Are pick-up reels, vine lifters and lifter guards necessary?
Pick-up reels, vine lifters and/or lifter guards have become a standard feature on pulse harvesting equipment. They improve the ability to harvest the pulses, which tend to lie low to the ground, lodge or get entangled in a mess close to the ground. If the crop is swathed, a pick-up reel will help move the plant material off the cutter bar. Lifter guards on the swather allow closer cutting to the soil surface. The pick-up reels and vine lifters should be adjusted properly to provide maximum lifting action. The reel speed should coincide with ground speed.
