Question on Self propelled combines

[GarryinNC]

My question below on Gleaners with Chevy engines got me to thinking about how SP combines work. There is a gearbox and drivetrain. How is the separator driven? Does the separator have an in/out clutch? Have never had a chance to look at one.

Garry

 

[spacechem]

There may be as many as four different 'clutches'. One for ground drive (hydrostatic drives don't really have a traditional clutch), one for separator drive, one for the header, and one for the unloading auger. Newer models may have yet another to 'stage' the unloading. Older combines simply used levers to tighten belt drives for machine functions.

 

[paul]

Space covered it well.

Early ones had a belt tightening lever to act as the clutch.

Was handy to run the header separately so about when a real hand operated clutch came into being for the
separator, a belt tightener lever was added to the header drive.

Electric clutches came along, push a toggle switch and activate the clutch.

Then up to the 4-5 clutches Space mentions.

Paul

 

[GarryinNC]

Thanks for the information on SP combines. I did know that they have a lot of belts!

Garry