Patent ID: 8857139

Claim:
A method for reducing stalk shear in a corn head row unit, said method comprising the steps: a. removing a gathering chain drive sprocket, wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is the original equipment on said corn head row unit, and wherein said gathering chain drive sprocket is cooperatively engaged with a first source of rotational power originating from a gearbox mounted to said corn head row unit; b. installing a kit gathering chain drive sprocket in place of said gathering chain drive sprocket such that said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is cooperatively engaged with said first source of rotational power, wherein said kit gathering chain drive sprocket is at least twenty percent (20%) smaller than said gathering chain drive sprocket; c. causing a reduction of the linear speed of a gathering chain engaged with said kit gathering chain drive sprocket by at least twenty percent (20%) via said installing step; d. engaging a first stalk roll with a second source of rotational power originating from said gearbox; e. engaging a second stalk roll with said second source of rotational power originating from said gearbox; f. positioning a corn plant stalk between said first and second stalk rolls; g. providing rotational power to said gearbox; h. allowing said first and second stalk rolls to apply energy to said corn plant stalk in a substantially vertical direction; and i. simultaneously allowing said gathering chain to apply energy to said corn plant stalk in a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the rate at which said gathering chain applies energy to said corn plant stalk is reduced compared to the rate applied when using said gathering chain drive sprocket as opposed to said kit gathering chain drive sprocket.