What’s the absolute worst time to learn about maintenance or address performance issues?

When you’re in the middle of your first cut next year. The wear and tear of a busy season can take a heavy toll. So, a post-season inspection now can help you spot and prevent trouble before they stop you in the field next season. And the best time to act is now!

Call your local Vermeer Dealer today and ask them when’s the best time to schedule your post-season maintenance checkup so you’re ready to go! And be sure to ask them if they offer special discounts or programs on any Vermeer models or netwrap.

Got plans to do-it-yourself? Here’s a good checklist to help you maximize performance, with specific recommendations on balers and mowers/mower-conditioners:

OVERALL:

• First, clean it up (top to bottom) with an air hose.
• Start with a fresh oil change and a comprehensive lube every year (follow your machine maintenance manual schedule). Sooner or later, oil and lubricants break down. And, if you don’t pay attention, you’ll pay a bigger price later with premature wear, damaged seals, poor operating performance and more.
• Grease and inspect every fitting. Make sure you grease wheel bearings, too.
• If you can, check all bearings for wear (preferably with an infrared temperature gun, after running the baler for roughly 30 minutes).
• Got friction clutches? Now’s a good time to inspect them.
• How do your tires look? Usually, they’re one of the most often overlooked components – until they go flat. Even under-inflated tires negatively impact performance in the field.
• Check the hydraulics fluids for contamination and/or condensation. The cylinders for leaks. The hoses for scrapes or cracking.
• Check for exposed wiring on electrical harnesses. Clean the connections with a solution made specifically for electrical components.
• Make sure all shields, guards, reflectors and lights are in place and working; as well as SMVs and decals.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BALERS:

• Check out components that tend to be higher-wear items: scrapers, rollers, cam track bearings, pick-up teeth, belts and lacings, roller chains and sprockets. When you do it during the off-season, often times you can take advantage of pre-season discounts offered by your local Vermeer dealer.
• Adjust or replace drive and roller chains as needed.
• Make sure belt tension settings are in line with recommendations to prevent slippage.
• Experiencing any minor issues with the twine or netwrap systems? Now’s the time to get them fixed.
• It’s also a great time to plan and pre-order your twine and netwrap inventory. Visit vermeernetwrap.com to learn more!

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOWERS/MOWER-CONDITIONERS:

• Check wear on the discs. If you see a wear pattern starting to develop on one side, rotate them. If they’re damaged, replace them.
• Check the cutting blades for wear. Rotate them if necessary.
• Visit your local Vermeer dealer to check the grease and oil – or – reference the Vermeer service post-season maintenance checklists.
• Since the discs must be removed to check the oil and grease, this is the best time to eliminate buildup on and under the cutter bar. If legumes (ex. alfalfa) are harvested in dry climates, sap from the stems can gum up and harden into a rock hard substance along the cutter bar. In severe conditions, it can even lock discs in place and burn out a clutch. Remove mud, wire, rawhide, twine and netwrap under the discs as well.

LET’S GET READY FOR NEXT SEASON TODAY!