Combines Cheapest improvement for Spreaders on1680

The hex shaft to make the spreaders lower can be purchased at most machine shops,it is pretty cheap. We lowered the spreaders on our 1480 5.5 inches and took off the rubber belts. We made some 3in tall metal bats (3 per disc) and put them on. This worked well on the 1480 but it only has a 24ft header. We did the same thing on our 2388 (30ft) plus installed the high speed spreader pulley but still were not happy with the width of spread in wheat. This season I made some curved metal bats and will try them. The curved bats that IH sells are very pricey.

Our 1680 and 2188 have chaff spreaders but on our 1480 we just took some 7_8 hex shaft about two feet longer than the original vertical shaft and drilled holes in it to hold the straw spreader on. The dealer will have the shaft because planters use it. We put two spreaders on each shaft, one below the other. However, if you just want to lower the spreader you already have, I think it should work the same.

Plowboy, If you already have the OEM chaff spredders with the plastic bats, take the plastic bats off and put on the metal curved bats. They are not that expensive and the do work. K.A.

We just took the old, worn out rubber bats and flipped them upside down in the most aggressive position, then installed new rubber bats on top of them with longer bolts. Can't remember, but I think it was pretty cheap and it spreads great with the high speed pulley and side curtains cut back.

Does the lowered spreader get rid (or at least help get rid) of the chaff coming directly off of the sievesIJ

The way to get straw spead wider is to flip(figure 8) your speader drive belt. If you have side curtains these will have to be removed. Doing this reverses the spreaders putting the straw out in front and over the rear tires. You will have to adjust the tightner, pressure side of belt now runs on idler. Have run 1680 with 30 foot head in 50+ wheat and spreads about 26 foot. Works for me no more heavy straw behind combine. bob

Will reversing the rotation of the spreaders work on a 1660 combine for soybeans chaff. Thanks

The speed up pulley will help. Curved bats will help the most. I made some from 8" 175 psi white plastic pipe. Irrigation dealers have chunks of this left over for buried main lines to pivot centers. Its cheap and you can experiment. I will get 10" next time.