Each year I always start with the initial setting recommended by MF, and then adjust as necessary, as conditions always vary from year to year.

My reference is a single laminated MF sheet entitled PROFIT-BOOSTING ADJUSTMENTS FOR MASSEY-FERGUSON COMBINES, publication number 602 AG/5-75/10-5 & C602/570-5-2. It covers adjustments for small grain, soybeans and corn.

I’ve copied the initial settings for corn:

Elevator, drum height: top; heavy corn or trash, down one hole for average crop.

Concave: remove filler bars from wide spaced concave, or remove every second wire from narrow-based concave.

Concave Setting: front: 7/8" to 1-1/4" Rear: 3/8" to 7/8"

Cylinder Speed: 485 to 650 r.p.m.

Rear Beater: Use spike-tooth beater blades for better handling of corn shucks and other trash.

Grain Pan Screen: Install 3/16" or 1/4" screen to remove dirt, fine chaff and snow before material passes onto shoe.

Triple Screen Shoe: Top 1-5/8" screen set to 9/16" , Middle 1-1/8" screen * set to 9/16", bottom front 13/16" screen set to 3/8" (or 5/8" diameter round hole screen) , and bottom rear 1-5/8" screen set to 5/8". (* relocated from top position). This implies that you replace the top screen with a 1-5/8" screen, and move the top screen to the middle position.

Fanning Mill: Minimum deflector clearance in front. Direct most of air toward front of shoe - adjust rearward if trash starts piling up on back end. Install high speed fan kit for better cleaning; fan shields to keep out trash. (MF 410/MF510 Grain only).

Returns Cylinder & Rethresher: Remove all channel-type concave sections to avoid cracking corn.