MacDon 742 HAY CONDITIONER - Manual (Page 27)

Form # 46290 Issue 09/05 25
OPERATION
GROUND SPEED
· Ground speed should be such that the sickle can cut crop smoothly and cleanly, while giving the desired
delivery of material to the opening. Excessive ground speed results in "ragged" cutting. See "Windrowing"
for effects of ground speed on windrow formation.
· In tough-to-cut crops like flax, reduce ground speed to reduce loads on cutting components and drives.
· Higher ground speeds require heavier float settings to prevent excessive bouncing. This will result in
increased cutting component damage.
· As ground speed is increased, draper and reel speed should be increased to handle the extra material.
The chart below indicates the relationship between ground speed and area cut for the four header sizes.
Example shown: At a ground speed of 6 miles per hour (10 km/h) with a 21 ft. header, the area cut in one hour
would be approximately 15-1/2 acres (6 hectares).