MacDon FlexDraper FD75 - Cutting Action and Knife Components

214323 523 Revision B
8.2 Cutting Action and Knife Components
Problem Solution Refer to
Symptom: Ragged or uneven cutting of crop
Knife hold-downs not adjusted
properly
Adjust hold-downs
Checking and Adjusting Knife Hold-
Downs, page 410
Knife sections or guards are worn or
broken
Replace all worn and broken cutting
parts
6.9 Knife Drive, page 417
Knife is not operating at
recommended speed
Check engine speed of combine
Refer to the combine operator’s
manual
Ground speed too fast for reel speed
Reduce ground speed or increase reel
speed
• 3.7.5 Reel Speed, page 85
• 3.7.6 Ground Speed, page 86
Reel fingers not lifting crop properly
ahead of knife
Adjust reel position/finger pitch
• 3.7.10 Reel Fore-Aft Position, page
90
• 3.7.11 Reel Tine Pitch, page 97
Cutterbar too high Lower cutting height 3.7.1 Cutting Height, page 54
Header angle too flat Steepen header angle 3.7.4 Header Angle, page 78
Bent knife causing binding of cutting
parts
Straighten bent knife and align guards 6.8.7 Knife Guards, page 404
Cutting edge of guards not close
enough or parallel to knife sections
Align guards
6.8.7 Knife Guards, page 404
Tangled/tough-to-cut crop
Install stub guards
• See your MacDon Dealer
• Checking and Adjusting Knife
Hold-Downs, page 410
• 7.3.3 Stub Guard Conversion Kit,
page 512
Reel too far back Move reel forward
3.7.10 Reel Fore-Aft Position, page 90
Loose knife drive belt
Adjust drive belt tension 6.9.2 Knife Drive Belts, page 424
Symptom: Knife plugging
Reel too high or too far forward
Lower reel or move reel rearward
• 3.7.9 Reel Height, page 89
• 3.7.10 Reel Fore-Aft Position, page
90
Ground speed to slow
Increase ground speed 3.7.6 Ground Speed, page 86
Loose knife drive belt
Adjust drive belt tension 6.9.2 Knife Drive Belts, page 424
Improper knife hold-down adjustment Adjust hold-down
Checking and Adjusting Knife Hold-
Downs, page 410
Dull or broken knife section
Replace knife section
6.8.1 Replacing Knife Section, page
399
Bent or broken guards Align or replace guards 6.8.7 Knife Guards, page 404
Reel fingers not lifting crop properly
ahead of knife
Adjust reel position/ finger pitch
• 3.7.10 Reel Fore-Aft Position, page
90
• 3.7.11 Reel Tine Pitch, page 97
TROUBLESHOOTING