1680 feeder chain skips in tough crops

[m@rtin_v5]

I got a frustrating issue with my 1680 and figured this is the place to ask since I'm assuming I'm not the only one.. When I'm in rice, especially tough stuff, the feeder chain on the left side occasionally jumps a tooth. My brother got the same problem when running corn.

My thought is that machines with rock traps might not see this problem, or at least not as bad. Seems like that rock trap beater would really help push material away from the back of the chain and into the rotor, especially on that left side.

Am I on to something here, or am I just dreaming? Do rock trap 1680s really avoid these feeder chain headaches?

 

[johnnimaybach]

You're right, rock traps on 1680s do help keep debris away from the feeder chain which can stop it from jumping teeth in tough crops like rice or corn. Without a rock trap , stuff can get stuck behind the chain more easily, causing those headaches. So yeah, rock traps usually make a huge difference.

 

[hh.gbs9]

I got a frustrating issue with my 1680 and figured this is the place to ask since I'm assuming I'm not the only one.. When I'm in rice, especially tough stuff, the feeder chain on the left side occasionally jumps a tooth. My brother got the same problem when running corn.

My thought is that machines with rock traps might not see this problem, or at least not as bad. Seems like that rock trap beater would really help push material away from the back of the chain and into the rotor, especially on that left side.

Am I on to something here, or am I just dreaming? Do rock trap 1680s really avoid these feeder chain headaches?

i'm with @johnnimaybach.. a rock trap can definitely help with the feeder chain jumping since its main job is to keep a constant, even flow of material moving from the feeder house into the rotor. the rock trap's beater helps aggressively pull that bunched-up material, smoothing out the flow and reducing the strain on the chain. so yes, a 1680 with a rock trap is much less likely to have this problem!!

 

[4nier]

Retrofitting a rock trap can be done, but it's pricey due to the mods needed. If rocks are a constant issue, trading up to a rock trap machine might be the cheaper move.