Grain Guards Fit Over Header Auger Fingers

Grain Guards Fit over Header Auger Fingers COMBINES Accessories 9-2-11 A frustrated Louisiana soybean farmer, fed up with weeds wrapping around the auger on his grain header, invented a new foam rubber finger guard that not only stops wrapping but provides a soft cushion to grain entering the feederhouse. Robert Field, Jonesville, says wrap-around weeds are no longer a problem in his fields. His finger guards fit over all the fingers on his header auger feeding crop material through smoothly. Grain Guards consist of tear-shaped, sloping pieces of foam rubber-like material with steel plates imbedded in them. To install, you simply remove the two bolts on each finger and install the guard using those bolt holes. No drilling or cutting is necessary. "Any combine auger that's been used a year or two wears down and the fingers stick out. Under the wrong conditions, that can cause a wrapping problem that's both time-consuming and dangerous," says Richard Stevens, Tru-Part Manufacturing, the manufacturer. Another benefit of Grain Guards is that because they are installed on all the fingers, they, in effect, form a foam rubber jacket across the entire throat of the feederhouse when the auger is spinning at full speed. This cushions the crop, lessening shatter and damage to grain. Once installed, the Guards don't interfere with operation and allow the fingers to fully retract. They won't get in the way if a finger gets bent. If it breaks off, the fact that the guards stick up about 1¢ in. helps feed crop material through. Grain Guards sell for $9.95 apiece. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tractor Implement Supply Co., 232 Lothenbach, St. Paul, Minn. 55118 (ph 612 455-6681).

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