Abstract: A grain deflector is described for a grain combine harvester of the type with a reel provided with radially extending arms which support a plurality of laterally projecting circumferentially spaced apart reel bat support shafts at their ends. The grain deflector comprises a grain deflector body mounted at the distal end, preferably of each of the radial arms to extend radially outward on the opposite side of the reel support shaft from the arm. Each grain deflector body includes a pair of opposed broad side faces and a peripheral edge connecting the opposed faces. The peripheral edge is preferably smoothly contoured and can be circular in shape. During operation the side faces of the grain deflector are adapted to slide past the reel bats positioned in proximity to them with a wiping action as the reel rotates and the reel bats are maintained in an upright position to thereby clean foreign material from the reel and reduce the wrapping up of such foreign material on the reel.

Abstract: A power operated sickle is provided having a plurality of stationary guards projecting forwardly from a sickle bar with relatively narrow guide channels between them wherein the channels between the guards have a length-to-width ratio on the order of about 2/1 or greater, the center distances between the guards are about twice the width of the channel between the guards and the cutting teeth cooperating with the guards are pitched to extend laterally a distance of about 1/3 the distance between the centers of the guards whereby an angle of less than about 20.degree. is established between the cutting edges of the teeth and the cooperating side edges of the guards.