In Reply to: Re: Straw wrapping on L2 tresher rattle chain posted by Gleamer on October 18, 2004 at 18:31:31:
Gleamer,
Thanks for your quick response. Different conditions have required cylinder settings between 1/4 to 5/8 inches so the knife thing probably would not be an option and I am reluctant to add sharp edges that would further crack or split dry beans. Anything that would scuff corn would certainly damage the beans. I didn't know of the optional “rake” attachment. I was thinking about welding or bolting in such a device. I don’t throttle back during tough conditions, only during dry conditions when there is no wrapping problem; this can dramatically reduce cracking especially in the cylinder and clean grain elevator areas the only problem with doing this is that you have to live with some warning lights. Used this successfully for years. The optimum speed in very dry conditions is when only the two elevator lights are on. This has been a different year in that harvest is at least a month behind because of cooler weather during the summer and lack of early moisture and lack of stored water because of our ongoing draught. This leaves one with conflicting harvest conditions. The beans themselves are quite dry which would seemingly necessitate slower cylinder rpm. Because of the late harvest most days have been cool and humid which means tough bean straw and pods so then you need to increase cylinder speed. I was also considering speeding up the beater. My thoughts were that a faster beater would help keep the straw elevated above the thresher rattle chain. I would think that a faster smooth surface such as the beater would cause less damage than the knife approach and would probably aid in threshing during tough conditions. The problem would probably be getting the right size sheave for the L2. Seems we may both have a problem with rambling. I do really appreciate the suggestions.