Take the field.
More harvest. Less compromise.
The Raptor was built to address the frustrations operators have accepted for too long. Patented finger section change system. In-cab CVT speed control. Three-section design.
Why a stripper header?
K-Hart built its reputation helping farmers seed into difficult residue conditions. The more time the company spent with operators running stripper headers, the more it understood that stripper harvesting and seeding are not independent decisions. Standing residue, preserved moisture, reduced soil disturbance at harvest: the benefits of how you harvest compound across the season.
What also became clear was that alongside the agronomic benefits, a set of frustrations had settled in and stopped being questioned.
- Finger sections that required a full disassembly for a routine repair.
- Drive systems that ran hot on long days.
- Parts that were difficult to source during harvest.
- Speed changes that meant stopping the machine and reaching for tools.
The Raptor began with a simple question: why had those compromises become accepted as part of stripper harvesting?
What stripper harvesting delivers.
Operators who run stripper headers understand the agronomic case. For those evaluating the system, here's what drives adoption.
Standing residue.
The straw stays in the field, standing. That means better snow catch, improved moisture preservation over winter, and a seedbed that benefits from the protection of undisturbed residue.
A better seedbed for low-disturbance seeding.
Operators running disc drills understand that what happens at harvest directly affects what is possible at seeding. Moisture preserved under standing residue is moisture available at the time of seeding. The two are connected.
Less material through the combine.
Only the grain head and a small amount of chaff enter the combine. Less material means lower horsepower demand, less fuel consumed, less wear on threshing and separating components, and the ability to run faster ground speeds.
When conditions fit, nothing else compares.
In lodged and down-crop grain conditions, a stripper header covers ground that a conventional draper struggles to match — with less fuel and less combine wear. Operators who have run both understand the difference.
ENGINEERING ADVANTAGES
Five engineering decisions that define how the Raptor performs in the field.
Continuous control. From the cab.
Competing stripper headers offer fixed mechanical speed ranges. Changing between the ranges requires stopping the machine and modifying the drive system. That creates extra steps when rotor speed needs to change as crop conditions shift.
The Raptor uses a hydraulically actuated CVT system for true continuous speed control from 425 to 750 RPM, adjusted from the combine cab using the reel-lift hydraulic circuit. No stops, no tools, no mechnical adjustment. The operator can match rotor speed to changing crop conditions without leaving the cab. The CVT is laser-aligned at the factory, ensuring correct pulley tracking and longer belt life from the first hour of operation.
- 425 to 750 RPM — full range, continuously variable from the cab
- Hydraulically actuated — no mechnical intervention required.
- Factor laser-aligned for correct pulley tracking and longer belt life.
- No stops, no tools, no adjustment risk
Better balance. Less compensation. More from every acre.
Competing headers conentrate both drives on one side of the machine, creating unnecessary weight imbalance. Additional springs are required to compensate, placing continuous stress on the combine and requiring the auto header height control system to work harder to maintain consistent performance. The drive-side endshield also protrudes further than necessary because more components are packaged on one side.
The Raptor uses both PTO outputs available on modern combines. The gearbox drives the rotor only — one job, lower temperatures, longer life. The auger drives through a slip clutch direct to the combine's second PTO, with no auger gearbox. The two systems are mechnically independent. The lateral tilt system is built around one balance spring and two lateral tilt stiffening springs — one on each side, adjusted to mirror each other. Three stiffness settings are available, changed by moving a single bolt. The result is more precise lateral tilt geometry than competing designs, easier to adjust, and less prone to over-compensation. Header height calibration works cleanly rather than fighting a weight imbalance on one side.
- Gearbox drives rotor only — isolated, cooler running
- Auger driven through slip clutch to combine's second PTO — no auger gearbox.
- Drive-side end shield 4" narrower than competing designs.
- Lateral tilt system — fewer springs, three stiffness settings, easy to adjust.
- Auto header heigh control calibrates without fighting weight imbalance.
- Drive components deliberately over-specified — cool operating temperatures throughout field testing
Keeps moving when conditions get difficult.
Down-crop and lodged grain conditions are where stripper headers earn their reputation — and where feeding performance separates machines that keep moving from machines that don't.
The Raptor's auger design was developed specifically for consistent material flow in the most demanding conditions. In side-by-side field testing, the Raptor continued operating in conditions that repeatedly stopped competing headers. The result is field-demonstrated.
- Auger design developed specifically for consistent material flow in difficult conditions
- Field-tested head-to-head against competing designs in down-crop and lodged conditions
- Raptor continued operating in conditions that repeatedly stopped competing headers
Fast finger section replacement. Without the disassembly.
Replacing finger sections has always required more steps than the repair warrants: fully removing the bolts, keeping track of the hardware, realigning multiple components, and hoping the rotor balance isn't compromised in the process.
The Raptor's patented keyslot system changes the procedure entirely. Loosen the bolt to the first stage and the stainless finger sections slide out. Loosen further and the plastic finger sections follow. The keyslot on the back of each finger section locates it precisely on reinstall. No realignment. The bolt stays captured throughout.
- Bolt stays captured throughout — no risk of loss or cross-threading
- Finger sections locate precisely on reinstall — no realignment required
- Significantly faster replacement procedure
- The same finger section fits every position across the header, reducing downtime when a replacement is needed
Replace only what needs replacing.
On competing headers, the frame, hood, and deflector are each a single piece. When one is damaged — in handling, in transit, or in the field — the entire assembly is replaced. Heavy, awkward, expensive, and prone to further damage in the the process.
The Raptor's frame, hood, and deflector are each built in three independent sections. Only the damaged or worn section is replaced. Smaller sections are easier to handle, easier to ship, and less prone to damage during installation.
- Frame, hood, and deflector each in three independent sections
- Replace only the damaged or worn section — not the full assembly
- Smaller sections easier to handle, ship, and install
Thoughtful details. Built in from the start.
Tool-free skid shoe adjustment
Adjust skid shoe height quickly without tools to match changing field conditions.
Rotor bearing access
A dedicated split bat at each rotor bearing location removes independently to provide direct access to the bearing — no rotor disassembly required.
Headsight-ready from the factory
Order Headsight factory-installed or add it later without drilling or modifications.
Gauge wheel adjustment
Gauge wheels are quick and easy to adjust, with large position indicators visible from the cab so settings can be confirmed at a glance.
Built to stay in the field.
Every hour spent repairing equipment is an hour you're not harvesting.
The Raptor was engineered with that reality in mind. Service access is straightforward. Wear parts are designed for fast replacement. Parts are stocked by K-Hart and dealers across North America.
Parts Availability
The Raptor is manufactured at K-Hart's Oak Bluff facility near Winnipeg. Parts are stocked by K-Hart and dealers across North America. For operators who have experienced parts delays during harvest, availability close to home is not a minor detail.
- Parts stocked by K-Hart and dealers across North America
- Same support infrastructure as the Spyder disc drill
The Raptor does not reinvent how a stripper header works. The core mechanism is familiar — operators coming from another machine will feel at home in the field immediately. What changes is what happens between harvests.
The Raptor was designed by a team that studied the category carefully before changing anything. They changed the systems that operators described as the most consistent source of frustration. The harvest performance is the foundation. The ownership experience is what's different.
- —The stripper header mechanism you already understand
- —The crop performance you already trust
- —Combine integration using the reel-lift hydraulic circuit
- —Finger section replacement — patented keyslot system, no bolt removal
- —Rotor speed control — from the cab, continuously variable
- —Section replacement — replace only the damaged or worn section
- —Parts availability — stocked by K-Hart and dealers across North America
- —Drive performance — split load, cooler running, independent systems
Specifications
| Specification | Raptor |
|---|---|
| Working width | 42'and 37' — available now. Additional models coming soon. |
| Rotor speed range | 425 – 750 RPM, in-cab CVT control |
| Rotor speed adjustment | Continuously variable — reel-lift hydraulic circuit, no mechanical changes |
| Finger section change system | Patented keyslot — bolt retained throughout, no realignment required |
| Drive architecture | Balanced — auger drive right, rotor drive left |
| Combine compatibility | Class 8 and 9. Compatibility list expanding — confirm your combine with a dealer. |
| Display | Proprietary 5" monitor — rotor speed, auger speed, belt temperature |
| Primary crops | Cereals, flax, grasses, some forages |
Warranty information available through your K-Hart dealer.
Frequently asked questions
How does the finger section change system work?
How does the rotor speed control work?
What combine classes are compatible?
What sizes are available?
Why is the frame, hood, and deflector built in sections?
How does the Raptor handle down-crop and lodged conditions?
Where is the Raptor manufactured?
How does the Raptor fit with the Spyder disc drill?
What crops does the Raptor work in?
Talk to a K-Hart dealer.
The Raptor is available to order now through authorized K-Hart dealers. A dealer can walk you through the machine, confirm combine compatibility, and discuss your operation.