Combines 1 5 inch cut vs 3 inch

[cott]

Had a 1.5 inch cut several years ago on my first 1020 head. Had Problems with grass, when it was damp or thick it would not cut. Seemed I spent more money keeping sections and guards replaced then I ever have with a 3" cut. Never felt that I saved one single bean from having the close cut. Took a beating when I traded it in when I traded machines. love the 3" cut.

 

[boog]

Andy, We have converted 2 1020 heads fron 1.5" cut to 3" cut and it was worth every penny it cost. Soime of the advantages I see is that on the 3" it is not so critical to have the guards shimmed correctly. IMO, the 3" also cuts alot better in no-till as it doesn't clog with debris as bad nor do the old stalks affect the cut as much. With the 1 1_2" cut we always got a ragged cut in no-till beans. The sections on the 3" last a lot longer as do the guards. With the 1 1_2" we would change sickles after 3-350 acres and replaced several sections evry day. On the 3" we can easily run 7-800 acres before needing to change sickles and very seldom have to replace individual sections. This year I doubt if we broke a 1_2 dozen sections while cutting over 1,100 acres of beans, and yes, we do have fields with rocks. The last platform we changed we went with the heavy duty kit. Cost wasn't that much more. You normally can save enough buying a 1 1_2" cut to pay for the kit. If you do buy a 1 1_2" cut platform and decide to switch it over to 3" cut be sure to change the pulley on the drive to a 500 cycle_min, the 1 1_2" uses a 400 cycle_min pulley. You will also have to change the belt. Takes about a day to changeover boog

 

[Nemotr]

Contrary opinion; We have ran a quickcut 11_2" on NH 973 for several years (maynot be the same you are talking about) but recently been running a regular guard and section on another machine in the same field. The regular gives us more trouble in trash unless you set it to cut higher than the quickcut. But as stated the 11_2" will not cut good in grassy beans. As to guard replacement, we grind them off when they get rounded edges. Our guards have been ground enough that they are sharp pointed and shorter than the sections. We haven't adjusted with shims over once in 1000hrs of running. We do have to replace more sections in the quick cut though.

 

[knothead]

I have to agree with nemotr we have had both 3 inch and 1.5 inch. we really have had good luck with 1.5 less damage to the gaurds and have run over 425 acres and replaced only 2 sections in rocky ground and cutting close.

 

[806_Southern_In]

Thanks guys for the comments. Greatly appreciate it. We have always used the 1.5 inch cut due to older heads. Just wondered what the advantages were. Andy

 

[Fast_Eddie]

Put me in the 1.5" column. Actually, I'm not really qualified, as I changed from JD 3" to a 2166 w 1020 1.5" platform. Never had such an easy season - couldn't believ that we were able to run 5.5 mph in 60 bu. beans. lots of green stems and quite a few rocks as well. Changed 3 sections and 1 guard in 600 acres, altho the old guards were pretty dull by the end of harvest. Pleasantly surprised Ed