Combine checks recommended before harvest

Alan VanNahmen, product support manager for Caterpillar, says farmers should consider three areas when doing pre-harvest combine maintenance: peak productivity, maximum grain quality and minimal grain loss. And upkeep during harvest should resolve around those goals.

"A small investment of time before and during harvest pays handsomely in combine performance during narrow harvest windows," VanNahmen notes. "In-field adjustments are critical to achieving top yields and quality. Adjusting to current conditions--crop type, crop variety, crop moisture levels, temperature and humidity changes--optimizes grain retention and quality."

He notes current technology available in new machines, like the Lexion combine from Caterpillar, lets operators adjust for many variables from inside the cab without stopping. "This time-saving advancement ensures that farmers don't need to bypass vital adjustments to save time," he adds.

Before harvest, VanNahmen recommends the following combine checks before harvest begins:

--Start the combine. Evaluate engine oil, air filters, radiator water level, hydraulic fluid levels, the power train and condition of belts and chains.

--Check the basics. Look at tire pressure, headlights, taillights, shields, bearings, lubrication points and safety features, such as the horn and warning lights.

--Clear out debris. Clear out stalk debris and any other material buildup.

--Adjust yield monitor. Check settings and adjust according to manufacturer recommendations for accurate readings. Continue to calibrate yield monitors in the field to compensate for changes in crop moisture, weather conditions and other variables.

Make the following in-field adjustments to accommodate harvesting variables, says VanNahmen:

--Consider crop type. Corn, soybeans and small grains each call for unique settings. Also adjust settings to match variety characteristics and crop moisture levels.

--Match current field conditions. As temperature or humidity changes, wind shifts or the sun disappears, adjust combine settings throughout the day.

--Fine-tune for grain retention and quality. Properly adjust cylinder speed, concave clearance, fan speed, wind board, upper chaffer and Iower sieve setting.

While each combine manufacturer has specific adjustment recommendations, VanNahmen lists some areas to check when harvesting soybeans with any combine:

--Reel tine angle. Set in a vertical position for correct feeding on flex head.

--Feederhouse drum. Set in a lower position to help prevent foreign objects from entering the feederhouse.

--Concave gap. Set correctly to avoid grain damage.

--Cylinder speed. Slower cylinder speeds reduce grain damage, while increased speeds help in tougher threshing conditions and increase throughput capacity.

--Sieve openings. Proper sieve adjustment allows for minimum grain loss and damage, plus maximum capacity.

VanNahmen's recommendations for corn harvest adjustments include:

--Deck plates. Proper adjustment prevents ear loss.

--Row divider height and angle. The right settings prevent dropped ears.

--Feederhouse speed. Set to match ground speed for smooth grain flow.

--Cylinder speed. A slower setting causes less grain damage.

--Concave gap. A wider gap improves grain quality.

--Sieve openings. Proper adjustment minimizes grain loss and can reduce the grain damage that occurs with excessive tailings recirculation.

--Fan speed. The proper fan speed prevents grain from being blown out. If the fan is too slow, there will be an excessively thick mat on the shoe, allowing grain to be carried out the back.

--Straw chopper drive. Setting at a slower speed helps prevent damage to the machine and chopper knife damage while conserving horsepower.

--Stationary knives and curtain. Retracting knives and lowering the curtain prevents damage to the chopper.

"Along with general adjustments, operators should check manufacturer recommendations for specific combine settings that will return the most value from their machines," VanNahmen says. "For example, Caterpillar recommends 19-millimeter by 40-millimeter grates for the Lexion combine's Accelerated Pre-Separation (APS) system. That size grate allows corn and soybeans to fall through the slots easier than through the smaller slots recommended for smaller grains.

"It is easy to bypass adjustments during the hectic harvest season; however, taking a few minutes to fine-tune combines will mean less downtime and a safer harvest with more, higher-quality grain in the bin at season's end," he says.