Combines need new concaves best choiceIJ

If I needed a set of concaves I would be tempted to go with the Helicals. I don't know how much difference they would make, but it always seems like we could use more aggressive threshing action. large wire factory concaves would be my second choice. If your worn out ones are large wire, you might consider just having St. John Welding hardface them.

I guess I should give a little more info. I run corn, soybeans and about 80ac of wheat per year. I did discuss this with our retired combine tech for our dealer, and he thought the helicals would be too aggressive in corn; more cracking. I also mentioned the several different rotors that are on the market now, and his preference was the specialty. He wasn't too impressed with the St. John's, which I am very interested in. I will use coverplates of some sort in the new large wire. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have a set of small wire that I have been borring for wheat which I will pull wires for the spacing of large wire in corn and beans. Hope this helps

Could you send me an e-mailIJ Thanks

How do you know when to replace the concavesIJ How much wearIJ

When we hardface large wire concaves, we provide cover plates -- not pretty, but effective and inexpensive, and easy to remove or reinstall. This allows operators to use wide spaced concaves in small grains as well as corn, beans, etc. Also, there's no question that the hardfacing lasts much longer. Helical concaves -- in fact, are less aggressive than others. Over the years, we've tried several crossbar angles on helical concaves, but thresh is still better with concaves whose crossbars are parallel with the rotor. The angled crossbars also have a tendency to throw material back toward the front of the machine, somewhat negating the effect of the transit vanes -- takes more power to feed along with tighter settings for thresh. Didn't notice any more cracking especially, at normal settings, but did find occasional rows of kernels left on the cobs and occasional unthreshed bean pods and wheat heads. Rotors -- we've converted specialty rotors as well as grain rotors, and there's no question that hp requirement is reduced, sample cleans up and the whole machine is more efficient. Don't want to belittle anyone, but I wonder if the retired combine tech has any experience with our rotors. Most rotors have been installed by the owners of the machines, and I can't think of any dealerships in Illinois who have installed one. I think that the fact that we have greatly reduced the number of threshing elements on the rotor throws folks for a curve, but these are a completely different type of rotor bar.

Basically, you look for rounded corners on the leading edges of the crossbars. To check height, lay a piece of 3_8" keystock on the wires behind and against the backsides of the crossbars. Reason for the backside is that the wires don't wear as much in that area. Height should be pretty close to the keystock width.

Hi, TerryIJ We spoke last spring, and I guess I am furthering my researce, especially becasue of the concaves. My retired tech said he didn't see one of your rotors personally. I just talked to him. His was "hearsay". Here in this corn and bean country, there aren't too many reaching out beyond stock parts. He did say with the helical concaves "they saw up to 50% damage kernals." Information also, if we grew food grade corn, stay with a conventional, specialty causes too much damage.

In regards to helicals, have also heard farmers who have had them and will never run without them again. Most only install one, in first positiion, some do first and second. Talked to an STS owner who had one, and he was running while others were sitting in the coffee shop, this being in soft wheat. It depends on conditions and type of grains, not good for everything, just like any other concave. Always seems to do good in grasses.

Don't know about the 50% damage from helical concaves unless the angle of the crossbars is shoving material back forward. I'll have to agree that the standard rotor will do a better job in corn, especially in soft white cob food grade varieties. I also haven't heard any negative "hearsay" about our rotors, either. If someone thought he had a problem, I suspect that I would be the first to hear about it. I do have a custom harvester who has a problem. He's slugged his 2388 3-4 times, but the waste gate on his turbo is malfunctioning and he actually has to have the rotor speed pretty high when he engages the separator or it kills the engine. He's mostly getting along OK, though --rotor speeds about 30% slower than his other machines and ground speed the same. At this point the operator watches the engine tach pretty closely, however. I believe that they're trying to resolve this now.

Hey Terry, I can't get your e-mail address to work. I got your message, but it keeps rejecting my messages back to you. Any ideasIJ Mike