Shelbourne Stripper Header

[Click on the label "stripper head" at the bottom of post for more posts on the subject.] 

Summary: We are very happy with the decision to purchase the header.  This old high capacity machine has a new life with more capacity, and the principal problem of poor residue distribution is eliminated.  Header loss was low in all three of our crop types (winter wheat, spring barley and spring mustard).  

2012 harvest

More Detail:
This pic shows a 2012 CVS32 mounted on our 1985 Gleaner N7.  This was a calculated $70k gamble.  Improving yields over the years along with the poor residue distribution associated with the N7, were adding to problems associated with our Direct Seeding.  We love this machine with it's low profile, wide stance, large bulk tank, high capacity, ease and low cost of repair, great horsepower to weight ratio, and the ability to harvest and save the grain on our slopes that max out around 40%.  I'll give more detail on the N7 and changes to accommodate this 7000#, 32 foot header in a later post.  My emotions have run the gamut, from excitement when Kye ordered it, to apprehension as I read more "tractor house" forums and Utube videos, to being ecstatic after only a few days of cutting.  It handles very easy, our capacity is up, our ground speed is slower at this point in time,  and I'm sure we will hit 10kbu/d before the old girl hits her 28th birthday -- although it will be a longer day and our two man operation will become three.  One truck driver can't haul that much grain away from this machine in our operation.

This pic shows stripping Brundage 96 winter wheat in a small ravine at sun down.  Very quiet air.  Notice the thin layer of dust at the header.  Since the header is basically a sealed unit using either metal or a crop wall, there is much less dust generated in that area compared to a standard wheat header.   The dirt plume out the back is dense and lingering.

This pic shows the interaction between header and grain.  As you drive through the standing grain it is pushed forward, bent down along curved nose where the rotor engages the wheat and combs through the straw, drawing it up behind the nose into the curved portion on the back side of the adjustable hood, where the kernels are pulled off the center stem portion of the wheat stalk and propelled back into a deep auger trough, where it is transported to the feeder house. This rotor rotates between 400 and 800rpm.  Approximately 85% of the threshing is done by this rotor, leaving only 15% to be threshed by the combine rotor.  The un-threshed tend to be the tips of the wheat head.   We have harvested some lodged wheat and it did fine as advertised; although more material is put into the combine.

This pic shows the transition between harvested and unharvested wheat.  The preferred rotor speed is where the center stem portion of the wheat head is not flailed off, but left mostly intact.  This leaves the appearance that the stubble at times seems taller than the wheat crop itself.  Our stubble in 2012 is 38-40" tall.  

This pic shows the machine entering the cut on a ≈30% slope.  The camera does not  give it justice.  We added a header tilt package to the machine which is helpful harvesting steep slopes, and dips that you angle through.  Another change that proved out, was to replace our 18" outer duel wheel.  We now have two 24.5x32 wheels/tires.  We only added 2" extra width but the stability with more rubber on the ground is noticeable.  It climbs and stays on the hill better.  Where we don't level the machine, a lot of weight is transferred to the lower side.

This pic shows stripping spring barley.  It's the 1st time we have ever cut barley with more than about 6" left standing.  About 30 inch stubble is showing here.  

This pic shows stripping mustard.  Header loss appears comparable to a standard header.  Noisier than harvesting wheat or barley.  Seed hitting the curved metal surface of the hood is distinct.   The residue remaining is fairly tall and ragged.  Most of the top portion of the plant was stripped and run through the machine, leaving a noticeable row of tangled material inside the wheel width.  I don't think the volume of tangle will be a problem to seed.  It is mostly intact and pretty thin. We have no chopper in this machine.   This will be fallow.  We'll compare end result with barley residue for the fall 2013 crop. Our experience in 2002-2003 was that we received a significant yield boost in the wheat following mustard.