Combines afx rotor

[sharecropper]

What made you decide on the St. John rotorIJ I am trying to make the same decision.

 

[Farm_Kid2]

I wanted the most aggressive threshing possible to let me open up the concave clearance and slow the rotor down. I also wanted to be able to handle green stem crops, no matter how tough they were. I think the St. John is the best for threshing, and it can probably keep up with the AFX in tough condtions. Finally, I got concerned about the AFX when I heard of people plugging the rotor because the new spiral front does not have any audible warning like the old elephant ears do. No growling or nothing, the rotor just plugs up and stops when it gets too tough. I can't loose a half day digging that thing out to learn how fast to drive.

 

[sharecropper]

Thanks Farm Kid for your reply. Will look forward to hearing how it works out for you. Was in Anthony KS CIH shop a week or so ago and they were installing a St. John for a customer. looked good to me.

 

[Farm_Kid2]

That was ours. I picked the rotor up in Indiana and hauled in down to KS to be modified. Where are you fromIJ

 

[sharecropper]

18 miles West of the Anthony dealership.

 

[sharecropper]

18 miles West of the Anthony dealership.

 

[Ohio__Steve]

Mike,would still like to hear of your experiences this season.. Evidently ,the standard rotor was unsatisfactory in your conditionsIJ

 

[Farm_Kid2]

Hi Steve, We got along pretty well with the Standard rotor. In standing milo it worked great as long as we were up above the leaves. One morning my Dad was just getting started and let the header dip down a little too far and the rotor just stopped. I wasn't there, but they spent the rest of the morning digging it out. That can happen with a Specialty rotor also, but we've rarely done it. It is a lot harder to do it with a Specialty, that's for sure. I couldn't find anyone who has ever plugged a St. John rotor. If they have, please get on here and post. It is my impression that the St. John rotor can handle the toughest crops, meaning green milo, green wheat straw, weedy milo, green stem bean, rice, etc. It is also supposed to have less rotor loss than the Standard, which we felt lost less than the Specialty. It seems like the St. John rotor has all the advantages of the Specialty and the Standard, except that a chopper is required for no-til. It does not grind up the straw like a rub bar rotor. Maybe we can get some rain so that I can find out next summerIJ

 

[sharecropper]

Question Mike. Why do you fell you need a chopper for notilIJ

 

[Farm_Kid2]

We don't have a chopper in the 1680 with Specialty rotor. When the wheat straw is thick and it is cut in the middle of the night, without the chopper it comes out in pretty long pieces. If we notil that, the straw has to be really dry, so you are planting in the heat of the day, if you can get through it at all. If you cut the same wheat in the heat of the day when the straw is totally dry, it gets more ground up and it's not as much of an issue. Basically, when you don't have a chopper, you're at the mercy of the weather when you cut and when you plant. With the chopper you have more flexibility. The St. John rotor compounds this because it grinds up the straw less in all conditions. That my thought right now.