Volume
4 Issue 2 May
22, 2007
How to Check The Rollers on Your
Mower Conditioner for Proper Spacing
Before doing this procedure, be SURE to do the following:
- Shut off the tractor
- Disconnect the PTO shaft or hydraulic pump
- Lower the cutting platform
Generally, the roll clearance should be 1/16 to 3/32 of an inch.
If the clearance is less, excess leaf loss and roll wear can occur.
If the clearance is significantly more than this range, then the
crop will not be conditioned as effectively and will dry slower.
 Cut
three pieces of typical household aluminum foil 18 inches long. The
foil strips should be at least 12 inches wide (Figure
1). Form three separate rolls by wrapping a foil strip around a
rod, pipe or dowel that is 3/8 inches in diameter. Take care not to
crush the foil roll as you remove it.
 Place
one roll of foil in the approximate center of the conditioning rolls
and the remaining two foil rolls about 1 foot from each end of the
conditioning rolls. The foil rolls should be placed perpendicular to
the roll longitudinal axis (Figure
2). Make sure the cutting platform is fully lowered. This is the
only safe way to make this measurement, plus on some
mower-conditioners, raising the platform also opens and separates
the rolls preventing an accurate measure of the minimum roll
clearance.
Turn the rolls over by hand until the rolls of foil come
completely through the rolls. The rolls will crush the foil rolls
and the minimum roll clearance can be determined by using a digital
or dial caliper to measure the thickness of the foil roll. Take
several measurements of the thickness along the length of each foil
roll and determine an overall average. The measurement should be
taken where the “crimp” or smallest clearance occurs.
Jim Stordahl, Clearwater/Polk County
U of MN Extension
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