The 500R offers choices of conditioners to meet producer needs. Varying crop types require different conditioners to deliver maximum performance in terms of window formation, cut quality, and drydown time.
Urethane conditioning rolls
Urethane conditioning rollsThe urethane roll conditioner works well in legumes, especially alfalfa and most all-grass crops. In general, roll conditioners are better suited for thick-stemmed, cane-type, and taller grasses more than 1.5-m (5-ft) tall.
Molded urethane rolls are formed by a cool molding process that does not distort or warp the steel core of the roll, ensuring the rolls are arrow straight and cylindrical, so they can be accurately spaced close together for uniform conditioning along the length of the roll.
The intermittent, recessed-cleat design gives more crimping edges for greater pressure per square inch, which results in superior conditioning and faster crop drying.
An adjustable swath board is included with the urethane conditioner roll option.
V-10 steel conditioning rolls
Close-up of V-10 steel conditioning rolls The V-10 steel conditioner rolls feature 10 angled flutes arranged in a chevron pattern, or V-pattern, along the length of the steel core.
Steel rolls offer improved wear life over urethane rolls, particularly in adverse crop conditions.
Advantages of the V-10 conditioner roll over the previous straight-flute design are as follows:
An adjustable swath board is included with the V-10 steel conditioner roll option.
Replaceable end shafts The shafts on the Tri-Lobe rolls are steel forgings that are then machined. These precision parts have minimal runout, which means the rolls themselves rotate precisely around their axis.
This precision enables the rolls to be adjusted to a minimum clearance for consistent conditioning along the length of the rolls.
The machined, forged roll ends are bolted into the core of the Tri-Lobe steel roll. In the event a roll end is damaged, the entire roll does not need to be replaced. Each shaft can be replaced individually, resulting in lower repair costs.
For serviceability, each roll end has two threaded holes so bolts can be used to pull the shafts from the steel core of the roll.
An adjustable swath board is included with Tri-Lobe conditioner option.
John Deere value:
Performance | Cost of operation |
- Three choices of conditioning options maximize performance in multiple crop types
- Chevron pattern improves crop flow through conditioner and delivers consistent windrower formation
| - Steel rolls offer longer wear life
- Tri-Lobe conditioner features bolt-on, replaceable roll ends
|
Tri-Lobe™ steel conditioning rolls
Tri-Lobe steel conditioning rolls Close-up of Tri-Lobe steel conditioning rolls Tri-Lobe steel conditioning rolls have three intermeshing chevron lobes to crush the length of the stem for improved conditioning and faster drydown. The rolls are manufactured using a patented process.
The steel material increases wear life, especially in abrasive crops or soil conditions. Durability is a distinct advantage compared to other crusher-style rolls made of rubber or urethane. The chevron design of the rolls gives positive feeding and improved crop flow.
These rolls are well-suited for use in alfalfa where reduced curing time results in less bleaching of the crop. In heavy, thick-stemmed crops, such as sudan or sudex, the steel construction of the rolls does a very good job of breaking up the nodes on the stems to improve drydown.
