New "Filler Guard" fills the gap between existing guards to double the cutting action of each full sickle stroke, according to the manufacturer the Crary Co., Fargo, N. Dak.

Crary is the company that introduced Harvestaire -- the forced air system that replaces combine reels -- which FARM SHOW was the first to tell you about in its Vol. 7, No. 1, 1983, issue. Like the Harvestaire system, the new Filler Guard concept comes from Australia.

It's available in 1-ft. sections and fits on floating, flex and straight bar combine headers. The additional guard between each existing guard provides double the cutting area for each sickle section and reduces the side movement of the plant stems by 50%. The company explains that the stem now has less than 1 1/2 in. to move, rather than the 3 in. without the Filler Guard, thus reducing crop losses and increasing ground speed.

The sections bolt on in the same holes as the guards. An added advantage, according to Crary, is that, with the attachment available in 1-ft. sections, you can purchase several to prove to yourself that the concept works before converting the entire cutterbar.