The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-08-31

- lf H N.rs
prepared by the United. States Depart
M ment Of. Agricultural
The most essential thing, in setting
a separator for thraShing is 10 get 1t
level. Here again the thrasherman
should not guess, but should have a
good spirit level and use It at every
setting. To do it's best work the ma
chine must be as nearly level as pos
sible from side TO side, and it Is gen
orally conceded best to have it level
lengthwise, although few inches diff.
ference in level between the front and
rear ends Is not likely to be detrt
mental II the machine is set on
soft ground, one or two of the wheels
may sink further into the ground than
the others after IL has been standing
fora short time. and the oPeratoF
should not forget TO watch this point.
4 A very slight difference in level be-
tween the two sides OF the separator
will make the shafts all run against
the bearings on, the lower side and
have tendency 10 cause them to heat
II will also cause the grain constantly
TO work toward the low side of the sep
/. nrator and make II more difficult for
the cleaning mechanism to do good
work. Even II the machine is set on
barn floor, 1t should he ieveled care.
/ fully, for barn floors are rarcly pre-.
cisely level. and the weight Of sepa-
rator may make II sag in weak places.
The main drive belt should hang
loosely over the pulleys, with lust
enough tension to keep II running
smoothly. II II is too tight. It will
have a tendency TO pull the separator
out Of place and viii put unnecessary
strain on the cylinder shaft and box
ings and possibly make them heat or
pull the cylinder out OF line so that
the teeth will net run true. Uses
When thrashing in the open. IT is
well TO pay attention 10 the direction
OF the wind, IL there is any choice
In the direction in which the machine
is to be set. 1t is much more pleasant
for the men working at the machine
II It can be set So that the wind blows
the dust and chaff away from them
II a steam engine Is used, the settlup
should be snch also that sparks will
he carried away from the separator
and straw stack. aH.tH
The separator should always b
blocked soldly 10 prevent vibration a:
much as possible. aud to prevent the
belt from pulling the machine for
ward. II will frequently save some
time If blocks of the right size ant
shape for This purpose are selected Of
prepared before the thrashng starts
: and carried, with the machine from
! place to place. wornout or broker
plowshares make excellent blocks.
Cylinder and concaves. m
The problem of adjusting the cylin
der and concaves Is to get them place.
in proper relation TO each other, witt
the right number and arrangement o
] teeth in the. concnves for the grail
j that is being thrashed. The adjust
ment should be such as thoroughly 4
loosen all the. grain from the head
without cracking or breaking up tn
straw into such fine pieces that sepa
ration will he difficult.
It is essential that the cylinder an
concaves be adjusted so that eac
tooth is at all times equally dlstan
from the two between which 1t is pass
q ing. and that the concaves he KEEP
n close enough TO the cylinder that VI
thrashed heads cannot get through
q The first thing in adjusting the cylr
der is 70 see that the shaft is aligne
Il properly. that u.s. that one end is NJ
i further forward than the other. Their
is a constant tendency for the end {
the shaft TO which the main dirty
& pulley Is attached to phil forwar,
4 and nj the, same time force the othe
81 end hack. The next step is TO take Y
q any superluous end play. Some PR
vision for regulating end play IL foup
on all machines. The space that mu'
he left to prevent friction on the en-
Of the shaft aud consequent heating
from one thlrty.second TO one sixt
fourth of an inch, or Just enough
allow the shaft TO run freely. Al
n more play than is absolutely necessai
"a should not be tolerated, as II ALLOW
N the cylinder teeth to get close to y
concaye teeth on one side and corr
spondlnLly far away on the ether III
distance between the cylinder and ca
cave teeth when. properly adjusted
generally not much over an eighth
& an inch. 1t Is easily seen that a We
little end play will cause cracking
the grain on the one side md ollo
unthrashcd heads 20 pass through
M the other For the same reason
Is important that oil teeth IN both 4
cylinder and concaves he ke
straight. There should, always,
wrcnches In the tool box for straigl
Ing any which get ont Of line.
Q self-Feeders.
A large majority OF the thrash
machines Of the country are M
equipped with self-fceders. II Isl
mistake, however. TO assume that
cause tho feeding Is done mcchf
lcnlly the feeder viii always delly
tho uufhrushed Grain "a Tho evlind