Preparing Your Combine For Harvest
Harvest season always feels like it’s just around the corner, and it is! That means there’s a lot to get ready if you want things to run smooth come time for harvest. For a lot of farmers, that means getting the combine ready and out into the field. While there’s a long list of factors out of our control when it comes to harvest time, one thing we can control is the state of our machinery.
At Mid-State Equipment, we believe half the battle is in having the right equipment in the right condition.
Combines are literally combination machines, which means they have several components and implements that have to work together to operate successful. Ensuring those components are in good condition will lead to a more efficient harvest. Read on for some tips and tricks to getting your combine ready for harvest. If you need more information or professional service for your combine or tractor, don’t hesitate to head into one of our locations throughout Southern Wisconsin, including Janesville and Columbus.
Combine Checklist
Your combine needs to be in effective and operational order if you want to get the most out of the harvest. Even a minor deficiency can mean a lot of your harvest left in the field. It’s best to handle this checkup a couple weeks before harvest to give you enough time to take care of repairs or service should your combine need it.
Start by giving your combine a good cleaning inside and out. Dirt and oil buildup can increase the rate of wear on your combine and cause a loss of efficiency in the field. Check for loose or missing nuts, screws, and shields. Tighten and replace missing parts as necessary. Inspect all the belts, bearings, chains, and other components in the main drive. Wear such as loose chains and sprockets or teared or frayed belts should be taken care of by replacements, tightening, or lubrication. It’s better to take care of any minor replacements before the season gets going so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff outside a proper maintenance check.
Beyond basic combine function, there are some other components worth examining for signs of wear, including headers, augers, cutter bars, the grain platform, skid plates, and any other part that needs to be sharp, clean, or straight for proper combine function. It’s also helpful to check any hydraulic systems for leaks, which should be sealed and repaired immediately.
Also be sure to read your combine owner’s manual thoroughly for any manufacturer recommended procedures and notes.
Harvest Checklist
Two crops common among our customers are corn and soybeans, which each offer somewhat different problems for combines. Let’s go over how to take your crop into account when prepping your combine for harvest.
For corn, you can extend the combine chain flights over the stripper plates beyond the edge by about 1/4 inch. The stripper plates or snapping bars should only be closed to the point that ears can’t pass through, and ears should be snapped near the upper third of the roll. Gathering snouts should float on the ground, with gathering chains just above the ground as well. Plastic snouts and reels help to pick up corn that’s gotten lodged and move it off the head and into the combine.
When harvesting soybean with a combine, we recommend giving the cutterbar some extra attention since this is where inefficiency is most likely to originate. Check it for wear and flex. Also ensure height-control adjustments are made based on field and crop conditions. You’ll want the cutterbar operating as close to the ground as possible, so a floating header unit or automatic header control can help keep cutting height optimal across a field. Just like with prepping for corn, any knives, guards, wear plates, and hold-down clips should be tight and in good condition. Try to get reel speed going 25% or so faster than ground speed, and the reel axle should be between 6 and 12 inches ahead of the cutterbar. If you find that beans are getting lodged on the cutterbar, you can use a pick-up reel with extra guards to prevent this. A quick note on moisture: look for a 15% moisture content as your sign to start harvesting ASAP!
Combine Clinic
The Mid-State Equipment series of Combine Clinics are perfect for anyone looking to know more about harvesting with a chopper and maximizing your ROI. For this clinic, we welcome Dr. John Goeser who will both teach and work hands on with the group. Learn about kernel processing and how to unlock more energy per ton of corn silage. We have a clinic scheduled in Columbus, Wisconsin on Thursday, August 2nd at 10AM. You can RSVP by calling 920-623-4020 or by emailing cseltzner@midstateequipment.com.
With a few of these tips your combine will be more prepared to take on the important work of harvesting. Preventative maintenance, seasonal service, and careful operation all come together to ensure your equipment will run effectively for years to come. If you do need service, or you’re just eager to check out some new and used agricultural equipment, head into Mid-State Equipment. We have locations throughout Southern Wisconsin, and we proudly serve Janesville and Columbus. Come in today and let our team of experts help you find what you need.