Combines Straw windrow

Sheet metal fashioned with a slight curve to divert the windrow towards the center of the combine solves the problem. We just grabbed the side of an old stainless hog feeder to do the job. Fasten the sheet metal to the left hand side of the discharge chute with a support tube to keep the angle of the sheet metal where you would like it. The only problem we have is that now the baler crews complain that the windrow is too high and sometimes hooks on the baler hitch pin!.

You can easily fabricate your own straw deflector if you remove the spreader, or you can leave the spreader on and reverse its direction by putting a 1_2 twist in the belt. This will push the straw first to the center of the combine, out of the wheel track, and then make a smaller deflector to force it to drop before it gets too far right. Works well on an R52 running in the area that makes pretty good straw for a rotary.

We have used the deflector idea posted by the other guys to move straw out of the wheel track and keep it on standing stubble to aid in drying. I still feel the windrow is too compact and, depending on weather, is difficult to get straw dry. We had good luck this year and was able to bale without raking. I like Harvester's idea of reversing straw spreader direction - Too bad we're done with grain, I'd like to give that a try. Tom langan