Combines Cutter Bar Systems

if you were happy with the oem, I would probably go to somewhere like shoup and buy new gaurds, plates, sickle ect and make it like new at a lot cheaper price than dealers. Have never tried an air reel but did put on a orbit reel and the combine seems to feed better and a lot more evenly even in short beans because it seems to flip the teeth so that the material is thrown under the auger.

the SCH has proven to be probably the best. The rollers are a nice addition. As to the OEM , remember Gleaner parts will sell the std gaurds 71116504, valueline FQXXX , the heat treated ones 71341601 or the double heat treated 71386962 which will outlast the others 3 to one. This became std on the late 8000 hdrs. You pay for what you get , you don't always get what you pay for......

I don't have experience with the Crary. I dislike the double cut undersection as I think it looks like it may drag. The SCH is great. They will spear a corn cob from time to time but they will outlast the OEM 2 to 1. I'd pass on the roller guides. The rollers work well, but if they get in mud or moist soil they tend to want to buildup around the roller. Also if you wash the head and put it away the rollers may rust up. Once they run a few times on a stuck roller a flat spot occurs and you get to replace. The standard guides will run for years. This set up will cut soys real good to about 5-6mph. Add the prodrive and you can't run them over. OEM just sucks. Keep a supply of guards and sections as they will break often.

We have run an air reel for 6 years now. Won't have a machine with-out it. Makes crop feed very even thus improves capacity and amount of hours available to run each day. They will pay for themselves in soys as header loss is virtually eliminated because the reel never touches the soys. In short soys they are priceless and wheat just disappears in the head.