A combine-harvester that is optimally adjusted will improve its efficiency, reduce field losses for a successful harvest in 2026!
Key adjustments
Header
- Make sure the knives (blades) of the cutter bar are sharp and in good operating conditions;
- Make sure the edges of the cross auger are sharp;
- Lower the cutter bar for low-podded plants and dry conditions;
- Auger clearance: 5/8 inch, or 15 mm above the platform;
- Opt for a floating flex header and automatic reel height control to allow the header to shave the ground when harvesting soybeans avoiding the collection of soil;
- Choose the slowest possible forward ground speed recommended by the manufacturer.
Threshing and seed separation
- Adjust the reel spacing and reel cylinder speed to be about ~25% faster than the ground speed;
- Add belts to the reel or use an air assist reel for faster loading of the platform/table;
- Reduce the spacing between the reel, the cutter bar, the cross auger and the feeder house;
- Adjust the concave.
Feeder house drum
- Make sure the feeder house drum is properly adjusted to keep the flow as efficient as possible;
- Slow its speed to between 0.5 and 1 mi/hr in the areas where harvesting might be risky;
- It is crucial to make sure that the chains and bearings are properly lubricated and maintained at the recommended intervals. The belts must be tightened and checked regularly.
Cleaning and maintenance
- Remove the perforated trapdoors under the elevators, the cross augers or the unloading augers;
- Check the auger bearings for wear and tear to prevent droop and pinched beans;
- Adjust fan speed by “Fine-Tuning” the airflow;
- Open the chaffer (upper sieve) wide enough, say 5/8”, to prevent grain from being carried to the tailings system;
- Open the lower sieve just a little, between 1/4” and 3/8”, to allow the clean grain to be carried to the tank rather than the tailings system.
What to do if the beans are small
- Turn down the fan and reduce the spacing in the chaffer and sieve;
- Reduce the spacing in the mulcher;
- Increase the speed of the reel to (between) 10 and 25% more than the travel speed;
- Reduce the space between the reel, the cutter bar, the auger and the feed house chain, to make sure the stalks go through the header and enter the feed house.