Harvesting in Down Crops
Effectively harvesting down crop requires a pickup reel, adjusted forward and down to lift the crop for cutting. Lengthening the tilt adjuster positions the reel closer to the ground to help pick up down crops and deliver the crop to the cutterbar. Besides lifting down crop, the reel must also convey the cut crop onto the side belts. Avoid positioning the reel too far forward, which may cause cut crop to accumulate just above the knife, causing feeding problems. Reel fingers need to be positioned with their tips pointed rearward to effectively grab and lift the down crop. A slat reel is not effective in down crops and is not recommended.
Lowering the guard points by extending the tilt adjustment may also be helpful in getting under the down crop and raising it for cutting. Adding crop lifters may be the single most effective aid in cutting down crop besides a pickup reel. They should be used when conditions warrant. Remove the lifters when they are no longer needed.
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