Row-Crop Head
Symptom Problem Solution

Plugging Row Unit at Knife

Belt speed too high.

Slow down header speed.

Loss of Crop in the Field

Gatherer points set too high.

Adjust gatherer points lower to ground to pick up lodged or down crop.

Ground speed too fast or too slow.

Operate at a ground speed to meet field and ground conditions.

Use variable speed feeder house control to adjust speed of gathering belts. Crop stalks should move smoothly and evenly up gathering belts to cross auger.

Not harvesting planter rows.

Harvest rows as they were planted. It will be easier to follow rows and reduce crop loss.

Row units are not centered on rows.

Adjust row unit row spacing to match row spacing of crop.

Speed of gathering belts too fast or too slow.

Use variable speed feeder house control to adjust speed of gathering belts.

Skid shoes set to cut crop too high.

Adjust skid shoes for lower crop cut.

Trough under gathering belts is full of mud.

Clean out trough; adjust skid shoes for higher crop cut.

Adjust DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control for faster sensing.

Slow down belt speed.

DIAL-A-MATIC is a trademark of Deere & Company.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-1/6

Symptom Problem Solution

Soybean Pods Left on Stubble

Skid shoes set to cut crop too high.

Adjust skid shoes for lower crop cut.

Too much row unit float spring tension.

Adjust row unit float springs.

DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control badly adjusted.

See DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control.

Gatherer points are not positioned between rows.

Carefully operate row-crop head on rows; reduce ground speed if necessary.

Down and Tangled Maize

Cutting too low in order to get all of crop.

Reposition gatherer point adjusting bolts to lower gatherer points.

Poor Cutting Action (Ragged and Uneven Cutting of Crop)

Too much gatherer belt speed.

Use variable speed feeder house control to reduce gatherer belt speed.

Badly adjusted rotary knife.

Adjust rotary knife cutting action.

Worn or broken rotary knife sections.

Replace rotary knife sections.

Rotary knife sections are bent down.

Straighten rotary knife sections.

Worn or broken stationary knife.

Reverse or replace stationary knife.

Excessive Wear or Damage to Rotary Knife

Rocky field conditions.

Adjust skid shoes for higher crop cut.

Be alert for obstructions during field operation.

Rotary knife is adjusted too close to stationary knife.

Adjust rotary knife cutting action.

Knife speed too high.

Reduce rpm to match ground speed.

DIAL-A-MATIC is a trademark of Deere & Company.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-2/6

Symptom Problem Solution

Excessive Wear of Stationary Knife Blades 1

Speed of gathering belts is too fast.

Slow speed of gathering belts to match ground speed or increase ground speed.

Too much gap between rotary and stationary knife blades.

Before adjusting rotary knives, check the following three items:

1. Inspect plow bolts in stationary knife. If bolt heads are not flush with, or are above knife contact surface, replace plow bolts.

2. Row unit frame and/or stationary knife must not be bowed. Check mounting surface for stationary knife, to be certain it is free of weld spatter, paint, mud, and crop residue.

3. The highest knife section on each rotary knife must contact stationary knife evenly.

4. Tap top end of rotary knife drive shaft with a brass or lead hammer to check that bearings are fully seated.

1 Normal wear of stationary knife is often blamed for poor cutting performance (rather than any of above causes). Inspect each stationary knife for wear. Stationary knife can be worn back 8 mm (5/16-in.) one area before efficiency is greatly reduced. Do not reverse or replace stationary knife unless its cutting edge is dull.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-3/6

Symptom Problem Solution

Dirt is forced into rotary knives by the skid shoes and gatherer belts.

Increase row unit float spring tension.

Adjust skid shoes for a higher cut position.

Adjust DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control to raise sooner.

Adjust gather points so they do not "funnel" dirt clods over onto bean ridge.

Symptom Problem Solution

Worn or Damaged Gathering Belts or Gathering Belts Jumping Out of Time

Gathering belt chain not tight enough.

Adjust gathering belt chain tension.

Gathering belts tear off grass, weeds, or crop before they can be cut.

Reduce speed of gathering belts to match ground speed or increase ground speed.

Rocky field conditions.

Install rock deflectors.

Poor cutting by rotary knives.

Adjust rotary knives cutting action.

Slow speed of gathering belts.

Trough under gathering belts fills with dirt and cut stalks.

Increase row unit float spring tension.

Adjust skid shoes for the highest cut position.

Adjust DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control to raise sooner.

Adjust gather points so dirt is not funneled into bean ridge.

Not enough gatherer belt chain lubrication.

Lubricate gatherer belt chains.

DIAL-A-MATIC is a trademark of Deere & Company.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-4/6

Symptom Problem Solution

Dirt in Grain Tank or Dirt Plugs Trough Under Gathering Belts 2

Excessive pressure on skid shoes cause them to push dirt.

Increase row unit float spring tension.

Operate row-crop head as high as possible so skid shoes just touch the ground.

Adjust DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control to raise sooner.

Adjust gather points so dirt clods are not funneled into bean ridge.

Gathering belts pull grass, weeds, or crop out of the ground so dirt is brought in with the roots.

Slow speed of gathering belts to match ground speed or increase ground speed.

Adjust rotary knives for proper cutting action.

Rows are ridged high enough to allow gathering belts or rotary knives to contact dirt.

Adjust skid shoes for the highest possible cut position.

Skid Shoes Dig into Ground

Not enough float spring tension.

Increase row unit float spring tension.

Individual row unit does not raise for change in ground contour.

Adjust actuator rod for individual row unit. Check all row units for actuation.

Skid Shoes Will Not Float Properly

Too much skid shoe pressure on ground.

Increase row unit float spring tension.

Adjust DIAL-A-MATIC ™ header height control to operate in lower part of range.

Row Units Do Not Move Freely Through Float Range

Not enough clearance or binding between gatherer sheets.

Adjust gatherer sheet clearance.

DIAL-A-MATIC is a trademark of Deere & Company.

2Use of perforated elevator doors, auger connections, and feeder house bottom insert is recommended when combining soybeans, edible beans, and other crops, to help remove dirt and weed seed.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-5/6

Symptom Problem Solution

Row units do not move freely on pivots.

Lubricate row unit pivots at grease fittings provided.

Trash collects at row unit.

Clean around row unit pivots.

Interference of mounts and bolt heads.

Loosen bolts and move mounts out to snap rings.

Row-Crop Head Is Too Slow To Return To Operating Level After Encountering Irregular Ground

Too much float spring tension.

Adjust row unit float spring tension.

Not enough clearance or binding between gatherer sheets.

Adjust gatherer sheet clearance.

Readjustment of drop rate valve slowed drop rate more than needed.

Readjust drop rate valve.

ROCPHD,50ATS,I -19-03MAR92-6/6