Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-08-09

touiltIH NUSteu only tnfee or 1our
bushels of grain out of every thousand
they thrash, the loss of wheat alone in
the United States every year would
equal IL quantity sufficient to furnish a
normal supply of bread TO million
people for nearly half Il year. The pres
ent Importance of keeping thrashing
machines ut their highest point of etfi-
cheney thus is easily seen.
1t is probably not possible to save
all the grain. even with the most eff
cient operation under the best field
conditions. However, the careless op-
orator who does not know just what
the different parts of his machine are
for. or who does not watch them close
ly while the separator is running. may
waste u great amount of grain unnec-
essarily. He will surely have to make
frequent stops for repairs and adjust
ments. Every time a machine stops,
the whole crew, usually several men
and teams, must be idle until 1t starts
again. loss of time to everybody con-
cerned.
6auuFc 10 separate.
If machine fails to separate all
the grain from the straw, II is usually
due to one or more of the following
causes: % The machine is not being
run at its proper speed. CO it is being
crowded beyond its capacity, (3) the
cylinder fails to thrash all the kernels
out Of the heads, (4) the separating
mechanism is not level, or 90 the
blast Is not adjusted properly.
Cracked grain is another source Of
waste which may become serious.
Cracked grain may be due to excessive
speed of the cylinder. to the cylinder
being too close to the cOncave teeth,
or 10 grain being returned In the tail
inGs elevator and run through the CYL
inder repeatedly. Loss both from poor
separation and cracked grain can be
prevented in large measure by proper
adjustment of the machine and atten-
ton to n while In operation.
Reduce Loss of Time.
The loss OF time due to stops on ac-
count Of breakage and wearing parts
getting out OF adjustment, SO frequent
with thrashing machines, can be great
ly reduced and the life of the separa-
tor heightened appreciably if the ma
chine is Overhauled preparatory to
starting the seasons work and all the
parts put in good repair and adjust
ment. and afterward watched intelli-
gently while in operation. If the grain
is TO be thrashed rapidly and waste re-
duced to minimum, Ii is essential
that the engine should have sufficient
power and the belt pulley be Of the
right size to run the separator mt the
proper speed at all times. The speed
In revolutions per minute at which the
cylinder should run Is invariably
stated by the manufacturer I'm the in
structions accompanying the machine
and is often stamped on the machine
itself. A variation Of more than a few
per cent either above or below this
stated speed Is sufficient to impair Sc
riOusly the efficiency of the entire ma
chine.
Since this Is SO important, the
thrasherman should be sure that his
engine will not only develop sufficient
power to drive the machine at the
proper speed with the ordinary load,
but that 1t also has enough reserve
power to maintain normal speed for
few seconds under n heavy load. Even
with the most careful feeding, occa-
siOnal choking will occur, and. If the
engine cannot maintain Its regular
speed with slight overload. more or
less loss Of grain will be unavoidable.
Don't Guess at Speed.
The operator should not guess at the
speed of the machine, for variation
of per cent may reduce Its efficiency.
The only way to determine the speed
satisfactorily as closely as this is to
use speed indicator. If speed indl-
Gator was not furnished with the ma
50 or less. One of these will last for
years, and will enable the thrasherman
TO determine at any time the speeds at
which his machine is running.
A thrashing machine cannot be ex-
pected TO do good work unless the belt |
ing and pulleys are kept in good condi- |
ton. The speed at which the different |
parts should run and the power re-
quired to drive them are carefully cal |
The pulleys must be kept in line so |
that the entire surface Of the belt will |
run on them II all the power is TO be |
Also the strain on a belt |
is much greater If it is allowed TO pro-
iect over one side of a pulley, and |
thus be pulled across the rim. A belt |