Soil Deflectors
Soil deflectors are fitted to the roller carrier frames inside the 2nd and 3rd webs to deflect soil in the direction of the bed centre - away from the machine sides, thus preventing the wheels from running over separated soil. If working wide beds in the range 72” to 80” with a narrow separator - i.e. 4215, it may be necessary to re- move these deflectors.
Web Options
Webs
Web pitches are available as listed on previous page.
Note: When separating always choose webs with a narrower pitch than those intended for harvesting!
Note: When working in light or sandy soils a build up of soil can occur under the digger web due to excessive separation which may cause the drive clutch to slip. In such conditions web covers can be fitted to every bar on the digger web (or every 2nd bar) to reduce gaps and assist soil flow onto the 2nd web.
Web Cleaners
Web cleaners, designed to suit individual web pitches can be fitted to web drive shafts to prevent soil from building up between the web bars.
They should only be fitted for wet weather conditions and removed in normal or dry conditions.
Scrubber Web
An adjustable scrubber web is fitted over the rear web of the machine to prevent stones from rolling back and also to assist with the break down of clods.
The web can be lowered for heavy clod conditions where an aggressive scrubbing action is required.
Place a steel rod through the leverage hole in the winder bar, Fig 4.6.1, and turn slightly to release the ratchet catch Fig 4.6.2. Continue to turn the bar to either raise or lower the web.
Note: In lighter stony conditions with minimum clod less scrubbing action is required and the web should be set to a higher position, making only light contact with the rear web below.
Scrubber Web Extension
A set of rubber curtains and a short web extension are mounted behind the scrubber web at the rear of the machine to aid the distribution of stones onto the cross conveyor.
The web is held in position by two chains with carbine hooks, Fig 4.7.1, which can be fitted to any rod to alter the web position or angle.
Pressure Rollers
Six pressure roller pads are fitted above the scrubber web to hold the web in work allowing clods to be crumbled down.
The rollers are raised or lowered by operation of the control panel joystick (3).
Star Unit
Following the guidance notes below will help to increase output and seed bed quality.
- Star shafts are available in 40, 45, 50 & 55mm pitches. (The distance between the centres of the star fingers). The narrower the spacing the finer the tilth of the finished work.
- Maintain a P.T.O. speed in the range 400 - 540 rpm max. In general, low P.T.O. speeds provide higher volume separation through the star unit but with a coarser particle size. High P.T.O. speeds carry the soil over the unit at a faster rate which results in lower volume separation but with a finer particle size.
- Always maintain sufficient forward speed to allow a steady soil flow over the stars and onto the rear web. A lack of soil on the unit will result in coarser particles falling through onto the separated bed.
- Use of the rear lift when in heavier conditions to steepen the angle of inclination can increase separation on the star unit and assist with clod breaking. In lighter soils however, steeper angles can result in excessive loading of the rotor and digger web increasing the power requirement without increasing output.
- Worn stars will allow larger size particles through onto the seed bed, therefore checking the condition of the stars and replacing when required will help ensure the best possible results are obtained.
- As with all land working machinery the prevailing conditions can affect the quality of work achieved. Examine the seed bed behind the separator after a short run to check the particles of stone and clod present.
Note also that the size of soil particles on top of the bed is dependent on the pitches of both the rear web and cross conveyor web.
See also Part 5 Machine Maintenance - for instructions on removal and replacement of the star shafts.