Any mechanical machine will wear out over time. The good news is that a little routine maintenance can help extend the life of cotton picker parts.
The hook teeth of spindles in the front drum seat tube were inspected for wear. SEM micrographs were obtained to evaluate the wear morphology.
1. Check the Oil
The Cotton Picker is a large piece of equipment that requires specialized training to operate. The machinery is complex and delicate and can cause serious damage if not treated properly. Regular inspections are the best way to ensure the cotton harvesting machine is running smoothly. This will also catch any issues before they become more severe.
It is important to use high-quality cotton picker parts to ensure the machine works correctly. If the parts are not of good quality, they may break sooner or cause extensive damage to other components. This can lead to expensive repairs and downtime during the harvest season. It is also important to check the oil regularly. Cotton picker oil lubricates the moving parts of the machinery, keeping them from breaking down or getting damaged. It also helps to prevent rusting and other corrosion.
A cotton picker is an essential piece of farm equipment that is used to collect crops from the fields. The cotton is then sold to companies that make clothing, such as shirts and pants. This is a high-profit industry for farmers, so it is vital that the machinery is working properly at all times.
Regular inspections will help to extend the life of a cotton picker. This will reduce downtime and save money in the long run. It will also help to ensure the safety of the farmers and employees who work on the machines.
Cotton picker spindle grease is a special lithium-based lubricant that can be used to lubricate the spinning units and other moving parts of a cotton picker. This grease will help to reduce metal-to-metal deterioration, which will extend the life of the cotton picker.
This grease will also help protect the spindles from rust and oxidation. It can also help clean the cotton and sticky plant sap off the spindles and other moving parts of the machine. This oil will help to keep the machinery running smoothly and efficiently during the harvest season.
2. Clean the Header
Long days of rolling through the cotton field can leave your picker with dirt, mud, and other debris. This can lead to fires and decreased efficiency. It’s important to clean the picker after each day of harvesting and before greasing, adding fluids, or inspecting it.
Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended procedures closely for cleaning your specific make and model. Be sure to wear personal protective gear, including gloves, eye protection, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, and earplugs. Use a low-pressure water system for washing to avoid abrasions and slip-and-fall injuries.
The hydraulic system in the cotton picker should be checked regularly to ensure that it is functioning properly. Debris, such as plant parts and dirt, can clog hydraulic lines, causing them to rupture or ignite. Checking the oil levels and condition of the hydraulic components can help prevent these issues from occurring.
Electrical problems can be very dangerous for cotton pickers, so it is important to check the fuses and wiring on a regular basis. A failure to do so could result in a fire, which can destroy the machine. Also, a failure to check the battery on a regular basis can lead to overamping and short circuits.
Keeping the mechanical system of the cotton picker in good working order can reduce downtime and improve picking efficiency. One of the most common causes of premature wear on the picker bar is a lack of grease. Getting enough grease to the lower section of the bars can be difficult, so a grease pump is often used to help increase flow.
The most important aspect of extending the life of your cotton picker is to purchase high-quality replacement parts. Not all aftermarket parts are created equal, so be sure to choose a supplier with a long-standing reputation for providing top-quality products. The team at Certi-Pik can help you find the parts you need to keep your machine running at peak performance. We carry a wide variety of replacement parts for John Deere cotton pickers, including belts, water systems, air systems, picking unit cabinets, and many other essential components.
3. Clean the Chassis
The chassis on a cotton picker can get clogged with lint, trash, and other debris from harvesting. It’s important to clean the chassis frequently, especially in the engine compartment. Open all access panels to the engine and thoroughly clean out any large chunks of debris you find, removing them and closing all the panels when you’re done.
Then, blow out the engine compartment with compressed air, being careful not to hit any electrical components with the air stream. This prevents the buildup of dust and lint in the hydraulic lines, which can lead to problems with operation later.
Another area that can become clogged with lint and debris is the spindle moistening system. This is one of the most important elements of a cotton picker because it allows the machine to swipe through plants and pull out the fiber. But if this system isn’t working correctly, it can cause the picker to slow down and produce lower yields.
It’s crucial to clean the spindle moistening system regularly by using COTTON PICKER WATER TANK OIL. This water-soluble oil mix easily cleans the lint, dirt, and plant sap off spindles while also lubricating them. It enables the doffers and moisture pads to work more effectively, improving productivity and extending their lifespan.
The same goes for the cotton picker row units and moisture columns. It’s best to do a thorough cleaning from top to bottom each night or morning before greasing, adding fluids, and inspecting the machine.
As you perform the cleaning process, be sure to wear protective equipment. This includes gloves, eyewear, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a face mask, and hearing protection. This helps prevent injuries while you’re working on the cotton picker.
Once the overall chassis is cleaned, it’s time to move on to the header. It’s a good idea to have a helper with you to prevent mishaps while getting rid of clogged debris in the header’s cylinders. When you’re finished, clean the lights and cab glass before proceeding to the next step. R.M. King Company’s overhaulers are the first to see the weak spots in different model machines, and they know how to correct them to extend the lifespan of the cotton picker parts.
4. Clean the Row Units and Moisture Columns
A cotton picker’s row units must be inspected and cleaned regularly to prevent spindle chokes and other problems. A choke occurs when trash or lint accumulates inside cabinet doors or conveying ducts and prevents seed cotton from moving rapidly. Techniques to reduce or eliminate chokes include beginning the day with clean cabinet and conveyor doors, lowering spindle cleaner solution application rates, using slower ground speeds, and cleaning the cabinets more frequently and thoroughly.
The cotton plant bowl containing the cotton must also be kept clean. This includes separating the plant’s stalks from its fiber and cutting away weeds and vines that would otherwise interfere with the picking process. A wide variety of plant bowl components can be used to help achieve this, including distributor plates, supports, nuts, bushings, and channels. All of these components must be free of wear or damage to function properly.
Taking the time to clean a cotton picker each night or morning will result in better performance throughout the day. This routine maintenance will save time, money and improve the longevity of many parts, including a picker header.
It is important to use a spray cleaner designed specifically for cotton pickers. These cleaners are formulated to dissolve and disperse dirt and other contaminants without damaging the rubber seals of lubrication points or the plastic sheaths that protect the motor, radiator, hydraulic oil coolers, and other sensitive equipment.
Keeping the row-unit clean can extend the life of the mower spindles and the shafts and bearings of the tethered and idle cylinders. It is also essential to keep the plant bowl clear of debris, which may cause the plant to drop prematurely during harvesting.
Moisture columns are the water supply system for the row units, and they must be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. This prevents clogging, reducing the time and effort needed to complete a field. Depending on the type of soil and crop conditions, these columns may require more or less water than normal to operate correctly.
In addition to reducing the amount of time spent on maintenance, cleaning the moisture columns will increase the effectiveness of the row unit’s moistening systems. It is important to remember that optimal moisture levels differ for each crop and on a field-by-field basis, and these changes may require frequent alteration of both the cleaner concentration and the moistener flow rate.
