Aligning Knife Head/Knife Drive
IMPORTANT: Knife drive is pre-positioned at factory and should not require re-positioning unless removed for repair. 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 all knife 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 knife 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 can shorten knife and knife drive life. Use the following steps to check/adjust knife head (fore/aft) and knife drive (vertical) alignments. NOTE: Flex platforms, make sure all float arms are in the same position and cuttbar is flat. 1. Turn knob and open left-hand end shield. |
CAUTION:
Avoid serious injury. Raise platform and reel completely, set safety stops.
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IMPORTANT: Before turning knife drive, check knife hold downs for proper adjustment (see Knife Hold-Down Clearance section in this manual for proper procedures). Improper adjusted knife hold downs will cause knife binding and/or sheave not to turn easy. 2. Turn knife drive sheave (A) by hand. Sheave (and knife) should turn easily. If sheave does not turn easily and/or knife binds during its movement, knife head alignment will be required. 3. Visually inspect at first guard slot (B) for excessive contact in locations (C and D) of knife back (E). If there is excessive contact knife head on bearing should be readjusted.
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IMPORTANT: If knife drive gear box has not been removed, skip to step 6. NOTE: Setting knife drive in center of mounting slots gives a starting point for vertical (parallel) position of knife section to bottom of first guard slot. Ensure knife drive bearing aligns with knife head (D) when reinstalling knife drive. 4. Reinstall knife drive and retain with cap screws (A) but do not tighten. 5. Using pry bar (B) preposition knife drive (C) in middle of mounting slots and snug cap screws. |
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NOTE: Loosen but do not remove knife head cap screw. 6. Use pry bar (A) to move knife head (B) so that gaps (C and D) exist between knife back (E) and first guard. NOTE: When tightening bolt to specification use a pry bar to prevent twisting of knife head on bearing and loss of settings. 7. Tighten knife head cap screw to specification. Specification
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NOTE: Make sure knife head (A) does not contact bearing shield (B). Recheck gaps by turning knife drive sheave and visually inspecting gaps at first guard slot. 8. Recheck vertical gap (C) and fore/aft gaps (D) between knife back (E) in first guard slot.
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NOTE: If knife drive gear box has not been removed, skip to step 11. 9. If vertical (parallel) gap does not exist or excessive contact, loosen knife drive cap screws (A) and use pry bar (B) to adjust vertical gap (C). NOTE: Before tighten cap screws to specification, snug cap screws and turn knife drive sheave by hand to visually check vertical gap and recheck fore/aft gaps (D). 10. Tighten knife drive cap screws to specification while holding knife drive with pry bar to avoid movement. Specification
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OUO6091,00017F2 -19-23MAR04-6/7 |
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11.
Lift up on tensioner arm sheave handle (A) and reinstall drive belt (B).
12. Close left-hand end shield.
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OUO6091,00017F2 -19-23MAR04-7/7 |