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Post by SWMan on Jul 22, 2024 22:20:52 GMT -6
Meskie the pinch point is what concerns me, the tightening action forces a lot of grain out and threshes better. Much like the intensive threshing segments between the APS and concave can. I never use the ITS though. My take is if the crop needs threshing then the APS starts that role and there is plenty of space to remove grain after. If it is a crop like peas or canola where it's mostly threshed in the feeder house then just get it out of the straw and onto the grain pan as quickly as possible. I'm not super concerned with losing a little separating area at the front, after all, Claas has a huge advantage over other brands in how much separating area it has in total. Look how long these rotors are, surprised even me when we pulled them out a week ago...  |
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Post by kenmb on Jul 23, 2024 7:01:05 GMT -6
Ok, that is how i see it, the rotors have a lot of seperation area so trying to get grain out at the aps doesn't necessarily have to be a priority. Use the aps more so to allow the cylinder to be less aggressive and so reduce grain damage.
I suppose using the ITS also depends on if a guy is running stock internals vs Sunnybrook or other components.
Now I understand the chatter about the rock trap over the years. Not an operator friendly arrangement to empty out. Don mentioned the hockey stick tool years ago and I can see how that would work. Doubt I have one around here. Any trick tools for this job or things guys carry for other jobs around the combine.
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Post by victory on Jul 23, 2024 7:26:13 GMT -6
Not sure if Claas still uses the same hand tool for opening the side panels (the 8mm hex with 13mm wrench on the other end). This is a very habdy tool. They also tend to get lost some time. I buy a couple extra at the beginning of harvest season if any went missing the previous season. I keep one in the combine tool box and a couple in the combine cab.  |
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Post by SWMan on Jul 23, 2024 11:47:30 GMT -6
The rock trap works for everything but emptying out...ha ha. I never got onto the hockey stick thing, prefer to sweep it with my hand and make sure it's empty and then wipe the debris off the block that is directly below. Providing there is a breeze just park facing into the wind and you are usually spared a dust bath.
VERY IMPORTANT: The APS is still running with the separator and does not stop with the feeder house like other brands rock trap beater. Be very aware that the separator is turned off or don't reach into the rock trap!
On grain damage it's all about cylinder speed, concave clearance does not matter much. Maybe it's just me doing seed peas and soybeans but I often run a tight clearance but slow cylinder to thresh soybean pods especially. Cylinders can crack seeds, but if watched they don't have to. I am regularly told I have among the best germination for those crops, even better than rotary combines. Crank the rotor speed up if you need to, but watch the cylinder speed closely.
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Post by kenmb on Jul 23, 2024 19:17:22 GMT -6
It's getting to be a while now, probably 13 years ago last time I ran a conventional in peas - the Claas Dominator 96. Wasn't bad for cracking then, I guess just something a guy has to get used to and figure out what settings work. Seemed pretty fool proof running the 2388. Got spoiled with the 2388, open and dump rock trap while standing by ladder. I guess I will get used to crawling underneath again. Not a bad idea to clean it out properly by hand. Yes Victory, same tool. Salesman showed me how it fits nicely in the slot on the ladder right where that lever is to rotate ladder forward. Handy place to store it. This clean grain elevator vibrating is still not solved. I put a dial indicator on it and see often 0.05" movement and up to 0.125" on indicator when reaching in clean out door and turning paddle chain by hand. Drive belt on left side is off. I don't think it should move like this. That halogen light moves around probably 1/2" when machine is running. Moisture sensor apparatus on side of elevator is flopping around. I don't see any brackets to stabilize the boot, it is bolted to side of combine and sits inside upper portion of elevator. One small tack weld at boot to elevator housing joint on front side of elevator is broken. With that cleanout door off i can get a good grab of the boot and feel it move to front and rear of combine and can see that movement where the boot meets the elevator housing. Do you guys see this kind of vibration or movement? I would think something should stabilize the boot better. Maybe the boot should be welded to the elevator housing on all four sides to make it one solid piece. Been talking with service guy but not getting any info back. Other than being told some things vibrate. This seems excessive and also seems like there should be a fix to stop vibration. Eventually metal starts to crack when vibrating like this. Fixing the one broken weld is a start, wondering if maybe the factory missed a few other welds around that joint. Auger bearing looks good, don't think auger shaft is tweaked.   |
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Post by meskie on Jul 23, 2024 20:36:46 GMT -6
Never seen that kind of movement or vibration on any I’ve seen running.
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Post by kenmb on Jul 24, 2024 7:25:21 GMT -6
That's good to know Meskie, will keep looking into it. Maybe my chain is wore that bad that it is climbing the sprockets a bit. Sprockets are in nice shape. Today's job will be to loosen off chain more and see if I can get feel for play in chain. Will take a closer look at top shaft and sprocket, didn't give it much attention before.
Looked at the 2388 and the elevator assembly is built like it is part of the frame work. Bolted together solid with angle iron flanges between boot and upper housing plus a good beefy brace of upper housing to frame so no chance for vibration. Claas is built like a joke in comparison, not much to support that lower auger bearing other than the tin boot bolted to the frame. Anything not quite right in elevator will cause that boot to move since not enough strength to resist tension applied to shaft/bearing.
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Post by kenmb on Jul 25, 2024 7:32:55 GMT -6
Pulled the clean grain chain out and it is shot, about 1mm play in each pin, more at the links where paddles bolt on. Sprockets have some wear so pulled them, top one has more of an undercut on teeth, bottom can feel the undercut but not something I thought was shot when looking. Can curve the chain into a 90 bend using less than half the length. I am going to be a little ticked if worn chain solves the vibration. Judging from how this thing is built I would be surprised if chain climbing the sprocket teeth isn't the problem. They got over 50 Claas sitting in the yard, surely someone would say "at 1100 hours its probably time to replace the chain, we see this often". Unless these chains are actually good for 2000 hours.
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Post by meskie on Jul 25, 2024 7:49:29 GMT -6
Our first 780 made 14-1500 hours on the clean grain chain. It may have been run too loose for a while and wore out. Or more dirt through it.
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Post by Oatking on Jul 25, 2024 8:58:20 GMT -6
Pulled the clean grain chain out and it is shot, about 1mm play in each pin, more at the links where paddles bolt on. Sprockets have some wear so pulled them, top one has more of an undercut on teeth, bottom can feel the undercut but not something I thought was shot when looking. Can curve the chain into a 90 bend using less than half the length. I am going to be a little ticked if worn chain solves the vibration. Judging from how this thing is built I would be surprised if chain climbing the sprocket teeth isn't the problem. They got over 50 Claas sitting in the yard, surely someone would say "at 1100 hours its probably time to replace the chain, we see this often". Unless these chains are actually good for 2000 hours. I am not familiar with the 740 , but if the elevator chain is worn out , I just wondered how the cross auger condition is ? If it was used in peas it might be good to check if any flighting is bent or piled up . Oh the joys of reconditioning a combine . I have had so many unwelcome surprises on green light services that never would have occurred to me in a combine walk around inspection . A heat sensing gun would be nice to have tot check bearings at night after a days work . Just curious . How is the sheet metal and frame standing up against metal fatigue and cracking ? My Deeres are prone to cracking .! I have even beefed up the side frame with half inch flat steel to help hold major hydraulic stacks on the side of the combine . |
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Post by meskie on Jul 25, 2024 9:54:14 GMT -6
Sheet metal on a claas seems to hold up better than other colors. There is a reason they weigh more.
One spot to look at is where the header drive pump mounts. That bracket is known to crack out. Even on newer ones they didn’t solve that issue.
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Post by kenmb on Jul 26, 2024 7:22:17 GMT -6
I saw mention in one of the old work orders that a crack was welded on that pump frame, I should look closer at it. I haven't looked at the augers, I wouldn't think those to be an issue on the prairies. Elevator chains wear regardless of crop volume, augers don't wear if not moving product.
1500 hours on a chain sounds about right to me. This one could of made 1300 I suppose, I mean - if it hasn't broken and still moves grain up then a guy could say it is still good. But the way these elevators are built I suspect my chain has been climbing the gears and shaking the elevator housing due to the nature of no structural support and so mine is good for 1100 hours. Could be the hydraulic tensioning is greater than necessary and causing premature wear. Paddles were basically 100% yet.
Will get the combine out of shop in a couple of days and run it up. Think it will run smoother now.
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Post by kenmb on Aug 4, 2024 7:18:31 GMT -6
New clean grain elevator chain cured the vibration in the elevator. I figure the chain was stretched enough that it was riding up on the sprocket tooth rather than sitting in the valley and that caused extra pull on the boot causing it to move around creating the shake. The extra wear at the paddle links made the chain stretch irregular. Concaves are at factory setting of 7mm and 4mm on both sides so will leave it alone till I learn more. Have an issue with one track not getting grease. Grease is leaking out at fitting, I suspect the hose end isnt tightened enough to the 90 deg fitting. Machine has autogreaser so this has me wondering if I need to do any precautions when monkeying around. Found the fresh grease so cleaned it off then ran the autolube cycle to confirm I have a problem. Will pull the hose off the distribution block today and see if I can deal with the leak. Question is, does someone have some pointers on proving it out if i think I solved it? What I would like to do is find where the hose originates on the machine, take it off, and somehow connect my grease gun to it and pump grease through the hose and to the distribution block. Don't want to run another atogreaee cycle. I got a claas grease gun now with their grease. Maybe I can screw that hose right into grease gun head, will see. But is there any precautions or no-no's with disturbing the system. If I unhook the hose at distribution block on combine is there concern with air pocket in line or something when reconnecting that will cause alarms. Not much info on autogreaser to be found.
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Post by meskie on Aug 4, 2024 7:36:02 GMT -6
Should be able to get a fitting that connects onto the hose end and put a regular grease nipple on it. Never had an issue with opening up the grease lines with the auto greaser.
Does your machine have an extra line teed into the rotor bearings? Dealer here was installing them as they found the rotor bearing weren’t getting enough grease from the auto greaser. We give them an extra 5-10 shots each at the end of the day as it goes in a lot nicer when everything is warm. I can get a picture of ours when we pull it out of the shed.
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Post by kenmb on Aug 4, 2024 9:03:42 GMT -6
That's good that I don't need to worry about disconnecting hoses, I wouldn't think it an issue but I don't know how the machine generates its alarms related to lube system. I may need to go to claas and get some kind of adapter fitting to be able to put grease in that line, I assume it is some kind of metric thread so something I won't have here, will see.
No second line to rotor bearings that I am aware of. None mentioned to me and I would think I would see some hoses hanging down and tied to machine body somewhere. If lack of grease maybe Claas addressed that via the lube blocks? Or just some units had issues. From what I read last night each port on a block is tuneable to desired amount - to an extent, this was not Claas specific info, just typically how auto lube systems are executed.
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