Gleaner K Combine

I just picked up a Gleaner K combine and am trying to get a handle on what changes/adjustments if any I may need to make with the cylinder and rasp bars when switching between wheat, beans, and corn. I was told I would need filler bars on the cylinder when harvesting corn. Are these a must, or are there some ways of getting around that with good results?

Under certain conditions in corn the filler bars do help. Not mandatory. Adjustments between crops are different settings for the adjustable chaffer (upper screen) and the sieve (lower screen), as well as cylinder speed and fan setting. Op manual has recommended settings for a starting point. On the K there is a small dia cyl pulley to use for wheat, oats, etc., and a larger (slower) pulley to use for corn and beans. Each pulley needs its corresponding belt as well.

I dis-agree with JMS below. If you don't run with filler plates/bars then you will throw half shelled corn ears out the back of the cylinder. In some varieties it would be real bad. You can leave them in and run beans/wheat/oats. That is what most guys around here did.

JMS is correct that you will need to change the cylinder pulley and belt to run the higher speeds needed for wheat/oats. There are also different bars for the cylinder door too. The half rounds where for small grains and the ones looking like channel iron where for corn. Must guys around here just used the channel type all of the time. They will split a few more soybeans but not that bad.

All in all not a bad combine for smaller acres. They will do a great clean job IF you know how to set them up. You will need the right drive pulleys and belts.

I am guessing they didn"t come with your machine.

One way around the filler bars is to use Aushermen cylinder bars. The web or side on these is much wider than the factory and you either need to modify the fillers or not use them. Running without is what I have done for bout 20 years.

hth

jt

Thanks, but some no thanks......I said, IN SOME conditions, filler bars help/are needed. Soft, rubbery ears, or when you want to keep cobs whole. If they are busting up, and making separating difficult- put the bars in. I"ve run countless acres without filler bars. Most important (and this a diff from JD....Gleaner filler bars are held in with wedges, and NOT recommended (specifically says NO in the op manual) to be used above 850 rpm!. ONLY use is in corn, per the op manual. So, not in small grains, also not in soybeans. (BTDT, went home and pulled them out!) Capacity is zilch! (yeah, oldtimers, 101!)

Carolina Plowboy,
First thing you need to do is get the manuals for the machine. Operator manual will give you the know how to get you started AND to understand why the adjustments are necessary.
With that said, You need to have 3 pulleys and belts to do corn, beans and wheat. 8 inch for high speed for small grain (Wheat Oats). 11? inch for beans. 20 inch for corn. Gives you 3 speed ranges. Then you adjust the speed in that range to get the best job. You will change the speed as the crop changes during the day.
I used the channel concave bars for wheat in positions 1 3 5. One half rounds in beans in 1 and 3. Same in corn, but sometimes added #5.
I believe I used the filler bars in corn.
Here are my notes for Wheat
My notes from the past with my K are as follows
Sheave 8"
Concaves # 1,3,5 Channel bar
Concave Clearence 3/8"
Chaffer 3/8"
Sieve 5/16"
Cyl Speed 7-10 Try 8 to start
Wind 5-10 cranks in (I use belt level with edge of pulley)

I normally use the cyl speed to adjust for the dry of the day.
9 or 10 early in day or close to dark. 7 or 8 in middle of the day.
If set too high the Wheat will crack.

For a good source of info try the following web site.
http://www.harvesting.com/combine/gleaner/
Keith

????????????
Channel irons were the standard concave. Basically new Gleaners were set up for grain. The corn attachments came with the corn head, and were addressed in the corn head book. Half rounds were an option to reduce grinding, which could be an issue in corn. Don't know about beans- they weren't grown here back in the day.

Just want to add my 2 cents worth. I have used E3 and K2 combines for better than 30 years and have never needed a set of filler bars for corn. Also you will need only 2 different pulley sizes and belts for corn-beans and wheat. There is very little difference in speeds or settings between corn and beans. Both crops the cylinder speed is below 500 RPMs in dry conditions. Wheat needs cylinder speeds above 1000 RPMs for best results. A combination of cylinder speed and concave clearance will give good separation. Never has it ever been necessary for me to use more than 3 concave bars. Joe

They also made a "hi-rise"concave bar that was to be used with the filler bars. Like others have said, it is an option and not 100% required. You will crack less grain, and have better results separating as the cobs dont break up as much.

Gene

Thanks for all of the insight. I do have the manuals for the combine and grain head. Ordered one for the corn head today. I prefer to rely on experience as much or more than the manuals which is why I asked the question. I don't have any seat experience with a Gleaner...yet.

My grandfather had a new one three years before he quit farming and really liked it.But anything was an improvement over a WD45 and a wore out 33 two row cornpicker.He did lots of custom work and got along great.