Troubleshooting – MacDon 974 FlexDraper User Manual
Page 64

Form # 147083
Issue 01/07
62
TROUBLESHOOTING
 
SYMPTOM 
PROBLEM
SOLUTION
REF.
 
CROP LOSS AT CUTTERBAR 
Does not pick-up down crop. Cutterbar too high. 
Lower cutterbar.
19
Header angle too flat.
Steepen header angle.
25
Reel too high.
Lower reel.
29
Reel too far back.
Move reel forward.
30
Ground speed too fast
for reel speed.
Reduce ground speed or 
increase reel speed. 
21
29
Reel fingers not lifting
crop sufficiently.
Increase finger pitch 
aggressiveness. 
31
Install lifter guards.
*
Heads shattering or 
breaking off. 
Reel speed too fast.
Reduce reel speed.
29
Reel too low.
Raise reel.
29
Ground speed too fast.
Reduce ground speed.
21
Crop too ripe.
Operate at night when 
humidity is higher. 
---
Cut grain falling ahead of 
cutterbar. 
Ground speed too slow.
Increase ground speed.
21
Reel speed too slow
Increase reel speed.
29
Reel too high.
Lower reel.
29
Cutterbar too high.
Lower cutterbar.
19
Reel too far forward.
Move reel back on arms.
30
Cutting at speeds over 6
mph (10 km/h) with high-
torque (11 tooth) reel 
drive sprocket. 
Replace with high speed (17 
tooth) reel drive sprocket. 
29
Worn or broken sickle
components.
Replace.
45
Strips of uncut material.
Crowding uncut crop.
Allow enough room for crop 
to be fed to cutterbar. 
---
Broken sickle sections.
Replace.
44
Excessive bouncing at 
normal field speed. 
Float set too light.
Adjust float.
22
Divider rod running down 
standing crop. 
Divider rods too long.
Install shorter rods.
20
 
* See your MacDon dealer. 
