Harvesting in Down Crops
Effectively harvesting down crop requires a pickup reel, adjusted forward and down to lift the crop for cutting. Lengthen the tilt adjuster positions 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 can cause cut crop to accumulate just above the knife, causing feeding problems. Position reel fingers with their tips pointed rearward to 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 can also help to get under the down crop and raise it for cutting. Aside from a pickup reel, crop lifters are the single most effective aid in cutting down crop. Use when conditions warrant. Remove the lifters when they are no longer needed.
|