Combine Servicing

[TripleSix]

How do you go about it?

Let's say in theory, 6 walker NH, 25ft cut, 15 years old, 3000 hrs.
Expected to cut 700+ac

Do you just glance over it yourself?

Do you use an independent mechanic?

Main Dealer mechanic?

APH?

Where do you source your parts from?

Just interested how people go about it.

 

[stevedave]

I do it myself and usually get parts from aph, but I do check prices with others including the dealer too. APH are usually cheapest and have parts in stock.

 

[Phil P]

How do you go about it?

Let's say in theory, 6 walker NH, 25ft cut, 15 years old, 3000 hrs.
Expected to cut 700+ac

Do you just glance over it yourself?

Do you use an independent mechanic?

Main Dealer mechanic?

APH?

Where do you source your parts from?

Just interested how people go about it.

I usually do it myself, start at the front and work to the back. Check all the belts for cracks and ware, check for play in bearings, adjust any chains/elevator or replace according, oil and filter change.
It’s also good practice to check the concave settings match what it says in the cab, also check for and damage and ware, broken wires etc. Same with the sieves, check they’re adjusting correctly.
Parts usually come from either local dealer, aph or the likes of Spauldings/AgriLinc for consumables like lifters and knife sections etc. I’ll usually re section the knife as well then I’m starting with a fresh blade.

 

[Steevo]

APH here. Works well. Much cheaper than dealer ever could be.

 

[snarling bee]

I have mine looked over professionally every second year, then do what we can ourselves, incl all oil changes etc. As we are only doing 130 hours a year I think every other year for a professional is fine. We use a man in a van or APH. Only really need our dealer for software updates etc.

 

[quattro]

Anyone know where why there would be barley some with awns on it
Builds up between tank and cab on a cx8000 series

 

[Chae1]

In our combines heyday, 15 years ago, claas would have sold it as a machine to cut 1500 acres. Its doing not much more than half that now.

Do you think it would be okay to service it every second year?

 

[melted welly]

2005 cx880.

buy filters and some consumables from dealer, service and check over ourselves, then get local independent guy to check all the difficult stuff and bits that we don’t understand.

source parts from range of suppliers, but if only few quid in it will favour the dealer, and to be fair theyre not usually far off the others, have parts on shelf and youre guaranteed they’ll fit.

been doing it this way for 10yrs and I find it works very well, cut 800ac/yr and never been broken down for more than a few hrs.

cx is a nice cheap thing to run, replaced some big bits last yr ( wobble box, and a new knife), but generally servicing and repair would be £1500 to £2000 per year, which I think is fine.

 

[Sals dad]

I always make a list of things to check as we finish the season then when we service it gives you somewhere to start . Do the work our selves and most parts come from the dealer on a stock order , never too far out on the price and sometimes surprise you , last year a clean grains elevator chain was cheaper with all the paddles than without !

 

[Farmer Fin]

In our combines heyday, 15 years ago, claas would have sold it as a machine to cut 1500 acres. Its doing not much more than half that now.

Do you think it would be okay to service it every second year?

It’s drum hours is it not, rather than acres? Although our combines in this part of the world cut less acres, I would imagine they work harder. We do ours every year but then their is feck all else to do on farm at the moment.

 

[Andrew]

In our combines heyday, 15 years ago, claas would have sold it as a machine to cut 1500 acres. Its doing not much more than half that now.

Do you think it would be okay to service it every second year?

In the manuals it normally says X hours or annually for oil things. So you’d probably have to do engine oils and fuel filters anyway.
Servicing is about keeping the machines reliable, you’d kick yourself if you didn’t and it broke down midway though because of something a service would have picked up.

 

[solo]

I do a basic check as I clean it off after harvest and then check fluids bearings, belts and chains over winter and grease up. I lube chains nearer use. I use the dealer every other year as it has got too dear to do annually. An hours travel to and from the dealer doesn’t help matters. I tend to stock wearing parts along with oils and filters. Usually end up making one or two dealer visits during harvest but not always for the combine.

 

[Lincsman]

It used to be a combine would do 300 hours when ideally matched to the farm, not sure that many do half that now... maybe they are too cheap?

 

[Lewis821]

i used to do all the servicing on the 480/580/600 lexion. Dealer used to come out and do an appraisal on the machine, supply the parts and id do the jobs on wet days through the winter. The fitters know what to look for depending on hours the machine has done which is priceless imo. Now on maxi care so fill it with diesel and off you go ?

 

[bobk]

Man with a van does mine , after he's tested the sprayer.

 

[Martin Holden]

Out of interest how many of you start your combine engines up during the winter say once per month? On my pre college year, when I fed the coos out where the combine was stored, I was asked to start (1540 Clayson) up every month and let her run until the engine got warm. Not sure if it did harm or good. I used to cheat and drive it backward and forwards too - wasn’t meant to but couldn’t resist the temptation.

 

[bobk]

Out of interest how many of you start your combine engines up during the winter say once per month? On my pre college year, when I fed the coos out where the combine was stored, I was asked to start (1540 Clayson) up every month and let her run until the engine got warm. Not sure if it did harm or good. I used to cheat and drive it backward and forwards too - wasn’t meant to but couldn’t resist the temptation.

Mine gets started frequently , I have to move it to get bales out . in fact all I do is move things .

 

[ARW]

Service? Doesn’t that mean you just fill it with diesel and check the oil and hope it works?

 

[Zippy768]

I always make a list of things to check as we finish the season then when we service it gives you somewhere to start . Do the work our selves and most parts come from the dealer on a stock order , never too far out on the price and sometimes surprise you , last year a clean grains elevator chain was cheaper with all the paddles than without !

What machine? Have to do our clean grain and returns elevators.........well one of them will get done!

 

[Zippy768]

Out of interest how many of you start your combine engines up during the winter say once per month? On my pre college year, when I fed the coos out where the combine was stored, I was asked to start (1540 Clayson) up every month and let her run until the engine got warm. Not sure if it did harm or good. I used to cheat and drive it backward and forwards too - wasn’t meant to but couldn’t resist the temptation.

Tried to get into the habit of starting every month. Last started in Jan ??. Always meaning to get a trickle charger as well.
Can't move it though as always blocked in by the plethora of implements!