Post-Harvest Equipment Inspection: What to Service Before Storage
Common Issues Post-Harvest
As the harvest season ends, most of us are surely ready to put the 2025 growing season behind us and start (more realistically continue) to plan what varieties and strategies will bring us a more successful yield in 2026.
Flash forward to August of 2026, if you're me you are enjoying some treats like cheese fries and deep-fried delicacies at the Indiana State Fair. When I get home, I start to prep my combine for the harvest season ahead. Much to my dismay, I didn’t inspect my machine after the last harvest, and now rodents have ruined my wiring harness, and my bearings are starting to show early wear.
General Tips for Post-Harvest Inspections
To avoid ending up with these issues, general tips are as follows:
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Blow Equipment Clean
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Power Wash Equipment
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Check Fluid Levels
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Grease Wear Points
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Change Filters
Brad Tetzloff, Territory General Manager, with 12 years of service experience, shares that the most important parts are cleaning the machine with a blower or power washer. This will save your equipment from any damage that could happen to it being a house for rodents, over the winter. Technicians have told me horror stories about planters, tractors, and combines needing thousands of dollars of work to fix the damage from rodents getting into equipment from harvest.
Another tip that Brad provides is to ensure that bearings are greased after the cleaning. This prevents early rusting or wear on the bearings which could lead to significant down time in season if the bearings seize or fail.
Bane-Welker Inspection Programs
If you have other more important projects to tackle this winter, don’t worry, Bane-Welker has SIP and SIP 360 offerings that can help you get these important inspections and maintenance items taken care of. Our SIP or Specialized Inspection Program is a service where our expert technicians assess all the wear items on the piece of equipment and then provide a list of recommended repairs. You as the customer then get to decide what projects you would like them to repair.
The SIP 360 program covers recommended maintenance items in addition to the inspection. The maintenance items covered are:
Filters
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Inspect filters across engine, hydraulic, emissions, and cab system
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Replace worn or dirty filters as needed
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Ensure optimal airflow and system cleanliness
Service Lubricants
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Grease all major systems
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Refill with manufacturer-recommended lubricants
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Promote peak performance and equipment longevity
Additional Maintenance Items
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Conduct fluid sampling and tire checks
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Perform safety inspections
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Address small details that impact seasonal readiness
Benefits of a Post-Harvest Inspection
As the harvest season comes to an end, inspection of equipment is beneficial for ensuring success next season. Whether it is done at the farm or at your local Bane-Welker dealership, make sure you are efficient next season by taking the time now to clean, grease, and check out your machinery. A small investment of time now prevents frustrating, costly breakdowns when next year's planting and harvest windows arrive. Take advantage of the quiet season to complete a thorough post-harvest inspection so your operation can hit the ground running for a profitable year ahead.
