Tips for Preparing Your Combine for Harvesting

There’s always a lot to get done during the harvesting season, and it helps to get started as soon as you can to ensure you have enough time to get the job done right. For many farmers, this means prepping their combine harvester and the combine header. At Torgerson's Equipment, we believe having the right equipment in the right shape is the first step toward a successful farming operation.

Ensuring that your combine is working effectively will lead to a better harvest. That’s why we’ve put together this short guide to help prepare your equipment so it’ll be ready when you and your crops are ready.

Combine Preparation

The first one in prepping your combine is to make sure it’s in operational condition. Even some minor mechanical problems with the machine can lead to a lot of harvest left in the field. It’s best to start the preparation several weeks before harvesting the crops. This will give you enough time to tend to any service and repair issues that need to be addressed. The combine header can become less efficient due to dirt and oil buildup, so give it a good cleaning inside and out.

Check the combine and tighten and replace loose or missing nuts, screws, and shields. Next, inspect the belts, bearings, chains, and other main drive components. If you notice any wear such as loose chains and sprockets, or torn belts, take care of them immediately with replacements or with tightening and lubrication.

It’s also worthwhile to check any hydraulic systems for leaks, which should be sealed and repaired immediately. Also, make sure to read the owner’s manual of your combine thoroughly for any recommendations by the manufacturer.

Adjusting the Combine Header for Different Crops

You may want to adjust the combine header depending on what you are harvesting. For corn, extend the combine chain flights over the stripper plates beyond the edge by about 1/4 inch. The stripper plates or snapping bars should be closed to the point that ears can’t pass through, and ears should be snapped near the upper third of the roll. The 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, check the cutter bar for wear and flex. Make sure that any height-control adjustments are done to match the field and crop conditions. The cutter bar should be operating as close to the ground as possible. This allows the floating combine header unit or automatic header control to maintain an optimal cutting height.

These are just a few examples of adjusting the combine to the harvest. Do some research to find optimization strategies for your given crop, allowing you to boost your combine’s efficiency and crop yield.

Following these tips will help you prep your combine for harvesting. If your equipment needs service or repairs, or you’re just interested in checking out our selection of combine headers, visit Torgerson's Equipment in Montana. Our expert staff can answer questions and suggest machines for your farming operation, making the shopping process easy.