Abstract: In order to minimize the cutting force for rape stem of combine harvester cutting blades and reduce cutting loss, single factor and multi-factor experiments were carried out on the main influencing factors of cutting forces for rape stem using the self-made cutting test-bed. The main factors included cutting mode, cutting position on the rape stem, cutting blade pattern and cutting velocity. The results of single factor experiments showed that the cutting forces of serrated blade were smaller than those of slippery blade. Sliding cutting was the more labor-saving way in the cutting modes. Cutting velocity and cutting position on the rape stem had the greatest effects on the cutting forces, which shown as the decrease of the cutting forces with the increasing of the cutting velocity and the raising of cutting position on the rape stem above the ground. The results of multi-factor experiments showed that when the height of cutting position above the ground was 400 mm, the cutting force of sliding cutting used serrated blade was the smallest. The study can provide theoretical basis for the design of effective and reliable cutting mechanism.