Reel Settings
In tall standing crop, position the reel above the cutterbar. Raise reel until bats and fingers strike just under the grain heads to help guide crop into cutterbar and onto belts.
In short, damp or weedy grain crops, move reel back and down to help pull crop off cutterbar and onto the belts.
IMPORTANT:
Do not position the reel forward any more than necessary. The reel must feed the cut crop onto the side belts. Material build up and slugs may result if reel is positioned too far forward.
SLAT REEL: Set reel so slats strike just below the lowest grain heads and center (fore/aft) above the cutterbar to help guide crop into cutterbar and onto belts. Slat reels are ineffective in down crop and are not recommended for these conditions.
PICKUP REEL: In crops that are down and badly tangled, the reel must be set down and just in front of the cutterbar to help lift the crop for a clean cut while guiding the cut crop onto the belts. Ensure reel fingers cannot contact cutterbar (see Adjustments - Reel section).
Finger recommendations in down crops: Position finger angle so that the fingers will lift the crop, but not so much as to carry crop around reel (see Adjustments - Reel section).
Finger recommendations for standing crops: Position finger angle so that there is minimal disturbance to the crop when entering (see Adjustments - Reel section). This will help crop onto belt.
REEL SPEED: Reel tip speed (slats or fingers) should be slightly faster than ground.
Excessive shattering of grain heads, or material carrying around reel, may indicate that reel speed is too fast.
Cutterbar plugging, flagging and/or slug feeding, may indicate reel speed is too slow.
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