Combines auto header height

I would say you would have to add the auto height control. The skids have metal fingers laying on top of them which are attached to a pipe running the full lenght of the head from left to right. The pipe is attached to a cable in the center of the head. The cable runs to a potentiometer at the top rear of the header at the left side of the feeder. I believe a combine must be properly equipped to run a flex head with auto height control.

if your ground is fairly flat you can run it by hand by watching the pointer on the right side of the head. it will make you tired doing it all day but it can be done.

Header Height is not nessary but it sure is nice. If you have several acres, I would recommend you get it. Helps keep dirt out of the header. Don't let anybody work under the header without the safety lock. My neighbor was killed when he went under to free some trash and bumped the fingers. The problem on the 1680 is the header falls so quickly, there is no chance of getting out!

Thanks for the info and the warning. Sorry to hear about your neighbor. I didn't think about how dangerous that would be since I've only been around the rigid heads. I relayed the message to my Dad and will make sure everyone else around the machine knows too.

Thanks for the comments. I was able to locate a large combine dealer who called the factory for me. He gave me a list of the parts required to add Auto Header Height Control and Auto Reel-to-Ground Speed control to a 1600 series. looks like the height control will be about $500. Didn't price the reel speed since we already have it, but looks like it would be about the same. Boils down to a control module, wiring harness, toggle switch and two knobs for the dash.

One word of caution about the auto header height on your 1680. When you get your 1020 header make sure it has the correct potmeter on it for your combine. The 16 series combines use the larger black potmeter and the 21_23 series use the smaller clear unit. They are not interchangeable betwee series. If you buy a new header it will definatley have the wrong one on it.

Thanks for the tip. We are still looking for a header. If we find a newer model will the potentiometer from the 1600 series bolt right on to the newer headerIJ

Yes the 16 series potmeter will bolt on but get the mounting strip for that potmeter to make it easier.

Most of the time,resetting the voltage on the feeder pot and reprogramming the controller will take care of this problem on early 2100 series.The early controllers had trouble recognizing the voltages on the feeder pot. Its kind of an envolved process,so check with your dealer first. If they dont have the info, I could try to post it.

buck Have you tried turning off the machine (engine and switch) before unhooking the pot and everything off before hooking the pot back upIJ Can you use an extra pot and connect it when the header's off the machine. Fool the computer into thinking it's still on there. (change it while everything's off). Hope that helps.