Is Your Combine Ready for Harvest? Key Things to Check Before You Go to the Field:

What should you check for a trouble-free harvest season?

Cutting & Feeding

Correctly maintained and adjusted platforms, heads, & feeding systems must operate at a speed and height which will hold and remove all the harvested crop without seed loss and then deliver that material undamaged in an uniform mat to the threshing area of the combine. 

Areas of Concern

Cutter bar shatter; Reel shatter; Slug feeding, Row shelling; Ear bounce; Excessive stalks; Auger carryover; Crop auger damage, Feeder house conveyor speeds; Feeder house drum height.

Threshing

Proper threshing occurs when the majority of grain is removed from the mat of crop by contact with other grain or MOG (material other than grain). Correctly adjusted cylinder/rotor and concaves thresh almost 90% of the grain in the first 30% of the total threshing area, there by reducing grain to metal contact; a leading cause of grain damage. 

Areas of Concern

High cylinder speed; Low cylinder speed; Worn rasp bars; Narrow concave setting; Wide concave settings; Worn concaves.

Separating

Separation occurs as a result of gravity and selective sizing of the grain. When adjusted properly, almost all the grain is separated at the concave area. The beater grate, walkers or rotor tines accomplish the remaining separation and allow grain to fall to the cleaning area of the separator.

Areas of Concern

Improper cylinder/rotor to concave settings; Improper cylinder/rotor speeds; Plugged concave; Broken or bent concave bars, wires and slats; Damaged or broken grates; Plugged walkers; Damaged walker steps.

Cleaning

Air is used to overcome gravity, lift, suspend, and carry material less dense than grain out the rear of the combine. The shoe elements allow grain, material of equal density and smaller size to pass to the clean grain side of the combine. All other larger MOG is moved rearward and exits the machine.

Areas of concern

Improper precleaner, chaffer, or sieve settings; Broken cleaning shoe elements; Worn shoe hanger bushings; Cracked or damaged shoe frames; Incorrect fan speed settings; Damaged or broken fan elements.

Grain Handling

Shoe augers; clean grain and tailing augers; elevators; and bin loading and unloading augers are used to deliver the harvested grain for transportation from the field. Gentle handling is essential to high grain quality.

Areas of Concern

Misadjusted elevator chains; Worn or missing elevator paddles; Damaged augers; Worn augers; Worn housings.

Residue Handling

Walkers, rotors, cleaning shoes, discharge beaters, straw spreaders, straw choppers, and chaff spreaders are used to convey and distribute MOG (material other than grain) in an even pattern behind the combine.

Areas of Concern

Imbalanced chopper rotors; Worn chopper hammers or knives; Broken housings; Missing spreader paddles; Improper spreader speeds, Missing or misadjusted chopper vanes.

Engine, Power, Train, Electrical, Hydraulic, Major Drives, Gear Cases

These systems are essential for efficient and productive operation.

Areas of Concern

Low power; Improper lubrication; Incorrect fluid and oil levels; Restricted or plugged filters; Over or under tensioned drives; Weak or discharged electrical systems; Loose, frayed, or corroded wire connections; Worn, damaged, or leaking lines and hoses; Leaking valves, cylinders, or fittings.

Where can you find parts and service options for your combine?

Koenig's expert technicians are ready to help you get your combine in top condition for harvest. Check out our KoenigCare Inspection Program to help you stay ahead of unexpected failures, and see the special discounts available to Koenig Rewards members.

Additional Resources

S700 Series Combine Maintenance Guide - Filter Overview with Service Intervals and Capacities