Combines 45 platformIJ

A 35' head would be best, however 30' is as big as you can get. We run a 30' on our 72 and are trying to always get a better cut so we can keep the machine full. 5mph is a reasonable speed to keep the machine full, but the sickle performance is pretty poor. We ran 4-4.5 last year and have bought an SCHsickle for 2002 in hopes it will allow us to move the ground speed up, especially in no-till.

Have M-11 R-72. Would be great if feeds totally uniformly. When in easy combining conditions, we wouldn't be having to try to cut so fast a ground speed. Would these fold for transport hopefullyIJ They need to be split in center so each 1_2 would float independently. Would like to know more!

If you want speed when you are combining, get a 1-1_2" knife,(quick cut system). I have personnally cut 8.2 mph with a 30ft. head 29.89 acres per hour with no problem. I have a SCH system on my one combine and it is no different than any other 3" system other than you have every other knife section right side up right side down on the knife. The quick cut knife has been around since 1977 and the only problem with them were you had to shim them regularily. I have developed a precision adjuster that makes shimming a 30 ft. head a 20 minute job with 1 thousands of an inch accuracy.

I have had the double cut systems and will never own another. They are a nightmare in cornstalks.

Honey Bee headers up in canada have got 42 ft. 36 fts and are excellent headers for gleaner. We have owned a36 ft for years.

Are these Honey Bees drapersIJ We need floating flexible cutter bars. Only use in soybeans. I would be very interested in a 36' header if I could get all the beans into the combine.

From what I've heard Macdon is getting pretty close to making drapers work in soybeans. I've talked with a Macdon rep and he has a few going in southern MN and Iowa. The model number for the head is 972. Junglass (spIJ) implement in Glenco MN has a customer with an 8780 Massey running one of these heads. Also supposed to be somebody near Albert lea with a 36'. I've talked with a farmer near Marshelltown IA who has one a R-72 as well. I may be able to get you more details if you want. Keep your eye on Macdon I think they will get it done pretty soon. Brian

Thank you Brian for the info. Yes I would like to know mainly are they putting on a true flexible floating cutter bar, or are they still trying to convince the user that the cut job is o.k. even if it isn't. I have talked to MacDon about 2 years ago, and they were just using the regular draper and seeing if they could sell them for soybeans, and that frankly won't "cut it" for me.

Would be interested if these new Draper front's would get down and dirty in lentils!!!!

Rolf: We do not do lentils, but it appears you have a very challenging job with them. In soybeans, we select for beans that have a high lower pod, and usually they stand well enough that no pods are actually on the ground. I still like to cut no more than 1 1_2 inch from the ground which we can very well do with the regular Gleaner head. I think the draper would feed smoothly to the combine - just need a perfect cut and I am ready to give it a go. Thanks for your response. (SW Minn. USA)