Is Your Machine Truly Ready for The Season? Pre-Season Harvest Checks to Set Your Combine Up for Success

Harvest is an exciting time of year, bringing the opportunity to see months of hard work come to fruition. While it’s natural to focus on the acres ahead, some of the most important preparation happens before the first crop even touches the header. A thorough pre-season inspection will help set your combine up for reliable performance, maximising productivity and efficiency throughout the season.

Before harvest begins, use this quick essential guide to ensure your machine is ready to perform, when every acre counts.

• Engine & Power Systems – Start with the fundamentals by checking the engine, drivetrain, fuel, cooling, and hydraulic systems. Inspect for leaks and necessary replacement of filters, fluid levels, and batteries (including terminals) to ensure everything is operating as it should. Also check there are no cracks, splits or excessive wear to belts and hoses.

• Header Inspection – Next, turn your attention to the header, feeder house, and threshing components, replacing worn parts, and making any necessary adjustments before entering the field. A sharp, complete cutting system is essential for even crop flow and improving feeding.

• Cleaning & Grain Handling Systems – Check augers, elevators, sieves, choppers and fans for wear or damage, and ensure all moving components are properly lubricated and sharp. Ensure the grain tank is clear for that all important first clean sample, whilst also checking for any signs of potential vermin inhabitants, inspecting for nests, damaged wiring or components.

• Track & Tyres – Inspect tyres, tracks, steering, driveline components, & brakes as these play a vital role in both field performance and road safety. Paying particular attention to pressure and condition and ensure all wheel nuts are tightened to the correct torque.

• Cab Operations & Comforts – Modern combines rely heavily on technology, so take time to test sensors, monitors, configure GPS guidance systems, and lighting. This might also include updating any of the latest relevant software. Inside the cab, verify that controls, displays, lights and climate systems are functioning correctly to support operator comfort & efficiency during those long harvest days & nights. Also check that any warning lights, alarms or emergency shut down systems are working as intended.

• Safety & Fire Prevention – Finally, prioritize safety by removing dust, debris and blockages, checking fire extinguishers, inspecting guards and shields, and conducting a full operational test. A final walk-around and trial run can help identify potential issues before they become costly problems during harvest. For the first start-up of the season, proceed in an open space away from any buildings or structures that could be at risk of catching fire.

Taking the time to invest in pre-season maintenance today can pay dividends throughout harvest, helping you maximize uptime, productivity, and peace of mind. To ensure as smooth an operation as possible, all in-house checks and maintenance should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction.

Should you feel you need additional support preparing your combine, reach out to your local dealer to see how they can assist you in checking your machine is safe and ready to head out into the field.

Here’s to a happy Harvest 2026!

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