Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

I almost made my first round with my R52 Gleaner, but didn't quite make it.
It started out well, ran a moisture test from the front headland at under 14%. Then I started adjusting the concave to get a better sample. Stopping every 100 ft to check to see how much grain I was throwing over. Opened up the fan damper, tightened up the concave again, adjusted the sieve. Still a bit of chaff and heads in the bin, but Beacher Wheat is hard to harvest. Now starting to put some material through this machine, running about 3.8MPH, rebuilt header feeding well. Starting to fiddle with the monitors to learn how they work.
Then all of a sudden the auger in the header is at a standstill. The drive chain has come off the sproket.

There is always cause and effect, I was a bit rash in thinking the chain was the cause, no such luck. It was the effect.
In rebuilding the header, i missed replacing a single washer over a simple eyelette that adjusts the auger position. As a result the eyelet opened up, the auger moved back and was jamming into the stripper bar. No big damage, but not something that gets fixed by putting the chain back on.
I flipped through the manual a few times before I realized what was the source of my angst. Drive to the front of the field and unload, I have some repair work to do.

Started to unload, then had to shut off the unloader to position myself a bit further from the wagon. This R52 is a lot bigger than my old MF540 and its going to take a few rounds to get used to the length of this unload auger. But it wouldn't start again. Damn electronics! Now I am tracing the wiring diagrams, why won't this auger engage?
Drive to the yard. Now I have more to fix.

First I need this auger emptied, and I don't want to drain it through the clean out, there must be 100 bushels in the bin. All the wires look good, but the clutch will not engage. Problem is, with the grain loaded auger the metal dog that goes in front of the sensor for detedting the auger position, has moved just far enough the sensor is not made. Sollution, place a piece of metal over the sensor and everything works. Of course it took and hour and a half to figure this out.

Now I can move my attention to the plugged header. I love my Gleaner. Within 20 min all the damaged parts are off, and repaired. 20 more minutes back on and modified to prevent such a future failure (needed washer now installed). The reverser works! Hard to justify calling it a plug when it is so easy to undo. BUT the little metal cover at the center to access the fingers has gone missing. That would have plugged up my old combine, i didn't ever hear it go through this one. Back out to the field to run this straw through and see if the other repairs are good. The auger slips as I pull in to the field, lilekly need to re-adjust the slip clutch.  That ends my night.  It was getting dark, my combine needs work, and I am getting a bit tired, nothing good will come of doing any more.

Thanks to a 1/2" rain today, well timed for the tassling corn, I can take my time to make the needed replacement and repairs tonight.

 

So the wheat harvest is at a stop, the field barely touched.   But that's ok the rain is very needed.  So far today, more rain than all of June.  But surprisingly, the crops have been hanging on and are lookig good despite the drought.  I credit fall plowing.

Head high by the 4th of July!  Just need rain to take advantage of a good start.

Views: 617

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by OntAG Admin on July 5, 2012 at 10:48am

Thanks Gus,

Let us know how the wheat runs...glad you got some rain.

Take care.

Comment by Mitch Lang on July 4, 2012 at 2:53am

Your corn looks nice Gus... Must be that fertilizer you used... :)

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Avian Flu Back In Western Canada

Avian flu is making the rounds again in Western Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says new cases have popped up in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Salmon Arm in B.C., and in Ponoka County here in Alberta. That brings Alberta’s total to nine commercial flocks hit this year, with more under investigation near Strathcona and Leduc. Saskatchewan’s first outbreak of the season showed up in Humboldt last month. Officials blame fall migration for spreading the virus and are urging poultry producers to lock down biosecurity. Meanwhile, an update from an animal sanctuary in BC’s interior. The sanctuary near Summerland is reeling from what staff call a devastating outbreak of avian influenza. Critteraid says its farm has been closed since late October after a positive case of H5N1. The virus was confirmed after several birds, including a rooster named Delta, died suddenly. In total, more than a dozen chickens and five ducks were lost—some euthanized for safety. Interior Health is doing co

Weekly Weather Summary

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s weekly weather summary released today. Information from the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report, which is released weekly by the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service from April through November, was not available due to the federal government shutdown. “Based on my observations while traveling around the state and the conversations I’m having with farmers, harvest appears to be nearly complete. That’s in line with the five-year average, which shows Iowa typically has about 98% of soybeans and 91% of corn harvested by mid-November,” said Secretary Naig. “There was a notable weather shift over the weekend as many parts of the state received the first snowfall of the season and snow blanketed much of northwest Iowa. Temperatures fell into the teens and low 20s across much of the state, marking the official end of the growing season

Secretary Naig Requests Nominations for Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited Iowans to nominate fuel marketers and gas stations in their communities for the Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. The Secretary’s annual awards recognize retailers that go above and beyond in their efforts to promote homegrown, renewable fuels and use innovative marketing strategies to showcase the availability and affordability of higher biofuel blends at their locations. “American-made biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel save Iowans money at the pump, give consumers more choice, and increase the value of Iowa-grown corn and soybeans,” said Secretary Naig. “These homegrown fuels power our state forward. They support Iowa’s ag economy, create good jobs in rural communities, and keep more dollars right here at home. Please help recognize a deserving gas station or fuel retailer by nominating them for this award.” Retailers receiving strongest consideration for the award will be those who market renewable fuels in innovative and cr

Case IH AI tool helps with technician efficiency

case ih ai tech assisant,dan mattson case ih,case ih technicians

Snowfall Puts Brakes on Ontario Corn Harvest

The Ontario corn harvest has been halted or delayed because of the first major snowfall of the season earlier this week, according to the latest weekly update from Grain Farmers of Ontario on Thursday. 

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service