Small Adjustment Brings Big Improvement To Deere Combines
Randy West found that just moving the fan a tiny amount on Deere S Series combines had a huge impact on how well it cleaned grain. After developing a replacement fan bracket for the 8 S series combines he manages, he started selling them through his other business, Harvest Solutions.
“I make improvements to combines out of necessity,” says West, who did custom harvesting for 30 years. “I found that others had the same problems I was having.”
The fan brackets are only the latest in a series of his improvements. They move the fan down and to the rear, reducing the cut-off point from 1 in. to 1/4 in. That’s all that is needed to make the fan more efficient and eliminate dead spots.
“The cleaning fan is the same for the S Series Deere combines as for the 70 Series with its smaller shoe area,” explains West. “The way it comes from the factory, it is not efficient for the 24 percent larger chaffer and a sieve that is only 15 percent larger on the S Series.”
West advises checking the chaffer and sieve for dead spots at the end of the season by looking at wear patterns. Replacing the factory-installed brackets is fairly simple. “The same belt is used, and fan speed isn’t affected. However, it can be more difficult on the drive side.”
He warns that the drive sheave and bearing have to be pulled off. The bearing can be a problem, and he advises simply cutting it off.
“If you use heat, you may ruin it, and it’s not a bad idea to replace the bearing anyway,” says West. “After you replace the bracket, you pull the bearing off the other side and replace that bracket, too.”
The brackets are priced at $145 for a pair. Another of his simple solutions is a $40 clean grain gearbox seal that protects a $2,000 gearbox by covering an exposed seal. For a full list, check out the Harvest Solutions website.
West credits his combine mentors like Ray Stuckle of Idaho, Bill Schwerin and Edie Maughn, and later Dan Hurt and Mike Ellison with Precision Ag Parts, for his decision to make improvements on his own combines.
“I was talking to Mike about problems and options to fix them, and he said, why don’t you figure it out and test it,” says West. “Don’t just accept what Deere offers us.”
West says sharing the solutions with others has been fun. “I get to talk to people all over the country and have even shipped some parts to Australia.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harvest Solutions, Inc., 32812 W. Spearman Rd., Hermiston, Ore. 97838 (ph 541 786-2358; harvestsolutionsinc@gmail.com; www.harvestsolutionsinc.com).
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Small Adjustment Brings Big Improvement To Deere Combines COMBINES Accessories Randy West found that just moving the fan a tiny amount on Deere S Series combines had a huge impact on how well it cleaned grain After developing a replacement fan bracket for the 8 S series combines he manages he started selling them through his other business Harvest Solutions “I make improvements to combines out of necessity ” says West who did custom harvesting for 30 years “I found that others had the same problems I was having ” The fan brackets are only the latest in a series of his improvements They move the fan down and to the rear reducing the cut-off point from 1 in to 1/4 in That’s all that is needed to make the fan more efficient and eliminate dead spots “The cleaning fan is the same for the S Series Deere combines as for the 70 Series with its smaller shoe area ” explains West “The way it comes from the factory it is not efficient for the 24 percent larger chaffer and a sieve that is only 15 percent larger on the S Series ” West advises checking the chaffer and sieve for dead spots at the end of the season by looking at wear patterns Replacing the factory-installed brackets is fairly simple “The same belt is used and fan speed isn’t affected However it can be more difficult on the drive side ” He warns that the drive sheave and bearing have to be pulled off The bearing can be a problem and he advises simply cutting it off “If you use heat you may ruin it and it’s not a bad idea to replace the bearing anyway ” says West “After you replace the bracket you pull the bearing off the other side and replace that bracket too ” The brackets are priced at $145 for a pair Another of his simple solutions is a $40 clean grain gearbox seal that protects a $2 000 gearbox by covering an exposed seal For a full list check out the Harvest Solutions website West credits his combine mentors like Ray Stuckle of Idaho Bill Schwerin and Edie Maughn and later Dan Hurt and Mike Ellison with Precision Ag Parts for his decision to make improvements on his own combines “I was talking to Mike about problems and options to fix them and he said why don’t you figure it out and test it ” says West “Don’t just accept what Deere offers us ” West says sharing the solutions with others has been fun “I get to talk to people all over the country and have even shipped some parts to Australia ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Harvest Solutions Inc 32812 W Spearman Rd Hermiston Ore 97838 ph 541 786-2358; harvestsolutionsinc@gmail com; www harvestsolutionsinc com
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