Do you wash your combine

Used to open panels in the field and open the lids etc and then blow it all out in a good wind.

The fuel tank thing I think stems from the days of metal tanks on machines. All plastic these days now. Wouldn't bother to fill it up, maybe chuck diesel additive stabiliser stuff in the tank if you were that worried.

Can wash panels just fine with a brush and bucket of soapy water, no need to go blasting water all over the shop. Would be more concerned with removing all grain and chaff and straw out of the innards and around the engine etc to deter vermin. Can see the utility of polishing the panels as it smooths them off and would keep dust off too. Bit of a monster job though. Worth getting the specialist glass product for the windows too as that definitely works.

Park machine in shed and run periodically, including air con. I would paint bare metal surfaces too but I know many people don't.

Not sure if there is any mileage in leaving machine parked with doors and panels open in a shed? Moth balls in the cab was one recommendation I heard but they stink to high heaven.

Often wondered if putting some kind of vertical panel enclosure around each wheel would stop vermin getting in?
 

Northdowns Martin

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Snodland kent
Remove all panels, guards, sieves, chains clean and stack in stillage pallet. Blow down combine on windy day, sometimes do it again as always miss some. Rust inhibitor on exposed shinny bits. Sponge wipe tin work, polish and put to bed. Get combine fitter to look over as soon as possible he then releases all belts and makes assessment of work needed. Bit anal but I brought it, drive it and look after it and they aren’t cheap.
 
Blow it down very well at end of season, very rarely does it get wet through the season, header off every night and parked in the shed, gets a bloody good steam clean just before barley ready, good grease up to push out any water and left to run a while, still get comments on how good it looks, 11th season now.

Header off every night???

Sod that
 

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
Probably less chance of an unexpected rain storm or gyppos nicking your batteries, diesel, gps, etc.

believe it or not, being in northern NSW we have a summer dominant rainfall pattern - usually thunderstorms, so summer harvests can be a bit tricky at times

but yes, I do take your point about theft & vandalism, it’s something we rarely have to think about. Although we are not immune from it, it doesn’t consume every thought or influence every decision
 

DrWazzock

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Nobody assembles agricultural equipment with grease on the threads or between seams so any steam or pressurised water gets drawn into the threads or gaps where it usually rusts them solid. I sometimes wash things down with a brush attachment on a hose but don’t like blasting water or steam around machinery.
We once bought a Massey combine that had been steam cleaned by the dealer before sale . Good intention but left us with years of struggling with seized on bearings and fasteners.
 

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
Washing heavy equipment requires specialized equipment, such as water cannons or high-pressure washers.

A “high pressure washer” is good for getting into tight gaps like bearing races and between shafts and pulleys, corroding bare metal just enough to make a saint curse.

For washing the exterior, a bucket of hot water, a cupful of ‘wash and wax’, a soft bristled broom and garden hose do a decent enough job.
 

Minesapint

Member
Location
Oxon
Always blow it off with road compressor, and pressure wash off. Then greased, oiled, and run. Done on a good drying day as soon as harvest finished. Never had a problem. Not good to do it in November.
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Washed yesterday.

IMG-20220620-WA0004.jpg
 

Steevo

Member
Location
Gloucestershire
It also involves special methods that make the best use of time and materials for cleaning. And then there's the safety factor to consider. Heavy construction equipment, such as excavators, loaders, and combines, are large and complex machines that pose hazards to operators and those tasked with cleaning them regularly. Therefore, in such cases, it is better to contact services such as https://sparklewash.com/york/ . These professionals often work with heavy machinery; it will not be difficult for them.

Oh what a relief!! It's good that you were on hand to make us aware.....!
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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