Can someone educate me on registering the sickle bar with the guards on JD model 30 combine?

[Andrew4015]

Sorry to pester everyone; but I picked up a John Deere model 30 pull type combine a few years ago and as time permits I've been reworking it to hopefully put it back into service. Recently I re-installed the sickle bar with new sections and guards and noticed as I moved the sickle bar flywheel the center of the sections are stopping about 1/4" off to the right of where they should be with the guards. (the knife didn't move when I bought the combine so I have no idea if was incorrectly adjusted when I got it) The manual says to adjust if not aligned; but doesn't tell me how. The parts diagram book I have doesn't seem to show any adjustment parts so I'm at a loss and need some wisdom. Thanks for any help!

 

[55 50 Ron]

Sorry to pester everyone; but I picked up a John Deere model 30 pull type combine a few years ago and as time permits I've been reworking it to hopefully put it back into service. Recently I re-installed the sickle bar with new sections and guards and noticed as I moved the sickle bar flywheel the center of the sections are stopping about 1/4" off to the right of where they should be with the guards. (the knife didn't move when I bought the combine so I have no idea if was incorrectly adjusted when I got it) The manual says to adjust if not aligned; but doesn't tell me how. The parts diagram book I have doesn't seem to show any adjustment parts so I'm at a loss and need some wisdom. Thanks for any help!

Seems a 1/4 inch isn't enough to be concerned about. But possibly some or all of the sickle drive parts are each worn a little and the overall wear when added together is enough to make the 1/4 inch you see.

 

[Scott 730]

The operators manual likely shows how to set the register of the sickle. Do you have one?

 

[ET]

When you turn the flywheel and the knife moves to the left, at the end of the stroke the section should be about a quarter inch beyond the guard also. It should be the same amount at each end of its stroke.

 

[560Dennis]

I think you get much closer than that . I did it on the new idea mower using the manual.

I have pull combine for birdfoot trefoil and that ihc head has to be registered, it will bang the head to pieces , you can’t go gear slow with the tractor to prevent it ,
Just what I’ve found combining.

 

[55 50 Ron]

The operators manual likely shows how to set the register of the sickle. Do you have one?

The OP says he has an operator's manual,

 

[Andrew4015]

Fellows, thanks for the feedback! Yes do have the manual; but the only parts of it that talks about the knife is on adjusting up/down slop on the bell crank, the two slotted holes on the knife front guide (handles front/rear slop at knifehead), and then when knife is removed it states "when reinstalling the knife, be sure the knife sections are centered between the knife guards , with the knife in the center of it's stroke before attaching the knife pitman". I did that when I installed the knife; but then when I rotate the flywheel to check the knife operation, the knife appears to be offset to the right; i.e, I spin flywheel so knife is fully to right and the knife tips are 1/4" to the right of center on the guards, when I move the flywheel so the knife is full left, it's 1/4" short of where it should be in the guards. So far the best I can guess is maybe the pitman (wooden) arm on flywheel to bell crank is not original and may be it is very slightly shorter than should be? (or mounting holes worn?) Or could that be that is how the knife gets centered? Could there be adjustment slots on pitman (wood) arm bolts that I'm not seeing? So far I haven't come up with a means to adjust the "throw" of the knife. Any additional wisdom is appreciated - cant tell you how many nights I've woke up trying to figure this one out!