A Johnson rockguard_grain saver is a metal strip about 3" high that attaches just behind the sickle. It creates a "pinch" point for the reel to keep soybeans from building up and entering the feederhouse in bunches. Note, also does a good job of keeping rocks and dirt out of head. Its the darndest looking thing that you would swear looks like soybeans would never be able to get over it with out tearing off lots of pods. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. Some operators are using pvc pipe or suction hose to try to do the same thing. Many seem to be making that work well too. The Johnson rock guard comes in one foot sections and is designed to allow normal flex of the head with the use of bushings in every joint (every foot). They list for $20_foot. I know many who have made their own or use the pvc pipe trick. We used one last season on our 530. It worked great. However, we did get an air reel for this season. Note, we purchased the Air Reel because the previous owner of the head had all but destroyed the Gleaner reel. After running an Air Reel for 12 seasons on our 320 we felt that purchasing a Crary Air Reel would be a better investment than one from Gleaner. Crary is a company that AGCO should buy and then make Air Reels standard equipment. We still have the Rock guard around. Would let it go for about half of new. We bought our rock quard from our AGCO dealer.
