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If you have a 2015-2018 lexion with the twin rotors, is there any capacity change by putting in the sunny brook components and has anyone run side by side with a stock model? Claas has made a lot of changes to their cylinders and impellers in the last few years and wondering if people are just remembering how good the sunnybrook was compared to stock on their old 500 series combine and just keep ordering the new models with sunnybrook?
I harvest spring wheat, barley, canola and peas. Straw and grain are both usually dry at harvest time. If side by side testing shows an advantage in dry conditions, how much advantage (5 or 10 or more %)? And which sunnybrook components are worth putting in? I know that Don is promoting his 0 degree aps caps, but they are still very unproven on rock protection and durability (I think Don trades combines yearly). I have never plugged an impeller, but have bent the grey door above the aps a few times.
If I could get 15% more capacity for $10-15,000 it would be a quick payback. Otherwise I will wait for the original stuff to wear out.
I don’t know if you’d average 115% of stock or not.
To go Full Monty (ZAPS, cylinder, concave and impeller) It would be somewhere in your price range. Less than 2% ish of a cashed out new unit.
Too bad one couldn’t trade new Claas for new SB pieces, you’d make money even after installation cost!
If combine does not have variable speed feeder it’s an easier swap, if it has tracks it is
FAR easier.
I like the cylinder as the staggered rasp bars and fully enclosed and heavier drum run smoother and is less likely to plug.
The multi crop concave is more open than stock.
Impeller has 24 staggered paddles, stock is 12 straight paddles. 6 X two sides.
Less likely to plug.
ZAPS, (Zero degree APS caps) the most interesting even if only the newest performance idea.
As my knowledge of Claas harvesting fundamentals increased so did Claas increase power levels.
When the 770 came along (still love that V8!) and pea feed rates increased I’d hear an odd rattling under the cab followed (very) closely by feeder plugging, APS plugging, or both if feed rate wasn’t reduced. Hmm. Well below power limit.
Got to studying the APS paddles and wondered both why smooth and -36 degree paddles feed as good as they do. Or do they?
In consultation (brain storming) with Dale at Sunnybrook Welding (SB) and several versions (including a complete drum version that wisely/fortunately never saw the light of day) later we have zero degree, 5 tooth bolt on cap replacements. ZAPS.
With even more power now on a 780 real testing occured on the first set of ZAPS in 2018.
My feeding issue was completely solved. Feeder back feeding eliminated. Feeding limited only by engine power or header. (Front). Crop/ground speed this year. Pea losses on a properly setup and run 780 with 12 section rotor concave machine are virtually zero.
Turns a 780 from a reliable 50 t/hr feeder to 70 t/hr.
Didn’t think it would have much effect with other crops.
There was a consistency of performance across all crops (peas, barley, wheat, canola) though this year I’ve never felt before, just seemed to feed smoother all the time.
Plugged the APS twice this year, canola swath bunches, once concave was down to 35 mm from 10.
Lowered concave to 50, backed feeder up a bit, engage at an idle, nothing rumbled, cleared out easier than normal. With the wedging action of the paddles gone and the more aggressive tearing action reduces downstream plugging chances I believe. I plugged nothing behind APS this year. I have no doubt the APS hogs less of the power pie with ZAPS as well.
Is there any loss of separation with ZAPS?
Don't know and with high speed rotors and 12 section separation it’s irrelavent with my setup. I run APS concave closed in wheat and canola anyway, open in barley and obviously peas.
I believe the 5 toothed ZAPS also thresh more perhaps increasing concave separation anyway.
Is there any difference is rock protection?
Not sure, haven’t seen behind ZAPS yet, dug (the correct word) many rocks out of the stone trap, snowed flat wheat.
I think overall rock protection will be a wash, both ZAPS and stock will put rocks in the trap, both will put the odd one through.
Any difference in feeder dust exit?
Tough call but it’s definitely not more.
I guess you could call it promoting ZAPS, other than improving the performance of my own machine there is nothing in this for me.
I do feel every Claas owner should at least give it a critical eye.
Funny you should say trade every year, not this year, nothing offered I don’t already have or need. This unit is far and away the most pleased across the board I’ve ever been.
Oddly quiet over at the Claas camp. Even more than usual.
Hmm..
