Harvest preparation is no longer simply about replacing worn parts before the season starts. Modern machines are operating with greater throughput and tighter harvest windows than ever before, particularly across UK cereal and oilseed rape production. AF supplier Bush Tyres shares their recommended steps to reduce reduce stoppage time and increase operational efficiency.
Pre-harvest checks help:
Reduce breakdowns during peak harvest periods
Minimise grain losses and sample contamination
Improve fuel efficiency and throughput
Protect crop quality during combining
Reduce fire risk in dry harvesting conditions.
For cereal growers and contractors working within narrow weather windows, preventative maintenance plays a critical role in maintaining output especially during winter wheat, barley and oilseed rape harvests.
Many machinery failures during harvest are not sudden events, but progressive wear issues that developed gradually during previous campaigns and remained unnoticed during storage or washdown. A structured pre-harvest inspection programme helps identify wear, fatigue and potential failures before the pressure of harvest begins.
A proper inspection starts with a clean machine. Dust, chaff, grease build-up and crop residue often hide cracked welds, oil leaks, worn bearings and damaged components. Cleaning also reduces fire risk - particularly around engine bays, exhaust systems, brake assemblies and hot bearings.
Bearing failures remain one of the leading causes of combine fires during harvest, particularly in dry cereal crops where fine dust accumulates around high-temperature components.
Modern machinery operates under sustained load for long periods, often during high ambient temperatures. Cooling and hydraulic performance are critical.
Before harvest:
Replace engine oil, hydraulic oil, and all filters.
Check belts and hoses for glazing, cracking or fraying and replace any showing signs. Check belt tensioners and replace those that are worn.
Inspect hoses for soft spots, abrasion or swelling and replace any showing signs.
Examine the drive train, clutches, and drive shafts for wear as these components must be working at their best for efficient power transfer.
Consistent crop flow starts at the header. Poor feeding can significantly reduce throughput before threshing even begins. Key areas to inspect include:
Cutting components – replace any that are blunt or damaged.
Feeder house chains and slats – check tension and inspect the slats for wear. Make sure the feeder latch fits snuggly with the head to prevent crop loss gaps.
Skid shoes and wear plates – if showing signs of excessive wear, it’s prudent to replace them.
Threshing performance has a direct impact on sample quality and grain losses. Inspect:
Cylinder and rasp bars for rounding or excessive wear.
Concaves for broken or bent wires or damaged bars. Ensure it is levelled and zeroed in.
Accelerator rolls for wear – if worn smooth they cause poor separation and higher grain loss.
Once grain has been separated, the cleaning and handling system must move it efficiently without damage or unnecessary losses. Inspect:
Sieves and cleaning system – make sure they’re clean and in good condition.
Bushes and bearings on the shaking system – replace any worn components causing play in the system.
Elevators and augers – check for wear on the grain elevators, chains and paddles. Make sure they’re sufficiently lubricated. It’s important to check the condition of your unloader auger flighting as wear will slow your discharge rate.
Harvest days are long, and operator fatigue directly affects output and machine performance. Before harvest:
Replace cab air filters.
Check air conditioning is working.
Clean camera lenses and monitors.
Test moisture sensors, yield mapping, telematics and guidance systems.
Ensure all controls and displays operate correctly.
Tyres have a major influence on field performance, transport safety and soil structure.
Inspect tyres for cracks and uneven wear.
Check pressures, ensuring that they’re at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
Consider your tyre choice carefully.
VF (Very High Flexion) tyres, including the VDR2000 range from Ascenso Tyres, have been engineered to run at 40% lower pressures than a standard tyre under equivalent loading. There is no need to alter tyre pressures when switching between field and road. The VDR2000’s lower rolling resistance also reduces fuel consumption.
With increasing machine weights and larger grain tank capacities, tyre management is becoming an increasingly important part of protecting soil structure during harvest. The VDR2000 significantly reduces soil compaction.
As well as tyres, pay close attention to brake condition – a seized calliper will quickly heat up and catch fire – plus road lights and beacons.
In UK harvest conditions, maintaining momentum through short weather windows is often what separates an efficient harvest from one disrupted by avoidable downtime and unnecessary losses.
Preventative maintenance is no longer simply workshop routine - it is operational risk management.
Whether you need replacement wearing parts, lubricants, oils, greases or advice on tyre selection, your AF Machinery Team can source the right products for your operation while accessing negotiated discounts across our wide supplier network.
