Combines R 42 settings questions

Nick I run an "88 R50 and grow some soft white winter wheat. I have the feeder drums set in the highest position - both of them. I run the chain on fast speed all the time. I have that newer high wire concave with all the wires in place and may replace the adjustable concave grate with the older style - if it fits - because I believe it does a better job of threshing grains. Certainly, this concave is not satisfactory to me for hard red spring wheat. WE installed 4 combination rasp_paddles at the discharge end last year and, frankly, I cannot see any difference. Grain loss is not a big problem. Open the chaffer and keep a good air flow. Fuel consumption (Deutz) is about 4 or 5 litres per acre. Oil - well, I cannot keep it at the full mark but it will stay half way to add for days. The previous owner had oil consumption problems and maybe just never lucked onto not adding that one litre. Where are your reverse bars positionedIJ It made a huge difference to this combine to reposition them away from the factory setting. This one was totally crippled with them in the factory setting. I have 2 at the drive end opposite each other and 2 in the centre placed 90 degrees from the other pair. How long until harvestIJ

Your 42 should do fine at the factory settings in wheat. Be sure concave is level, add one or two convcave filler strips to the threshing grate, move one mark toward "min" and run her as close as possible 1_8 " or "1" or less! Run the RPM's on the cyl up as high as possible til she cracks and then back it off til sample is ok. Extended bars can be put in yourself by removing rear sep. grate cover if you don't want to remove the cyl. ( an approx 30 min job with a loader-forks thingy) Cummin sez 1% oil to fuel is OK... Should be less than that though after proper ring seat. Comments about keeping oil at the max mark is right on - unless you are on severe slopes - this will increase oil consumption due to crank splash - vaporization. (As will a plugged air filter) I run all our engs at just above the min mark and CHECK IT regularly. Visit the pictorial UPGRADES section for added performance to add to your 42..