The end of harvest is the perfect time to take care of your combine harvester, including sieves and grain pan.
Proper maintenance not only extends their usefulness, but also prevents costly breakdowns in the following season.
Contrary to appearances, many damages are not caused by natural wear and tear of the material, but by neglect – most often by leaving waste and harvest residues that absorb moisture, leading to the development of corrosion.
Below you will find two procedures – depending on whether your sieves and grain pan are only slightly dirty or require thorough cleaning.
I. Maintenance of sieves
1. The sieve is relatively clean
- Pull sieve out and blow it out with compressed air
This is essential – even small fractions of waste retain moisture and accelerate corrosion.. - Check technical condition
Inspect lamellas, wires and frame. If you notice any damage – repair sieve and protect the repaired elements, for example with zinc spray. This is very important – lamellas falling off during harvesting can cause damage to the combine, requiring expensive repairs and causing downtime of the combine. Detailed instructions can be found in our post: Repair of a Louvered Sieve – Step by Step. - Secure the connections
It’s worth spraying the areas where the wires connect to the frame and dividers with a penetrating lubricant (e.g., WD-40). This is especially important for electrically controlled sieves – a lack of lubrication can cause sieves to work harder, consequently overloading the sieves steering engine and turning off the fuse. - Store in a dry place
Optimally, in a clean, well-ventilated space, away from fertilizers and moisture.
2. The sieve is very dirty
A typical situation after mowing rapeseed, corn or heavily weeded crops.
- Remove the sieves from the combine – as above.
- Wash with water (or with a surfactant, such as Dimer).
It’s best to use a pressure washer. Wash in the closed position to avoid exposing louvres to additional material stress. - Blow out the water with compressed air
Pay attention to gaps and welds.
⚠️ Attention!
If you don’t remove all waste and harvest residues, it will absorb the water and corrosion will develop even faster! - Dry, inspect the condition, secure the connections and store in a dry place – just like with a clean sieve.
II. Maintenance of the grain pan
1. The grain pan is relatively clean
- Pull grain pan out and blow it out with compressed air – this is a crucial step. Leftover minor impurities accumulate moisture and accelerate corrosion. In the case of grain pans, insufficient cleaning (not material wear) is the most common reason for regeneration or replacement.
- Check technical condition
Inspect step plate and frame. If necessary, regenerate the grain pan and protect the surfaces with anti-corrosion protection. You can find instructions here: Repair of a Grain Pan – Step by step. - Store in a dry place – e.g., with sieves, away from moisture and fertilizers.
2. The grain pan is very dirty
- Remove the grain pan from the combine
- Wash with water or with a surfactant (e.g. Dimer) always according to the combine manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Blow out the water with compressed air
Don’t miss any gaps or welds.
⚠️ Attention!
If you don’t remove all waste and harvest residues during washing, it will absorb water and accelerate the corrosion process! - Dry it, check its condition and store it in a dry place – just as you would with a clean grain pan.
