Aligning Knife Head and Knife Drive Alignment

NOTE: Efficient cutting performance requires a good cutting edge and proper component alignment.

Timely replacement of worn knife guards and sections will help maintain good cutting performance while reducing loads and extending the life of drive components.

Proper adjustment and alignment of knife guards and drive components will also improve cutting performance and reduce system loads.

Proper knife head and knife drive alignment is critical in achieving effective cutting performance and drive durability. Improper alignment can cause knife binding at the first guard during knife strokes- causing heat build up, accelerated wear and high knife loads, all factors which can shorten drive life.

Use the following steps to check/adjust knife head and knife drive alignments:

1. Start engine.

2. Raise reel and lower lift cylinder safety stops (A) on both ends of platform.

3. Support platform with wood blocks under front of L-structures and under ends of platform behind skid shoes.

4. Set parking brake, shut off engine and remove key.

A-Lift Cylinder Safety Stop (2 used)

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5. Turn knob (A) counter-clockwise and remove left-hand end shield (B).

6. Place left-hand end shield (B) on light arm storage bracket (C).

NOTE: If divider will not pivot upwards refer to Predelivery Instructions for shipping bolt removal.

7. Raise left-hand row divider.

A-Knob
B-Left-Hand End Shield
C-Storage Bracket

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8. Lift lever (A) to release tension on knife drive belt (B) and remove belt from rear sheave.

A-Lever
B-Knife Drive Belt

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9. Turn knife drive sheave (A) by hand. Sheave (and knife) should turn easily. If the sheave does not turn easily or the knife binds during its movement, knife head and knife drive alignment should be adjusted.

A-Sheave

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10. Visually inspect the positions (C and D) of the knife section in the first knife guard slot and the knife back (E) fore/aft position in the guard. If there is excessive contact in either location, knife head and knife drive alignment should be adjusted.

C-Gap
D-Gap (Two Locations)
E-Knife Back

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11. Loosen knife head clamp bolt (A).

A-Knife Head Clamp Bolt

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12. Set vertical position and angle of knife head (A), so cutting surface is centered in guard slot and is parallel to bottom of guard slot at (C).

NOTE: Make sure knife head (A) does not contact bearing shield (B).

13. Check fore/aft gap distance (D) at both locations between knife back (E) and first guard to ensure a gap exists. If there is no gap, proceed to reposition the knife gear box, reset vertical position and angle of knife section.

A-Knife Head
B-Bearing Shield
C-Gap
D-Gap (Two Locations)
E-Knife Back

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14. Loosen four gear box mounting nuts (A).

A-Gear Box Mounting Nuts (4 used)

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15. Using a pry bar on bolt (A), pry gear box forward and/or position box to provide knife back fore/aft clearance.

16. Tighten nuts to specification while prying to avoid gear box movement.

Specification

A-Bolt

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17. Reset vertical position and angle of knife head (A), and check clearance of bearing shield (B), and re-check all clearances (C). Repeat procedure until proper clearance is achieved.

A-Knife Head
B-Bearing Shield
C-Gap

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NOTE: While tightening bolt to specification use a pry bar as shown to avoid twisting of the cutterbar head and loss of knife head settings.

18. Tighten cap screw to specification.

Specification

19. Verify that the knife section is still properly positioned in the first guard slot after the knife head bolt is fully tightened.

A-Cutterbar Head

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20. Rotate sheave (A) making sure there is no binding of cutterbar head, knife sections and knife shields. If binding occurs repeat adjusting steps.

A-Sheave

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21. Lift up on handle (A) and install belt (B).

22. Close left-hand row divider.

23. Close left-hand end shield.

A-Handle
B-Knife Drive Belt

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