general combine question

[jimg]

This is in regard to modern self propelled mdls. I see the heads are interchangeable so does that mean any crop (corn, beans, wheat, barley, etc) can be harvested w/ the same machine using the correct head for the crop? In other words for corn is the machine and head specific or could it also be used for other crops (w/ the correct header)?

 

[farmerjim]

i believe they're just like the self propelled or tow behind forage choppers in the since they can be used for different crops depending on the header. like corn heads for corn and a baler type pick up for grass forage, on a forage machine, i know combines have different internals than the forage machines though. maybe some of the mid west guys can set it straight for you.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Many require changing of screens, a few adjustments, and the correct header, but in general, most all modern day combines can harvest any grain crop.

 

[Trac-Tech]

Conventional machines would normally need the concave changing out when going from small grain to larger coarser grain such as corn etc as well as the head unit as mentioned. I'm not sure on rotary type machines though.

 

[jimg]

Thx! Its interesting to me that the same mechanism that will strip kernels from a cob will thresh small grains (wheat, rye,etc). How does that work? It just strikes me that the action for one would be in appropriate for the other.

 

[js5020]

A modern combine can harvest almost any crop without any major internal component changes for average conditions. With any of the machines I owned the only real changes one had to make was to change the gearing for the cylinder speeds,,,, the small grains, wheat,rye,oats needed a much higher cylinder speed than corn,beans,sunflowers,, this was usually accomplished by changing a gear on the cylinder shaft and a different length chain, or by flipping a lever on the cylinder gearbox to change the "range". Everything else was an adjustment. I only ever owned cornheads for corn, and grainheads for everything else,,,, there were some heads made specifically for rowed soybeans and pick up heads for windrowed crops.