Harvest grinds to a stop

I just said to someone today that I had been so fortunate this year. The only trouble in 750 acres of beans and milo was a contour sensor on the combine head.

Today I got about 1500 bushels of milo out and decided to go across the blacktop and fill a truck of beans. The milo was getting too tough and damp so I had to do something. I got to the beans and hit the adjustment on the cleaning fan. Nothing. The outer bearing on the adjusting sheaves had gone out. It was hot as a firecracker. I was fortunate as that shaft runs through the straw walkers and it could have been one of those hearings and started a fire. I know Animal lost his machine a couple of days ago to fire. That was all I could think of.

Now I have to tear into it and replace that bearing. The jackshaft is a little scored but I am going to try to put a new bearing on it and get it to run the last hundred acres I have left. I will put a new jackshaft and another bearing on the winter repair list. I pray there aren't any more surprises once I get in there and also that there aren't any parts that aren't in stock at JD. A 9500 is getting a little old but they seem to carry just about everything I have needed. Of course it will be on a Friday so if they don't have it I am toast. It is supposed to rain Monday through Thursday next week.

I'm guessing it was a bad idea to leave the best part of the milo (that I was keeping for feed) until the end. I wanted it nice and dry to store, but getting days of rain on it won't do it any good!

Such is farming. About the time you get tired of sitting in the cab you get to play mechanic in dusty milo chaff.

Just a little helpful hint here . A good laser heat gun can be a vary good friend for checking bearings . A quick point and shoot and you can go a quick walk around while unloading . Sealed bearings are great till the grease runs out .