Better Farming - August 2016

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52 Farm News First > Better Farming August 2016
Itrust that your corn and beans are
growing well and grain is ready for
harvest. I hope rock picking is just
a distant memory and your back is
straight again.
Are you and your equipment
ready for grain harvest? Have you
gone over your machine and set it up
correctly? Please do not wait till the
day your crop is ready – because then
you and your machine are not!
Start by removing all shields,
covers etc. Inspect belts and chains.
Grease/lubricate the machine and
header. And inspect all fluid levels in
gearboxes, engine, hydraulics, etc. No
“milky” oils are acceptable. Inspect-
ing fluids is a good starting point for
a visual inspection and an opportuni-
ty to notice potential problems.
Lock the header for off-ground
cutting or ensure the float mecha-
nism is in operating order, if you
need all the straw. Be sure knife
sections are sharp and guards are in
place and not worn out. The transi-
tion section (the section of the header
that feeds the crop into the combine)
should be set up correctly. The auger
should have proper clearance or, if
using draper belts, ensure they are
not torn and are running straight.
The feeder house chain should be
set at proper tension and the drum
should be at the proper height for the
crop you are harvesting. Check for
bent slats or wear on chain and drive
sprockets. Also, consider if the speed
is set to the crop you are going to
harvest. (Please consult your com-
bine’s user manual for further
information.) Empty the stone trap
and do not store last year’s stones and
other collectables in there; keep it
empty. The stone trap is there to save
your machine.
Ensure the threshing mechanism is
in place with proper concaves and
Combine checklist
The warm days of August are upon us, and it’s time for grain harvest. Here are some tips
to ensure top performance from your equipment.
by JAAP KROONDIJK
sharp rasp bars. Make sure feed cones
and starter plates are not bent. Grain
needs a good flow; otherwise it binds
up and creates these “nice” banging
sounds and does not thresh.
By the way, if a new set of rasp
bars are in order, grain time is the
best time to install them. Grain
harvest will wear off the sharpness
and you will have less damage to your
corn and bean crops.
Make sure the clean grain elevator
chain is tight and in good shape and
that the drive sprocket is okay. Are all
Check the tightness on all chains. The chain for the return elevator, pictured
here, is too loose, as it can be lifted off of the sprocket.
Remove the cover to access the cab air filter. Clean out all dirt and debris in
this area. Replace dirty or well-worn air filters to help ensure the cab remains
a comfortable work space.
POWERAT WORK