Harvest during wet and/or muddy conditions can result in increased wear on the combine, in particular with parts involved in the threshing.  Even if parts do not need to be replaced, harvest during muddy conditions will require at a minimum some extra cleaning before combines are put away for the season.  A recent article on the Agweb blog, “In the Shop” caught my attention with some of the following pieces of advice regarding harvest equipment maintenance when harvesting in muddy conditions:

• Check and clean concave and sieves that have accumulated mud.  Check concaves and louvers on sieves for increased wear, especially if dirty crop materials passed through the combine because of lodging or crops that had been in flooded areas.  Soil on these crops can act like sandpaper.
• Check the housings of the lower clean grain auger, the upper clean grain elevator and the grain tank-loading auger.  These are all areas where mud can accumulate and harden, resulting in increased wear to paddles on the conveyer chain.
• Check sickle sections and guards.  Replace parts showing excessive wear.

Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.

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