USED MACHINERY: Although it always pays to spend time looking over any item of used equipment before making a purchase, care and attention is never better rewarded than when appraising a second-hand combine. The difference between a good one and a bad ‘un’ may be small in cash terms, but it can be huge in terms of performance and reliability. By James de Havilland
When looking over a used Axial Flow combine, there is a great deal to look at, even though these machines are simple in layout. It will take at least half a day to complete a thorough inspection, so bear this in mind when going to view a machine. Also, this article merely outlines the basics; the transmission, engine, cab and electrics are not covered specifically.
Start with the header. Axial Flow combines need to be driven to capacity to optimise performance, so the condition of the cutterbar and knife drive gearbox is critical. Apart from normal wear inspections, turn the cutterbar gearbox drive by hand to check for play at both ends of the knife stroke. Excessive gearbox wear limits the knife register and severely compromises performance. A reconditioned box costs around £1,000.
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