Combines R50 in Milo

Accel rolls brgs may have just expired, RIP.( Make sure plate is not warped.) As for the fan shaft, we have a cure. I beleive it is posted in picture, click on tips, then upgrades, then hmmm can't remember let me check and see, ok click on 'adding idler'. (no political jokes here) add enuff chain so it can jump have something run around the sprocket w_o breaking shaft. BTW I am sure all you guys know but you can open up another window and let the pic's load while you browse somewhere else... elementary but I forget about the high tech stuff and its capabilities. Any way since adding links and spring loaded idlers we have not broken a shaft since.

I've saw basically the same shaft break on the l's and M's. loose or expired chain that has come off is usually the reason. Good spot to put a new high quality chain on yearly. The spreader on the R50's can put a cob inbetween the chain and sprocket on occasion and then look out. We had built some elaborate shielding around chains but tbrans spring loaded idler sounds better. Most bearings will give you a sign before they fail. listen for grawl or something unusual and look for a gap that is starting to show up inbetween seal and inner race. Also get used to feeling the bearings from time to time immediately after shutdown. If bearing is failing on a high speed shaft it will usually start to run warmer. You would want to watch accelerator roll and cleaner fan bearings the closest for they are high speed.

Welcome to the wonderful world of gleaner rotaries. Hope you have a good set of tools because it's been my experence that you will need them.

Actually the bearings are not what went. the plate that supports the right side broke, while stripping out the gears on the left side. Have I been overloading them or something.

I would doubt that you are overloading anything. I would lean toward bolts coming loose or bearing flanges were not tightened evenly while turning the shaft at one time. Tightening bearing flanges uneven without turning the shaft can cause what I call oil canning. An oil canning plate will eventially crack out and break the area around the bearing flanges.

Fan shafts looked like they would be a problem when we first start doing corn with R50's over ten years ago but we quickly learned to keep the cobs away from the sprocket and havn't broken one since. I think it was 1993 where they moved the elevator drives to the top and problem was gone. Please do your dealer and or neighbor a favor and let him know about the spring loaded idler kit. As for your feed chain be sure you have the rear feed stripper in place if in corn and if you don't have the feeder shocks you should get them.

We have had that plate buck and causing that oil canning you are talking about. The belt pulling down on the 50 plate is a strain. We add an extra bolt and hardend washers to prevent this. Again feeding in slugs causes slugs and back to what you preach ....feed her smoooth