Thoughts On Old Iron

Left the house at 5 am this morning. Had to move a grain auger some 25 miles down the hiway and wanted to beat the traffic. It was 84 degrees when I left the yard and it's gonna be another hot one today.

Anyway, after I got done with the auger move it was light enough that I could see what I was doin', so I crawled up inside that old combine, finished tightening up the walkers and spun 'er up for a good trial run look-see.

The two worst bearings to get to on a letter series Gleaner are those darned lower raddle chain idlers and wouldn't ya know it, I need a couple. No big beans; I've done that nasty job before.

But, I kept hearing this "moaning" noise when the machine is up to speed. Never owned an "old" combine before and this is a totally foreign sound to me. :>)

Yep, come to find out, the old gal is gonna need cylinder bearings before next year, but I think I can get by with the old ones for this little patch of oats. Only have 40 acres to do.

But, it just got me to thinking. Wonder if some guys don't just take one look at all that spinning, moving, shaking machinery and say the heck with it. It really is kinda overwhelming and it's just easier to trade the silly thing off rather than spend a day or two fixin' what needs to be fixed?

I'm rambling. Think my brain is freezin' up and I'd better get back out in the sun. :>)

Later,

Allan

I have done those idlers on the upper raddle in season my self. As you well know doable but there had to be a better design.

As to finding problems I have found a Mechnics Stethescope to be invaluable. Alot cheaper than paying to have it done and I think I do a better job. Of course on a Gleaner you can get at almost all of the bearings when things are spinning.

Trading to solve problems with a combine has been a mutually exclusive venture on our Ranch LOL. Of course I think the only new combine we ever owned was a Case A6.

Got to the program of cleaning the machine (WITH AIR and by taking things apart) at the end of the season and doing the pre harvest fixes then. Lets me take the time needed and gets me to the field quicker next year. Also removes food for the varmits over the year.

BE CAREFUL OF THE HEAT. Would bet Mrs Allen would sell your tractors and buy more Horses if something happened to you!!

jt

And for those of you with the money...

Fluke makes color Thermal Imagers which can visually show color difference in parts.

Pretty fascinating things...probably cost around $3k is my guess. I doubt it would take long in a busy shop or maintenance department to pay for itself by helping speed up diagnosing problems and improving preventive maintenance.

Fire company has a couple black & white ones which are helpful -- tracing a "smell of something burning" pretty quickly to an overheated electric circuit is one that dramatically stands out in my mind.

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Now I know what to put on the top of my Christmas wish list!!!!!

jt

Some guys just don't care that gear A turns cog B which in turn drives belt C.

Wife tells me to fix the air conditioning first. Heck, that's the last thing that's gonna get the wrenches. Grain must get to the tank first. :>)

Allan