MacDon CA25 OM - Manual (Page 80)

SECTION 7. OPERATION
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Revision B
7.9.10 Reel Tine Pitch
IMPORTANT
The following describes the concept
and operational guidelines of the
pickup reel. Please read carefully
before operating the machine.
7.9.10.1 Concept
The pickup reel is designed to pick up flattened
and severely lodged crops.
It is not always necessary to increase the tine
pitch (higher cam setting) to pick up crops that
are lodged, but rather, the cam settings are
mainly used to determine how the crop will get
delivered to the drapers.
The position of the fingers relative to ground
(tine pitch) is not significantly affected by the
cam setting. For example, the cam position
range is 33 degrees, but the corresponding
finger pitch range is only 5 degrees at the
lowest point of reel rotation.
For best performance, use the minimum cam
setting that will deliver the crop past the rear
edge of the cutterbar and onto the drapers.
7.9.10.2 Operating Guidelines
The following outlines the function of each cam
setting and includes guidelines for set-up in
various crop conditions. The setting numbers
are visible above the slots on the cam disc.
Refer to Section 7.9.10.3 Cam Adjustment.
 Cam Position 1: Delivers the most even
crop flow onto the drapers without fluffing
up or disturbing the material. The crop is
released quite close to the cutterbar, and
works best with the cutterbar on the
ground. Some crops will not be delivered
past the cutterbar when the cutterbar is
raised off the ground, and the reel is
pushed forward. Initially, have the reel
speed set about equal to the ground speed.
 Cam Position 2: Recommended starting
position for most crops and conditions.
This setting gives a fingertip speed
approximately 20% faster than the reel
speed.
o If crops tend to stall on the cutterbar
with the reel in a forward position, the
cam setting should be increased to
push the crop past the rear edge of the
cutterbar.
o If the crop getting fluffed, or the flow
across the drapers is disrupted, the
cam setting should be decreased.
 Cam Positions 3 and 4: Mainly used to
leave long stubble. Allows the reel to reach
forward and lift the crop a
c
ross the knife and
onto the drapers. The further forward the
reel, the higher the cam setting should be.
 Cam Position 4 would be used with the
reel being fully forward to leave maximum
amount of stubble in lodged crops. This
setting gives a finger tip speed
approximately 30% faster than the reel
speed.
 Cam Position 4, Header Angle At
Maximum, and Reel Fully Forward
provides maximum amount of reel reach
below cutterbar to pick up lodged crops,
and gives a finger tip speed approximately
35% faster than the reel speed.
Cutting height is set to approximately 8 inches
(203 mm) to leave a significant amount of
stubble. In damp materials such as rice, it is
possible to double ground speed because the
amount of material that is being cut is less.
NOTE
High cam settings with the reel fore-aft
position at 4–5, severely decrease the
draper capacity because the reel
disrupts crop flow across the drapers.
The fingers are still engaged in the
crop that is moving on the drapers.
High cam settings are recommended
only with the reel at or close to full
forward settings.
IMPORTANT
The reel to cutterbar clearance
should always be checked
following adjustments to reel tine
pitch and reel fore-aft position.
Refer to Section 8.12.1 Reel
Clearance to Cutterbar.
Refer to Section 7.8.1 Header Settings for
recommended reel tine pitch in specific crops
and crop conditions.