Combines SCH Easycut requires upgrades to headIJ

any and all 500-800- headers benefit from strengthening or reinforcing the lh skid plate, we do it with 2 Zbar raddle slats. cut the links off the ends and slide the correct length in front and back running parallel to the sickle and weld in place, this keeps the skid plate from bowing and flexing and breaking after metal fatigue sets in

After posting my first message, I scrolled back and found a number of discussions about the need to beef up the lH skid, bar head and bolt. Why do you think the SCH system causes these failuresIJ Does it work easier and cause more end of stroke shockIJ I tried using the search feature on this site with no luck. I tried it on several browsers. I've sent an email to Marvin about it with no response yet. Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge. Gamaman

I did the update,a-frame,skid plate, last year to my 30' 800 and it seemed to stiffen that area up. The one thing that didn't make sense to me is that the new a-frame still uses the same size tie-rod end. I have broken these in the past and have welded and ran that way. I'm putting the roller brg. plates in this year also. Good luck, Mike

actually it is not just the sch, all units have had long term failures due to metal fatigue in this area - maybe the sch is run at higher ground speed causing more loadIJ Many units we have out have TWO stabilizer assy's installed, the extra one on the RH side - a bit of fabrication is needed but the results are permanant durability. Make sure the arms run in the SAME direction, not doing this results in a severe binding when it flexs.

You may continue to break this tie rod end on the stabilizer a-frame as the a-frame does not allow any forward or backward movement of the skid plate. The parallel arms that are supposed to take the fore and aft loads on the skid plate wear in the ball sockets and the hinges and then allow a couple of millimetres fore and aft movement. The rigid a-frame pivot and tie rod end then carries the skid plate drag loads which leads to the fatiguing of the tie rod end threaded section, the weakest point. We were breaking a couple of these tie rod ends every season but fixed this problem permanently by putting a pivot into the tie rod end mount which allowed fore and aft movement but no side ways movement. This tie rod end eventually wore out after 5 or 6 seasons. I have now welded a 6 inch bolt onto a tie rod end in place of the usual threaded section and have mounted this tie rod end bolt through a tube, welded onto the a-frame, which is large enough to take the rubber grommets from out of the leaf spring shackles of a vechile. This allows some flexibility for the tie rod end to compensate for small variations in the movement of the skid plate and cushions shock loads and vibration on the tie rod end but does not allow any side ways movement of the skid plate and the knife. It is also a cheap and reliable fix !