Many machine owners forget to inspect the rear wall of the cutterhead housing until wear causes it to sag into the rotating knives. Westerink Parts supplies suitable rear walls at a competitive price, helping you prevent a chain reaction of flying steel and major damage.
Function and importance
The rear wall of the cutterhead housing is the sheet metal that closes the housing at the top and rear. This component is sometimes forgotten during regular maintenance, which is understandable because the crop does not pass directly along the wall. Nevertheless, it does wear. A new rear wall is fitted at least two or three times during an average machine life, sometimes because of wear and sometimes because cutterhead damage has destroyed the wall.
What happens when the rear wall is worn?
If you wait too long to replace the rear wall, you may need to put the trailer behind the car and drive straight to IJsselmuiden. When the wall sags into the cutterhead, a chain reaction of flying steel begins. Almost everything in and around the cutterhead is then destroyed. The damage often continues all the way to the flap at the end of the spout. On Claas Jaguar forage harvesters, the grinding-flap cylinder is positioned above the rear wall. After such an impact, we have found these cylinders in the most unexpected places.
When is the rear wall worn?
A simple way to check the wall is to tap it with a hammer. You can often hear when the sheet is becoming thin. Also inspect the underside of the rear wall, where the weld seams are located. When they begin to wear away, replacement is urgent. The welds of the cylinder support on the rear wall can also be the starting point for initial cracks. It is difficult to give an exact operating-hour interval, but most rear walls are sold for machines with around 4,000 to 5,000 operating hours.
Installation
Replacing the rear wall is a straightforward job once the cutterhead has been removed from the forage harvester:
- Remove the feed unit and cutterhead unit from the machine.
- Remove the bolts from the rear wall.
- Loosen the bolts of the cutterhead bearing housings. They do not need to be removed completely.
- Slide the rear wall out towards the rear.
- Slide in the new wall, tighten the bolts and reinstall the units.
In brief
- What is the purpose of the component? To close the cutterhead housing at the top and rear.
- When is it worn? When the plate sounds thin during the hammer test or the lower weld seams wear away, often between 4,000 and 5,000 hours.
- What is important when purchasing or replacing? Do not wait until the wall sags. Replace it in time to prevent unnecessary damage, costs and downtime.
- Where is it available? Westerink Parts normally keeps rear walls in stock at a competitive price.
Westerink Parts BV: your specialist
At Westerink Parts, we understand the impact of a failed rear wall. We have these parts manufactured ourselves, allowing us to supply reliable quality at a competitive price. Prevent major damage and make sure your rear wall is in good condition before the season starts.
