Publication date: March 2017 - No. 86

Format: downloadable pdf - 14 pages

Draper or belt fronts are now commonplace but there has been a resurgence in auger or ‘tin’ fronts, albeit in some cases with the addition of an extendable table. It was only a few years ago Claas introduced its Vario front, which could be extended or retracted at the table floor (including the cutterbar) but now these types of fronts are offered by John Deere, Case IH and New Holland.

The ability to extend the front table allows for some flexibility when it comes to harvesting thick and ropey crops such as canola. As front technology gets better, for example being able to extend and retract the table from the harvester cab, so does the ability to harvest more efficiently. Several graingrowers have enjoyed the use of this type of front on their properties as it allows them to direct head canola far more efficiently than if the crop is swathed or windrowed.

Kondinin Group researchers have had a close look at these new fronts as well as a few other developments including a new Air Flex front from Honey Bee, which uses air bags to vary how rigid or flexible the front is and the Shelbourne Reynolds stripper front.

Contents:

• Strip show provides plenty of food for thought
• How we measure front losses
• Honey Bee flexes its air front
• Speedy stripper could help remove crops faster in WA
• Switch to adjustable fronts paying off
• Esperance graingrowers frontal change
• Farmer fix improves drum feeding
• Specifications table & brand analysis

• Case IH
• CLAAS
• Honey Bee
• John Deere
• Macdon
• Massey Ferguson/Gleaner 
• Midwest
• New Holland
• Shelbourne Reynolds

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