Preparing combine for harvest?

Dick2 · Jun 10, 2016

When do you start preparing combines for harvest? We usually started a month before going over our 2 SP combines.

If we didn't find any bad bearings, we knew from experience which ones were likely to fail during harvest so we went to a bearing supply and stocked up on bearings. Much faster to change bearings if you don't have to make a trip to the city.

With pre-maintenance, we usually didn't have much downtime during harvest. When we used to raise flax, we had to prepare things for winter so no time to check combines before we put them away.

2002sliverado · Jun 10, 2016

Our machine is strictly used for harvesting corn and soybeans. Historically, we have had our machine go through a shop where much of our repair work is done. This has typically been done every other year. Whether our combine had a few hundred hours or a few thousand hours, having a professional we have been working with for a number of years has provided us with a machine with few to no breakdowns in the fall. On those years when we have NOT run it through the shop, we typically start going through it a month prior to harvest, and we find some items in need of attention during this process. We also pay attention to the base machine and heads when finished in the fall during cleanup. Last fall we came across a part in need of replacement on the cutting platform, during cleanup. In the 35 years of doing this, the in season breakdowns have been very rare. All but two were relatively minor. The two that were not, amounted to half a day down or less.

IowaJohn · Jun 10, 2016

I make a list of things that might need repair thru the season and when I clean it out before putting it to bed. I'll usually start on it shortly when I've got time. Almost always I'll find something new that I didn't see the year before. I do pretty much all of the repair work except for a couple of years ago when I replaced the bars and concave, the concave was too heavy for me to handle so I had someone else put it in. Unless I do something stupid like bend a snoot on the cornhead or hit a rock with the beanhead and take out a guard and some sections the combine is bulletproof.

GreenEnvy · Jun 10, 2016

Depends on what model and brand. With Massey we would either run them through the dealer shop during the winter or stock up on bearings, sprockets, and chains and do it ourselves. Basically you either overhauled them during the winter or during harvest. When we switched to JD then it was just a couple of weeks before harvest and it only amounted to just checking things over and adjust any chains. Course we would get them out a month before harvest if we had to replace major wear items like the concave and rasp bars.

notjustair · Jun 10, 2016

I'm kind of nuts about preventative maintenance so I usually don't have any harvest surprises. I clear the week before harvest to get it out and clean if up, adjust chains and belts, and tie up the header (or put it in flex for beans). I work on it as time allows in the winter when I know of things needing attention.

alliscombines · Jun 10, 2016

Do mine when I clean it up to put it away for next year.

Bob Bancroft · Jun 11, 2016

I started working on it Wed. Wheat harvest is over a month away.

masseypride · Jun 13, 2016

You always amaze me with you're Massey B.S. Just what was the last Massey combine you owned? Why don't you list all of the Massey combine that you have owned. What was the Massey dealer name you had to have the combine overhauled every year. What the heck were you having to overhaul every year? Who is the John Deere dealer in which you never go see since you switched to JD. What models of John Deere combines have you owned? Please help understand why you must feel the need to rant on about the Massey combine.

Masseypride

brutus49DC · Jun 13, 2016

I was wondering the same thing. A Massey will run dependably with some basic preventative maintenance. There used to be a lot of Masseys around here but the nearest dealer is over 80 miles away and so most are gone now. I still run my 550 and yes there a few things that are hard to get at. About the only downside is the metric bearings so I keep a few on hand. If you have a 203,204,205 and 206 you have most of the bearings used on an MF combine. The real laugh was when a 7700 turbo would try to run with a 760.

WGM · Jun 14, 2016

Never owned a Massey but had neighbors who did. They never complained about "overhauling" their machines every year and from what I remember Masseys always produced an excellent grain sample.

Preparing combine for harvest?

Dick2

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2002sliverado

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IowaJohn

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GreenEnvy

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notjustair

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alliscombines

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Bob Bancroft

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masseypride

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brutus49DC

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WGM

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