Windrow clumps

[sjw]

Have old Sperry New Holland 1496 swather. It makes windrows with large clumps. I have adjusted conditioner rolls to specification. Sickle knife and guards are good. Tried moving faster and slower. Does anyone have any ideas. The clumps make drying time long.

 

[Janicholson]

Possible rust on the surfaces that direct the windrow deposit. if they are not shiny the wet hay can stick and the pause in delivery forms a clump that then is deposited. Jim

 

[moresmoke]

Crop material is not feeding from the reel to the conditioner evenly. Assuming this is a sickle head, not familiar with that particular model. Look at adjustments from the reel to the auger and that the auger can grab the material and get it to the conditioner.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Is the chain driving the rools loose a bit. Neightbor had similar problem with is NH xx95 and he adjusted the roll timing and tightened his chain so the rolls were not rocking on the chain slop took care of his clumping problem. he also sped up a bit . I'm guessing by his you need those adjustments and maybe move the reel back some so the rolls can pick it up off the reel tines some.

 

[Tx Jim]

Check clearance between auger & header. Is reel speed correct for ground speed.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Reel speed and when the tines retract at the rolls.

 

[jwal10]

Continuous or just here and there. Is the reel grabbing uncut material and slowing the reel causing slugging. Reel speed too fast, ground speed too slow. As long as it is cutting good. When I had a problem, tried everything. I built a 6 bat reel, smaller bites....James

 

[Texasmark]

If you don't figure it out, get yourself a Tedder. They work wonders for leveling a field and making for much faster drying times. On my spring harvest I couldn't do it without mine due to persistent rain with short dry intervals.

 

[Vito]

If you don't figure it out, get yourself a Tedder. They work wonders for leveling a field and making for much faster drying times. On my spring harvest I couldn't do it without mine due to persistent rain with short dry intervals.

Tedder will help but not solve the problem completely. Where the hay is heavy it still kicks it heavy just further back if you can understand what I'm trying to say.

Vito