have outside dimensions that are 1/8 inch different, as measuring tools).
- Know how to adjust your hydraulic deck plates. Tighten the deck plates until you see excessive material and upper stalk coming in, then, back your setting off a little.
- Run the right corn head speed in relation to your ground speed. The ears should snap on the stripper plates between ½ way and ¾ of the way up the deck plate as you observe from the cab. Adjust corn head speeds accordingly.
- This is a personal choice, but if your corn head auger height is adjustable, I like to raise the auger to just more than the thickness of a ear (with the kernels on). I like to see ears pushing ears in the auger trough. A lot of kernel damage can occur if the flighting is peeling the top two or three rows of kernels in half as the ear is delivered to the feeder opening (this can occur in very dry corn or very wet corn). Make sure the auger is positioned as rearward as possible (near the stripper plate).
4400/4200 Corn head Tall Corn Kits
A option for Tall Corn deflector is available in a fixed steel plate configuration. The kit part number is 47377859 can be used on all rigid heads with or without auger dividers. It will not work on folding heads. Hand operated fasteners are used to attach the tall plates to the mounting bracket so they can be removed when they are not needed.
Tall Corn Side Shields for 2600 Chopping heads
Question: Is there a tall corn side shield kit for 2600 chopping corn heads? Answer: Yes there is. It is Tall Corn Attachment P/N 84287014. It can be used with the hyd. powered spiral end dividers. It can be in the raised position for standing (tall) corn and lower it for down corn. The tall corn attachment should effectively save a good number of those low retention variety ears.
Know your Angles Headers
As we start to get ready for the harvest season, here are a few Angles that you should know for best performance. We usually like to see a positive Keel Angle (back of combine higher than the front of the combine). The back can be higher, but should not be higher than 3.5 to 4 degrees. (1 to 3 degrees in nice.) Measure on the main frame of the combine. Head Angles: 1020 head should have a 10 degree forward angle. Measure this on the vertical back of the head when it is in cutting position. On a 2020 head, it is 17 degrees forward angle in cutting position. On the new 3020 head, the back sheet angle should be 15 to 16 degrees. As for corn heads, when the head is in cutting position, the angle should be 23 degrees measured on the deck plates. These angles don’t have to be exact, but should be in the neighborhood to give the best performance and the least amount of head lost. As for the 2162 and 3162 draper heads, they have a adjustable hyd. center link cylinder to adjust angle from the cab (on-the-go) for best performance.
