John Deere 131

131 Mower-Conditioner cutterbar (shields raised for visibility)

Power is transmitted from the 1000-rpm PTO on the front of tractor through gearcases to the cutterbar.

• Standard position for main gearcase utilizes clockwise (as determined by direction of travel) rotation of the front PTO.
  • Gearcase can be reversed for use with tractors with a counterclockwise (as determined by direction of travel) front PTO
• Cutterbar is protected by a slip clutch and overrunning clutch
• Cutterbar is securely mounted within the frame for strength and durability

Power is transmitted to the rotary disks through fully enclosed gears, running in oil, for quiet, smooth, reliable operation

• The high-speed rotary disks cut in the toughest conditions. The disks rotate at 2986 rpm.
• Low-profile design enables cutting close to the ground at a flat angle helping prevent damage to the disks and knives.
• Pinion gear is easily removed from the top of the cutterbar for service
  • Idler gears can be removed from access area after removal of pinion gear

Turnbuckle adjustment

Cutting height is adjusted by changing the turnbuckle on the front hitch. Cutting range is from 30 mm to 80 mm (1.2 in. to 3.15 in.).

Impeller conditioner

The mower-conditioner is equipped with 54 free-swinging, steel impeller tines. This John Deere conditioner provides excellent conditioning performance and fluffy windrows. 

Impeller conditioning is standard equipment on all John Deere mower-conditioners.

Proper conditioning in a wide range of crops can be achieved when the conditioner is properly adjusted.

The impeller conditioner works well in legumes, especially alfalfa and most all-grass crops. Impeller conditioners are not recommended for thick-stemmed or cane-type crops, such as sudan or sudex, or crops over 5-ft tall.

How an impeller conditioner works:

Impeller conditioning

1. As hay is cut by rotating knives, tines (2) pick up the plants and carry them through the machine: Tines are free swinging to reduce damage to the conditioner if rocks or other solid objects are struck. 
2. As the plant passes through, it rubs against the conditioning hood (1) and other plants: Scuffing action removes the waxy surface from the stem of the plant to allow faster evaporation of moisture.
3. The pivot point for the conditioning hood is also adjustable to provide a wider range of conditioning intensity.

Adjusting impeller speed (shield removed for illustration)

The speed at which the tines rotate will also affect the degree of conditioning. Two impeller speeds can be achieved by interchanging the upper sheave and the lower sheave.

• With the sheaves in the position shown, the impeller turns at 888 rpm; this is ideal for grasses.
• If the sheaves are reversed, the impeller turns at 615 rpm; this is ideal for legume crops.