Flotation is controlled by accumulators on both the right-hand and left-hand cutting platforms. The easy-to-read pressure gauges (one for each cutting platform) enable the operator to easily adjust the float pressure to the desired level. A ball valve by the pressure gauge is opened by hand and by a selection on the control box mounted in the tractor. The tractor selective control valve (SCV) pressure can be adjusted to meet various ground or crop conditions. The control box is used to adjust flotation of both the rear cutting platforms. For the R870R, usual pressure will be 90 bar, (11305 psi). Minimum will be 80 bar (1160 psi), and the maximum pressure will be 100bar (1450 psi). For the R950R and the R990R, usual pressure will be 100 bar (1450 psi). Minimum will be 90 bar (1305 psi) and the maximum pressure will be 110 bar (1595 psi). The front and rear mower-conditioners utilize a hydro-pneumatic suspension system enabling them the ability to follow ground contours. This simple system requires no springs to adjust the flotation system.

• Double-rod hydraulic cylinders are used to both lift the cutting platform and provide flotation.
• One side of the cylinders is linked to an accumulator to provide flotation.
• The other side of the cylinder is used for lifting the cutting platform for transport or going over headlands.
• Suspension system enables cutting platform to follow ground contours at productive cutting speeds.
• Flotation is adjusted by opening a valve and using the tractor selective control valve SCV lever to alter pressure according to field profile. An easy-to-read gauge enables the operator to confirm that the pressure is within the recommended range. Ground pressure remains consistent even when cutting on uneven ground.

To improve driver comfort, hydraulic overlapping is available with +/- 20 cm (+/- 7.9 in.) if needed, actuated from the monitor in the cab. Ground contour following will be + 24 cm (+ 9.4 in.) upward and – 22.5 cm (- 8.9 in.) downward. Ground clearance when raising the platform on headlands is approximately 40 cm (16 in.). Cylinders work independently to enable the cutting platform to pivot from side to side to give clean cutting even on uneven ground. Angular range:

• + 13.3 degrees / – 8.1 degrees with 50 cm (19.7 in.) overlap.
• + 8.7 degrees / -4.1 degrees with 30 cm (11.8 in.) overlap.

On the R870R, R950R, and R990R Twin Rear-Mounted Conditioners, a hydraulic breakaway system is standard equipment:

• Should an obstacle be encountered, the cutting platform swings back and lifts up to pass over the obstacle.
• This reduces the potential damage to the cutting and conditioning unit and decreases maintenance costs.
• For productivity and ease of use, the machine automatically resets on the go.

This flotation system ensures a perfect ground following, reducing soil compaction and providing an excellent cut. Crop stubble is preserved and regrowth is accelerated.

Simple monitor for easy operation of the rear mower’s hydraulic functions

The simple monitor enables the operator to easily operate all of the hydraulic functions of the twin rear-mounted mower conditioner. The parts of the monitor include the following (arrows in the image above correspond to the alpha-numeric values below):

1. Polarity inversion display light
2. On/off display light
3. On/off push button
4. Function selector 4:
   1. B — Rear mower-conditioner suspension adjustment
   2. 1 — Working/transport selection
   3. 2 — Right-hand or left-hand individual mower-conditioner selection and headland selection
5. Push button for transport position
6. Three-way selector (left, center, or right)
7. Display lights

The control panel enables the operator to easily operate all of the hydraulic functions of the R870R, R950R, and R990R. Features/functions of the control panel include:

• On/off push-button switch with indicator light
• Reverse polarity indicator light
• Folding twin rear-mounted mower-conditioner into transport position
• Adjusting floatation of R870R, R950R, and R990R Twin Rear-Mounted Mower-Conditioners
• Zone selection switch
• Headland turn selection switch

With the power switch on, the zone selector dial (number 4) determines which functions are active by powering either Zone 1 or Zone 2. With the zone selector switch moved to activate Zone 1 the operator can fold the rear mowers into transport position or adjust the cutterbar flotation on either the front or rear cutterbars.

• The rear mower conditioners can only be raised into the transport position after turning off the rear PTO and waiting for all components to stop moving. The rear mower-conditioners must also be moved into the headland position prior to folding for transport.
• The left-hand switch in zone 1 is used to fold and unfold the mower-conditioner.
  • The switch must be held while activating the proper tractor selective control valve (SCV) to fold or unfold the mower-conditioner.
• It is a momentary switch and will return to its neutral position when released.
  • A mechanical lock secures the platforms in the transport position.

Zone 2 is the primary setting for field operation. The three-position switch in Zone 2 is used to select the headland turn or working position of the rear cutting units. The position of the switch will determine which cutting platform or both will be raised

• Center position – using the tractor SCV, both cutting platforms will be raised or lowered when making a headland turn
• Left position – the left-hand cutting platform will remain raised when reentering the crop (used to avoid recutting windrows)

Right position – the right-hand cutting platform will remain raised when reentering the crop (used to avoid recutting windrows).

Power is transmitted from the 1000 rpm tractor with 44.4-mm (1.75-in.) power take-off (PTO) through a central gearcase to the twin rear-mounted cutterbars.

• Each cutterbar is protected by a slip clutch and overrunning clutch.
• The 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
• To meet serviceability, the cutting bed is lubricated for life; no oil changes necessary.
• The high-speed rotary disks cut in the toughest conditions. The disks rotate at 2986 rpm.
• All disks are offering an orbital cutting diameter of 440 mm (17.3 in.).
• Low-profile design enables cutting close to the ground at a flat angle helping prevent damage to the disks and knives.
  • Cutting height is adjusted by changing cutting angle.
• 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.

Groove on quill shaft, designed to shear upon severe impact with a foreign object, reduce the possibility of damage to the internal components of the cutterbar.

Quick knives exchange

This cutterbar has been developed to increase productivity through a significant down-time reduction when changing knives. The amount of time spent on changing dropped down from three minutes per knife to about 15 seconds. It is an efficient way to save up to 40 minutes of maintenance time on each platform. Each mower conditioner on the R870R is fitted with seven disks. The R950R and the R990R are fitted with eight disks. Operators only need to insert the special tool (attached to the mower-conditioner) between the disc and spring blade, push it down and remove the knife. No parts are lost during the change process. Operator comfort is even further enhanced since knives used on the QKE cutterbar are designed to provide nearly the same cutting height as the classic cutterbar from 35 mm to 85 mm (1.4 in. to 3.3 in.). These knives, with a double cutting face, are the only one to guarantee excellent cutting quality and efficient use with the QKE cutterbar: no crop accumulation and easy come back to cutting position. Large farms, machinery rings, and contractors need high-quality output and ease of serviceability:

• The cutterbars are fast mowing, with high-quality work and reliable setup.
• Each disc is protected against heavy shocks with a shear point located on the disc drive.
• All modules and intermediate gears are quickly and easily interchangeable.

To meet high-quality output, the cutterbar is an oil-immersed gear-driven cutting bed:

• All discs are offering an orbital cutting diameter of 440 mm (17.3 in.).
• With seven discs, the cutting width will be 3.1 m (10.2 ft), and with eight discs 3.5 m (11.5 ft).
• Disc speeds are 2986 rpm

To meet serviceability, the cutting bed is lubricated for life:

• No oil changes necessary.
• Discs are fitted with quick-change knives technology.
• Cutting height is from 35 to 85 mm (1.4 to 3.3 in.).

Producers need to be reactive to weather conditions when harvest is ready. They must cut faster, with efficient conditioning using swathing or wide spread.

• The steel fingers provide the right impact on the plant, to remove the waxy coat.
• The R870R is equipped with four tines in V-shaped on both sides of the conditioner and 76 straights.
• The R950R and R990R are equipped with four tines in V-shaped on both sides of the conditioner and 100 straights.
• This accelerates the drying process while requiring only little maintenance.

To improve productivity:

• Five conditioning positions are available with two rotation speeds of 755 or 1000 RPM.
• Speed change is done by a simple selector on the gear box.

The desired swath size can easily be obtained with adjustable swath deflectors:

• From 1.2 to 2.4 m (3.9 to 7.9 ft) on the F310R and F350R
• From 1.3 to 3.2 m (4.3 to 10.5 ft) on the R870R, R950R, and R990R
• Wide spread is available on all machines when very fast drying is required

Proper conditioning in a wide range of crops can be achieved when the conditioner is properly adjusted. The impeller is not designed to condition leguminous, however if it has to, choose to light conditioning effect with the 755 rpm rotation speed and the conditioner adjustment lever on the minimum position. Proper conditioning in a wide range of crops can be achieved when the conditioner is properly adjusted.

How an impeller conditioner works:

As hay is cut by rotating knives, tines 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. As the plant passes through, it rubs against the conditioning hood and other plants: Scuffing action removes the waxy surface from the stem of the plant to allow faster evaporation of moisture. The pivot point for the conditioning hood is also adjustable to provide a wider range of conditioning intensity. The speed at which the tines rotate will also affect the degree of conditioning. Two impeller speeds can be achieved by moving the speed selector on the gearbox. High speed will give an efficient conditioning while the lower speed. Will give a lighter conditioning. With the selector on the rabbit position the impeller turns at 1000 rpm. If the selector is on the turtle position, the impeller turns at 755 rpm.

Rolls conditioning

Square flex conditioning rolls are ideal for alfalfa, but also for heavy forage like sorghum or grasses such as oats or sudan grass. The large, 24-cm (9.45-in.) diameter provides a good throughput capacity and ensures smooth material flow without material sticking to the rolls. Conditioning pressure can be adjusted up to 500 kg/m (336 lb/ft) by rotating a central adjusting screw placed on the torsion bars. This provides a wide range for conditioning pressure. The double animated rolls are directly driven by maintenance-free double transmissions. This allows for synchronization between the two rolls to never need adjustment. Square flex conditioning rolls are only available on the F310R and the R950R Mower Conditioners.

The available room for a windrow is a function of wheel spacing and tire width. The windrow width of the F310R and F350R Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioner may be narrower than the windrows from a Twin Rear-Mounted Mower-Conditioner if the forming shields are adjusted so the tractor does not drive on the windrow that is produced.

Front-mount mower-conditioner windrow formation

The desired swath width can easily be obtained by loosening the handle on each side and moving the adjustable swath deflectors to the desired position. Swath width is adjustable from 1.2 m to 2.4 m (3.9 to 7.9 ft) for the F310R and F350R.

Rear-mount mower-conditioner windrow formation

Forming shields are easily adjusted to control material flow. This allows the operator to match the windrow width to harvesting requirements. The forming shields are easily adjusted to match harvest requirements. No tools are required to adjust the forming shields. Windrow width on each unit can be adjusted from 1.3 to 3.2 m (4.3 ft. to 10.5 ft). Wide spread is available on all machines when very fast drying is required. The bundle consists of vanes that are installed behind the conditioning hood. The windrow width when using the widespread kit can be adjusted to be approximately the same as the cutting width of the platform.

Starting in model year 2016, there will be three triple-mounted mower-conditioner (TMMC) systems available from John Deere. The R870R system will have a front-mounted F310R mower and two rear 3.1-m (10.2-ft) wide mower-conditioners for a total of 8.7 m (28.5 ft), system cutting width. The R950R will also have an F310R on front but will have two 3.5 m (11.5 ft) mower-conditioners mounted on the rear for a total of 9.5 m (31.2 ft) cutting width. The final and largest system is the R990R. This TMMC system will have three 3.5 m (11.5 ft) mower conditioners for a cutting width of 9.9 m (32.5 ft) per pass. To prepare for transporting, the side curtains of the F310R or F350R Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioner are manually unlocked and folded into the transport position. This will reduce the overall width during transport. The transport lock lever on the front-mounted mower-conditioner is engaged so that side-to-side oscillation during transport is eliminated. The side shield protection and side curtains are unlocked and pinned automatically to reduce the overall transport height of the TMMC. The side shield protection provides rigidity to the side curtains during cutting and is folded down in transport to reduce the overall height. When getting the rear mower conditioner in working position with the monitor, the protective side shield, fitted on both side, automatically move in working position thanks to 2 hydraulic cylinders. When preparing the rear mower conditioner in transport position, the shields will come back automatically in transport position. Rear three-point hitch may be adjusted, as necessary, to assure the overall height of the mower-conditioner does not exceed 4.0 m (13 ft, 1 in.). A spring-loaded safety lock on the main frame secures the mower-conditioner in the raised position. The transport width will be dictated by the transport width of the Front-Mounted Mower-Conditioner, meaning 2.99 m (9.8 ft) with the F310R, and 3.48 m (11.4 ft) with the F350R. Once the front mower is in transport position, return to the cab of the tractor. To fold the rear mowers into the transport position, place dial indicator (4) in picture below on setting 1 and depress button 5 and tractor selective control valve (SCV). The parts of the monitor include the following (arrows in the image above correspond to the alpha-numeric values below):

1. Polarity inversion display light
2. On/off display light
3. On/off push button
4. Function selector 4:
   1. B — Rear mower-conditioner suspension adjustment
   2. 1 — Working/transport selection
   3. 2 — Right-hand or left-hand individual mower-conditioner selection and headland selection
5. Push button for transport position
6. Three-way selector (left, center, or right)
7. Display lights