It’s Like Running Half a Header
Imagine buying a new header, then only bolting on half the tines. Sounds a little crazy, right? That’s basically what happens when you try to run just a few Duck Foot Paddle Tines instead of installing a full set. You’re not giving the crop the even, consistent feed it needs across the entire header. And that inconsistency? It shows up fast.
Welcome to Wad Feeding (And Missed Crop)
When you run partial paddle tines, you throw off the rhythm. Some crop feeds great where the paddles are, but in the gaps? It builds up. You end up wad feeding into the combine. That means your header’s doing more stopping than harvesting, and you’re missing out on patches of crop.
We’ve tested this. Farmers have tried every configuration you can imagine—every-other, every-third, just the middle rows. Trust us: the only thing those setups consistently deliver is inefficiency.
Header Loss Creeps In
Once you start wad feeding and skipping crop, header loss isn’t far behind. You’re putting strain on your machine, wasting fuel, and losing yield—all because the feeding isn’t even. And hey, that’s not what Duck Foot is about. We Built These to Work Together.
Duck Foot Paddle Tines were designed to give your header a consistent, aggressive feed. The full set works as a system. Partial installs just can’t replicate that performance. That’s why we don’t sell you just a few. Not because we want to upsell you—but because we know anything less won’t work, and we’re not about to set you up to fail.
Don’t Forget Your Settings
Installing the full set is step one—but to really dial in the benefits, you’ll want to adjust your reel settings too. That includes reel height, reel speed, and reel pitch. These tweaks help match your header’s rhythm to the improved crop flow Duck Foot provides, giving you smoother feeding, fewer slugs, and even less header loss.
Bottom line
If you want to get the full benefit of Duck Foot Paddle Tines—better feeding, fewer stops, less header loss—you’ve got to go all in. A couple paddles just isn’t going to cut it. Got questions? Talk to your local dealer or give us a shout at 1-855-612-7006. We’re always here to help you make the most of your harvest.