Cutter Bar vs Pick-up Header

[townsendbp]

It's been several years since any serious involvement with harvesting equipment, but I was wondering if perhaps someone with some knowledge (as opposed to just an opinion) might help with a question. Most all older pull type combines have a pick-up header...never used one myself and was wondering if the pickup is actually attached directly to an existing header ( minus the cutter bar & reel) or if it's a completely different animal. I'm interested in a pull type but have no use for a pickup header. Thanks in advance for any help....

[oldbrownsierra]

Pickup header is a small combine auger header with a pickup attachment attached to it. It has no reel, and no knife or guards, but has a driveline and auger. The pickup attaches to the front and sides of the header. It is usually hydraulically driven.

In canada, most SP combines have a pickup header as well. The rest of the world seems to be hit and miss for them.

[townsendbp]

Soooo, would I be right in assuming that in order to restore the header to a cutter bar type, the pickup would have to be removed and the cutter bar, along with knives & guards, and the reel reinstalled along with whatever driving mechanism was designed by the manufacturer...??

[oldbrownsierra]

Originally Posted by townsendbp

Soooo, would I be right in assuming that in order to restore the header to a cutter bar type, the pickup would have to be removed and the cutter bar, along with knives & guards, and the reel reinstalled along with whatever driving mechanism was designed by the manufacturer...??

Now that's were it will get a little tricky depending on the make a model. Generally speaking the cutter bar is still on a pickup header as its an integral part of the structure of the header. But a cutterbar on a pickup header can be (not necessarily is) different than that of a straight cut header of that same era. Most pickup headers that I have seen, you can take the pickup off, bolt on the guards and hold downs, slide in a knife and then install the knife drive and your cutting system is ready. You would still need a reel and reel drive of course.

[townsendbp]

Very Helpful!! Thanks you much, brooks