Author	[Modern View]
Fordfarmer 10-12-2012 06:40:33 184.158.22.162 Report to Moderator	Started shelling corn for a neighbor yesterday. Went well, except that I'm cracking too many kernels. Loads ranged from 17.4% down to 14.1% moisture. I'm getting very clean shelling with almost no broken cobs, so I think I have the concave set right - a bit tighter than the notes from the original owner and book settings, but the cobs are kinda skinny this year. There is very little going through the return elevator, and very little trash in the bin, so the sieve and chaffer must be about right...which leaves cylinder speed. I have it turned down as low as it will go. Anything I'm overlooking, or do I just have to put up with some damage in dry corn? This is the driest I've ever seen corn in October. Neighbor did comment that he's happy with the low losses in the field - some shelling at the head, but almost nothing left on cobs or lost out the back. [Reply]   [No Email]
DKase 10-14-2012 19:26:27 75.102.180.184 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   Just finished my corn here in SD this week. Our corn is down to 11% moisture so it cracks really easy. I had my cylinder down to 400 RPM, and I opened the concave one notch at a time waiting for a few kernals to be left on the cobs. At that point I tighten it up one notch. This year I ran it wide open with no kernals left on any cobs. My combine is also a NH 1400. My sample was better than 90% of them at the elevator. [Reply]  [No Email]
Fordfarmer 10-13-2012 06:58:26 184.158.22.162 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check the elevator chains today. The owners manual says I should be able to get the cylinder down to 450 rpm, but my tach reads 550, and it's cranked as far as it will go. I opened the concave 2 notches, and there are a lot fewer damaged kernels. Still doing a good job of shelling - just an occasional cob that shows some kernels left, and mostly on the end of the row when I'm turning and it's cleaning out. But this is a different field for a different neighbor. I'll find out later today what the moisture was in that field. [Reply]  [No Email]
haley 10-13-2012 05:04:32 69.160.178.227 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   Fordfarmer,I have combined LOTS of dry corn here in Ga over the years and if the moisture is 15% or below you are probably going to have cracked kernels.The cyl speed on my 642's will only go down to 600 from the factory and that isn't low enough.Generally speaking on a conventional combine cly speed causes cracking and concave clearance determines if it will get it off the cob or not.Try running your cyl speed as low as possible and the concave wider open than normal.Sometimes I put mine completely wide open and drive faster to keep it full so it will shell it all off the cob.On my Fords you can adjust the back of the concave down with the linkage on the side of the machine so it has more clearance and it seems to help.One more thing to check is to make sure your elevator chains are tight because a real loose chain will let the corn get between the sprocket and chain and cause cracking. [Reply]  [No Email]
ihman73 10-12-2012 22:59:13 67.43.125.31 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   If you are out of adjustment on the low side on cyl. speed then open the concave just a pinch. Watch your sample and the cobs if it helps open it up some more until the sample is better or you start leaving some on the cobs. If your ear size is as variable as ours was you likely won't be able to get it perfect this year. But it never hurts to try. [Reply]  [No Email]
Nathaniel Watts 10-12-2012 17:17:58 174.130.134.178 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   Have you tried to reduce the cylinder speed a little? [Reply]  [No Email]
James22 10-12-2012 09:55:31 207.179.239.77 Report to Moderator	Re: dry corn settings? NH 1400 in reply to Fordfarmer, 10-12-2012 06:40:33   In an IH rotary I would start pulling wires from the concaves to get the corn out quicker rather than let it "circle around" and get chewed more. No idea how NH concaves are constructed therefore whether this is even possible. Better to ask on a dedicated combine/harvester forum. If there is a solution those guys seem to have the answer. [Reply]  [No Email]