Harvesting Tips

Different field conditions require different settings and approaches to harvesting sugar cane.

In areas with low or light engine load:

• Low or light engine load is where the engine is less than 90% continuous load. Change the display to show the Engine load at RPM%. See Configure Detail Machine Information in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.
• FieldCruise™ may be used to limit the fast idle of the engine. See Engine Setup Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.
• Crop dividers should be tilted up to lower the amount of soil brought into the harvester.
• Elevator speed control (if equipped) may be used to reduce the elevator speed and wear on elevator components. See Elevator Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.

In areas with heavy engine load:

• Heavy engine load is where the engine has continuous load due to the amount of cane being processed by the harvester.
• Tilt crop dividers downward. Crop divider toe lifts the cane into the throat of the harvester.
• Automatic FieldCruise™ should be selected under this condition as it will automatically adjust engine rpm according to load changes.
• Do NOT operate with FieldCruise™ on if engine is above 90% continuous load.
• Do NOT harvest at too high of speed. This may cause choking in the feed rollers and chopper system.

To lower fuel consumption and wear on the harvester:

• FieldCruise™ should be used to limit the fast idle of the engine. See Engine Setup Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.
• Smart power mode may be used to reduce the rpm of the primary extractor when the elevator is turned off. See Primary Extractor Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.
• Elevator speed control (if equipped) may be used to reduce the elevator speed and wear on elevator components. See Elevator Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.

Manual FieldCruise™:

• Constant (uniform) field conditions
• Maintains engine speed (fixed rpm)
• Optimize fuel savings
• More complex to set up

Automatic FieldCruise™:

• Variable field conditions (mixed cane, standing and down)
• Variable engine speed
• Optimize fuel savings
• Less complex to set up

Always remember:

• Always raise crop dividers and base cutter before backing up.
• Elevator must be in the UP position before rotating and positioned directly behind the machine before lowering.
• Field trash from the extractors should not be blown into field transport systems or into uncut, standing cane rows. Elevator swing/hood synchronization may be enabled to rotate primary extractor automatically when the elevator is rotated. See Primary Extractor Screen in GreenStar™ 3 2630 Display Screens section for more information.
• When filling field transport systems, elevator discharge flap needs adjusted to more efficiently distribute the cane billets.
• Primary extractor speed should be changed as harvesting conditions change. If fan speed is too high, billets will be heard hitting the extractor hood and ejected out the extractor.
• Check primary extractor rpm when entering a new block of cane.
• Adjust base cutter height constantly so it trims just the top of the row, allowing the least amount of dirt into the harvester. Cutting too high causes splitting of cane and less tonnage. Cutting too low causes dirt and stubble to enter harvester.
• When harvesting, keep harvester directly over the center of crop being cut. This prevents the base cutter from missing any cane and causing torn or broken stalks.
• Always use topper, even on downed cane. The topper can still remove a certain percentage of tops to aid in the cleaning process.