Chain-Type Cutterbar

Chain-Type Cutterbar MOWERS Mowers (31H) 26-2-20 That chain-type continous sickle cutting system, which we first told you about nearly four years ago (Vol. 22, No. 6), will soon be on the market, says HCC, Inc., Mendota, Ill. Invented by Tom Loftus, an innovative Illinois farmer, the revolutionary new cutting system consists of standard 3-in. sickle sections attached to a high-strength continuous chain that runs inside a patented channel and sickle guard. Sprockets at each end of the combine header are driven either by combine hydraulics or by independent hydraulics. "We've been getting a clean cut at high speeds in all our testing," states Don Bickel, HCC's VP of Engineering. "In an Arkansas test, we were cutting 75 bu. per acre milo at 7 mph, which the operators said they could never achieve with standard cutting systems. What's more, operators said vibration was virtually eliminated." HCC plans extensive field tests this year and will introduce the Razer cutting system to market in 2003. In tests the company has retrofitted the continuous cutterbar to Deere and Case-IH combines. They also plan on retrofitting New Holland and Gleaner combines. Price has not yet been determined. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, HCC, Inc., 1501 1st Ave., Box 952, Mendota, Ill. 61342 (ph 815 539-9371; fax 815 539-7331; Website: www.hccincorporated.com).

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