As summer winds down, with crops reaching their peak height, the countdown to harvest has begun. Windows are narrower than ever, and having your combine ready to go come harvesttime could be the difference between success and failure. Cory Mitchell, owner of Iowa-based Mitchell Ag Repair, has some advice for farmers as they get their machines ready for the annual sprint.

For starters, bring it into the shop for a full inspection by a local dealer.

“We take off every belt, spin the pulleys and make sure no bearings are out,” Mitchell says. “I usually ask if the operator knows of any issues. We don’t get to run them in a field.”

Basic diagnostics happen in the parking lot during an inspection. That’s why documenting necessary repairs as components wear out is paramount and should be an ongoing process. Hopefully, any major repairs were completed during the winter.

Busy season

It might be difficult to find someone that can tackle a complicated repair at this point in the season. Schedules are busy, and Mitchell says inspection slots are filling up quickly.

“The combine season is in full swing. I have two combines in the shop now, and three or four more calls in. If you’re not on the list by this time, you should be. It’s first-come, first serve,” he says, estimating he’ll service about 30 combines by the end of the growing season. “Ideally, I’d like to see a combine done and ready to go a month before it’s ready to be in the field.”

Once back from the shop, Mitchell says farmers should do their own walkthrough before setting up the corn or bean head. 

“There shouldn’t be anything, but fluid levels are a big deal — so are tire pressures,” he says, noting that walk-arounds should happen daily throughout the season. After that, start it up and just listen for a few minutes to make sure nothing sounds off. “Check all your wear points — any augers or fans, and any liners for the augers.”

Looking good?

While simple, Mitchell says visual inspections are often overlooked. They could save a huge repair down the line. Last year, for example, Mitchell repaired a combine with a broken concave. A rock had gone right through it. The operator ran it for a few days, fighting the issue, before calling for help.

“If he had just started it up and listened, and pulled some covers off, he would have seen the issue right away,” Mitchell says.

In his two decades of experience repairing farm machinery, Mitchell says a lot has changed. For one, operators don’t do as much of their own maintenance or repair work.

“Forty, 50 years ago, you grew up doing everything yourself. You set your own valves; you checked your own tires. People would pull their machine out of a shade tree with a come-along; that’s how I grew up,” Mitchell says.

These days, machines are highly specialized and entirely connected. Complex electronics make self-repair a little more complicated. Tech updates should regularly be made by the dealer, but check anyway.

Cleaning is another vital maintenance item that’s often skipped. 

“In today's world, with the insurance issues, if a combine burns up, it could be a pretty costly ordeal,” he says, noting the most common causes of combine fires are static electricity and bad bearings.

At the end of the day, blow the machine off with an air compressor or backpack blower. “It sucks to do. You get dirty, you get itchy,” Mitchell says. “But it doesn’t take much work. It’s just about doing it.”