FarmBuddy
Guest
Nope, I don't have a snout, but I could eliminate this annual aggrevation with a little support from some farmers by eliminating the sweeping effect of snouts on the end of large headers. I recommend that we establish a standard feederhouse width, frame height, and attaching framework and pins to make life easier for farmers, shortline manufacturers and future globalization. Using a new centerline drive layout would improve safety by eliminating backshafts from longer headers that have now evolved and also elminating hazardous drives on the end of headers. The knife sickle would also be center line driven to provide opposed forces. Cornheads already have a natural center divider when built with an even number of rows. Grainheads, flexheads and drapers will be built with an extended center divider to split the crop flow 8-10" for double sickle drives. Vibration and related forces would be directly opposite and thus more balanced. Now for your current problem, the header endsheets will be much cleaner and lighter, as they just support 25% of the auger and reel weight and have no exposes drives to wrap up in the fence rows. And, (you'll love this part) Damage to end dividers would be virtually eliminated since all that would be out there would be a simple loop or point divider a few inches beyond the reel or cutter bar. As Operations Manager for Machinerylink this past year, knife drive failures and auger failures were among our highest repair cost for farmers. Your comments, concerns, and support are appreciated. We also have various drawings and headers being modified and developed to test the various drive configurations. FarmBuddy@aol.com