MacDon 963 Harvest Header - Manual (Page 46)

45
MAINTENANCE/SERVICE
SICKLE AND SICKLE DRIVE (continued)
Guards
CAUTION: Always engage reel props
before working under reel.
Check daily that guards are aligned to obtain
proper shear cut between sickle section and
guard. Sickle sections should contact shear
surface of each guard.
Align guards with guard straightening tool (avail-
able from your Dealer Parts Department) as
shown:
To bend guard tips up, position tool as shown at
(A) and pull up.
To bend tips down, position tool as at (B) and push
down.
TIP: If trouble is encountered cutting tangled, but
easy to cut material (canola, peas, grain) replace
guards with stub guards and install a sickle hold-
down on every guard. If material is tough to cut,
install stub guards with top guard and adjuster
plate from the MacDon 932 "Grass Seed Special"
Header. See your MacDon dealer.
Sickle Hold-Downs
CAUTION: Always engage reel props
before working under reel.
Check daily that sickle hold-downs are set to prevent
sickle sections from lifting off guards but still permit
sickle to slide without binding. Set hold-downs after
guards are aligned.
To adjust hold-downs:
1. Loosen guard bolts.
2. Using a feeler gauge between hold-down and
sickle section, turn bolt (A) to obtain 0.020 inch (0.5
mm) clearance.
3. Tighten guard bolts.
4. After adjusting all sickle hold-downs, run header at
a low engine speed and listen for noise due to
insufficient clearance. Re-adjust as necessary.
BENDING GUARD TIPS UP
A
BENDING GUARD TIPS DOWN
B
SETTING SICKLE HOLD-DOWNS
A
0.020 IN.
(0.5 mm)