Tractor-Mounted Header Speeds Straw Baling

Tractor-Mounted Header Speeds Straw Baling COMBINES Headers 29-6-25 Mounting a draper header on his baling tractor slashes per bale costs and creates the ideal windrow for Nathan Hege. The Utah farmer buys standing straw stubble and sells most of the bales. "The farmer I buy my straw from doesn't like to cut his wheat low, so I have to cut it," says Hege. "I tried running swathers ahead of the baler, but they made a lot of dust, and it can be hard to push the straw through the crimping rollers." Hege's solution was to mount a draper header on the tractor which eliminates the labor and fuel expense of a pass ahead of the baler. Careful alignment of the draper drop point with the tractor center creates an ideal windrow for his Case-IH in-line baler. "I have the farmer drop the chaff in a windrow on the 12-in. stubble," explains Hege. "Then I cut the stubble, capture the straw and the chaff and drop it in the windrow. " Hege bought a used header and had a local welding shop fabricate brackets for his Case-IH 5088. A length of 4 by 6-in. rectangular steel tubing provides the main support. Steel plate welded to the tubing bolts to the front and sides of the tractor frame. Two short lengths of pipe welded to either end of the tube frame act as bearings for a pivot pipe. Header support arms made from 2 by 4-in. rectangular steel tubing are welded to the ends of the pivot pipe. The arms connect to the original lift brackets on the draper header. Removal of a single pin on each arm is all that is needed to attach and detach the header. A second set of brackets mounted on each side of the tractor frame and behind the support brackets serve as mounting points for two hydraulic cylinders. The cylinder arms engage anchors on the pivot pipe, rotating it to lift and lower the header. A hydraulic motor mounted on the header provides power for the draper. Hege says his Case-IH 5088 is ideal for the setup for several reasons. "It has forward air flow on the cooling system so dust and chaff build up are reduced, plus it has three remotes," he explains. "One pressurizes the baler and, using a speed control, runs the header motor. A second raises and lowers the baler header, and the third raises and lowers the draper header." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Nathan Hege, 8065W 10000N, Tremonton, Utah 84337 (ph 435 257-0053).

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