DON’T SKIMP ON SPARE PARTS

A LOT of contractors these days have service vans in which they carry all their tools and spare parts. A number of grease guns, a wrench set and a socket set are three essentials.

A generator/welder combination is also useful to patch up small problems. To minimise downtime in the field parts that should be kept in stock include a full set of belts for the combine; a belt-tightener pulley; connector links, half links and chains; sickle sections and guards for the cutterbar; drive chains for the heads; and fingers for the header auger.

Engine and hydraulic oil, assorted bearings, bolts and nuts, and a supply of welding rods are useful too.

Moving to the running gear, during previous harvests tyres may have suffered accidental damage leaving them with bulges, cuts or tears.

Long periods of inactivity since last year’s harvest can leave tyres with a flat spot due to one section of the casing being deflected, creating massive vibrations on the road.

Checking the thread area and sidewalls right down to the wheel trim helps detect problems as soon as possible. Leaving damage unchecked can result in costly tyre failure with mid-harvest interruptions.

Ensure that tyres are inflated to the correct pressure ahead of the harvest, considering whether the combine will be used on side slopes or intensively on the roads. If you need new tyres, remember that tyre choice can make the difference between a good harvest and a great one, and for most combines and foragers there is now a tyre which limits soil compaction and disturbance on headlands whilst offering greater operator comfort and load capacity.

Don’t neglect rear tyres by being tempted to put on cheap replacements; this will greatly reduce the efficiency of your combine (especially in wet weather) and increase fuel use. Check knives, skids and fingers daily for damage