Combines Cage Sweep plug ups

I had an 81 N-5 that did the exact same thing. I welded some hooks to the cage sweep tines that I made out of 3_8" rod. The idea was to pull the straw loose before it built up and stopped the sweep. Also, double check the sweep and make sure it isn't dragging from some sort of mechanical problem. Make sure not to run your cylinder speed too slow. It seems like it takes a certain amount of speed to keep the material moving. I also had to lower the concave to help the problem. It seems like there were times that I had to run the clearence at 3_4 to 1". I know that is backwards from what everyone says here, but It did get me buy until I could set the machine up properly. My combine was bone stock, with reverse bars and everything. I've since learned on this site that the rev. bars are kind of a no-no, along with many of the other stock setups, but you can run with them and do a pretty good job. Hope this helps! DAB

Thank you for the information, I was wondering what exactly are reverse barsIJ I have heard them mentioned and I am wondering how you remove them.

The reverse bars are cylinder bars that have the teeth angled the other way. Instead of moving the material tward the discharge end, they move it backwards momentarily. The idea was to keep the crop in the processor longer to help seperation. Most N series machines ran 6 forward bars and 2 reverse on the seperator end of the cylinder. To remove them you'll need 2 more forward bars. You can change them by removing one of the cage doors and working through the hole. Make sure you raise your concave up if you run all forward bars as this will change the way your processor works. You'll need to get more seperation at the concave and the thresher side of the cage to avoid a lot of rotor loss. If you have time there are a lot of good prior posts on the subject written by guys that know a lOT more about this than I do. DAB

That sounds like an extremely good explanation. Thanks for the refresher course. Tom in MN

You can do an upgrade on your cages, available from loewen, which makes them almost identical to the later P3 type, and then you can throw out the cage sweep. To save a few bucks on the thresher cage, purchase only the P3 type doors to replace your current doors, and purchase complete upgraded seperator cage.

Thanks again for the information.

Thanks again for the information.

Not sure why but noone seems to get somethings that should be so easy. the straw belongs in the cage. cage sweeps were not intended to deal with all the straw. start looking for other problems. maybe worn helical bars, worn cylinder bars, worn acc. rolls, and maybe discharge paddle worn. the cage sweeps are really no trouble if they are in good condition and combine is set right.........good luck, vstk

Not sure why but noone seems to get somethings that should be so easy. the straw belongs in the cage. cage sweeps were not intended to deal with all the straw. start looking for other problems. maybe worn helical bars, worn cylinder bars, worn acc. rolls, and maybe discharge paddle worn. the cage sweeps are really no trouble if they are in good condition and combine is set right.........good luck, vstk

I here what your saying but I remember well fighting cage sweep problems no matter how many hours were on the machine or what the settings were. With some of these machines over 20 years old it hard to say what is in them (extended concaves ect.)There were the conditions where just to much straw would get out of cage. Of course the condition of parts should be considered first where a concave or cage in newer condition will cause more straw to exit cage before discharge. We reduced our cage sweep problems the most by installing green stem helical kit along with shiming helicals by 1_4". Flat iron helicals could also be replaced with channel iron which also flows all straws better. Eventially we found we could pitch cage sweeps after flowing straw well. Only need a couple cage covers and preferably a false wall above left arm of concave to nearly elliminate possibility of cage blockage. Sure does open up area around cage without cage sweep but if you do remove it just keep it around in case fore whatever reason you can't get by without it.