Patent ID: 7540804

Claim:
A method of loosening crop material jammed between a cylinder and concave grate of an agricultural combine, the method comprising: attaching a winch to a portion of the combine such that the winch location is fixed relative to the cylinder, and winding a winch cable onto the winch; engaging an arm member with the cylinder; attaching a free end of the winch cable to the arm member; operating the winch to pull the arm member toward the winch and rotate the cylinder in a reverse direction through a portion of a revolution; operating the winch in a reverse direction to provide slack in the winch cable; disengaging the arm member from the cylinder, and reengaging the arm member with the cylinder at a different location to attain a suitable orientation; operating the winch to rotate the cylinder in the reverse direction through a further portion of a revolution; repeating steps as required to loosen the crop material; wherein a drive element is attached to the end of a shaft of the cylinder, and wherein the arm member is engaged in an aperture in the drive element.