Re: John Deere Rotors Repair/Maintenance Tips Thre
The tube at the top of the tailings elevator likes to crack where it connects to the rotor shell. I beef up the welds and make them longer and thicker than factory.
The sieve and chaffer on 50 and 60 series are prone to cracking, particularly at the front of the frame. The newest part #s are built a little stronger,but I have still seen them crack. This can only be seen by removing them from the machine. Also, if you are suddenly getting full heads of wheat in the grain tank or other large items, don't be surprised if fins are falling out of your sieve. Not uncommon for this to happen. Only fix is complete replacement.
As was a problem for years on 9600s/10s, the top feederhouse shaft slip clutch keyway cracks on 50 series combines. 60 series have a splined setup that is much better (Finally!)
The extra heavy duty feederhouse conveyor chains used for the last few years on STSs use large j-hooks to hold the connector links. I have had a number of these crack and fall out and what happens after that is not pretty (or cheap). The hooks seem to be too brittle. I still use them, but I put a small tack weld from the hook to the center pin, not the end plate as it will bind.
If you have a 50 series STS, try uprading to the elements used in the rear of the bullet rotor. It's alot cheaper than a bullet rotor and much easier to install and the performance increase is still quite noticeable. Putting a bullet rotor into a 50 series is a partial waste because the tri-stream area is not as open as a 60 series and thus cannot fullly utilise the potential of the rotor.
Don't forget the rotor driven sheave helixes on STSs used corn head grease in the cavity. Run the rotor up to full speed, and remove the plug on the rear of the sheave.(30mm) The level should be approximately 2 inches below the bottom of the hole.
The tube at the top of the tailings elevator likes to crack where it connects to the rotor shell. I beef up the welds and make them longer and thicker than factory.
The sieve and chaffer on 50 and 60 series are prone to cracking, particularly at the front of the frame. The newest part #s are built a little stronger,but I have still seen them crack. This can only be seen by removing them from the machine. Also, if you are suddenly getting full heads of wheat in the grain tank or other large items, don't be surprised if fins are falling out of your sieve. Not uncommon for this to happen. Only fix is complete replacement.
As was a problem for years on 9600s/10s, the top feederhouse shaft slip clutch keyway cracks on 50 series combines. 60 series have a splined setup that is much better (Finally!)
The extra heavy duty feederhouse conveyor chains used for the last few years on STSs use large j-hooks to hold the connector links. I have had a number of these crack and fall out and what happens after that is not pretty (or cheap). The hooks seem to be too brittle. I still use them, but I put a small tack weld from the hook to the center pin, not the end plate as it will bind.
If you have a 50 series STS, try uprading to the elements used in the rear of the bullet rotor. It's alot cheaper than a bullet rotor and much easier to install and the performance increase is still quite noticeable. Putting a bullet rotor into a 50 series is a partial waste because the tri-stream area is not as open as a 60 series and thus cannot fullly utilise the potential of the rotor.
Don't forget the rotor driven sheave helixes on STSs used corn head grease in the cavity. Run the rotor up to full speed, and remove the plug on the rear of the sheave.(30mm) The level should be approximately 2 inches below the bottom of the hole.
