Breakdowns in agricultural machinery are inconvenient at the best of times, but during harvest season - when every hour counts - they can be disastrous. The risk becomes even greater when accumulated crop residue may cause a combine harvester to overheat, potentially leading to a fire. Regular cleaning with compressed air is a highly effective way to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Every year, fires damage or destroy hundreds of combine harvesters on US farms. In addition to the many millions of dollars in property damage, the equipment downtime results in lost production. Further, several dozen people are injured each year- with occasional fatalities.
Studies show that a significant portion of these fires start when crop residue is ignited in contact with engine components such as manifolds, turbochargers and diesel exhaust systems which operate well above the ignition point of most crop dust. Heat can also build up in pulleys and belts, and exposed electrical wiring could ignite the dust.
These losses are preventable with proper inspection and cleaning. Some of the cleaning is best done by power washing, but using compressed air to blow off crop residue is ideal for cleaning moisture-sensitive components such as electrical systems and hydraulic components.
Daily cleaning is essential, and experts recommend even more frequent cleaning when harvesting crops such as sunflowers, chickpeas or lentils which may create finer dust. Cleaning may be needed as often as every 30 acres. If it's impractical to bring your combine within reach of your shop compressor, portable gas/diesel driven compressors can bring the compressed air to the field. Crop dust and residues that cling to machinery attract rodents, which love to nest in recesses and often damage cables and circuitry, which poses a significant fire hazard for when the machinery is next used.
Efficient cleaning with a compressed air lance (blow gun)
A final inspection and thorough cleaning with compressed air are essential to prepare a combine harvester for safe winter storage.
When it comes to tackling hard-to-reach places on agricultural machinery, a compressed air blow gun is an indispensable tool. It uses compressed air to remove dirt, dust, debris, and other deposits from surfaces. Blow guns feature nozzles that concentrate the airflow. Depending on the size and shape of the nozzle, the air stream can vary, allowing for precise handling of different cleaning tasks. Of course, whenever using compressed air for blowing applications such as this we strongly recommend wearing eye protection and other personal protective equipment.
Removing crop residue reduces fire risk and may also improve harvester reliability and efficiency by lowering operating temperatures. Other farm equipment including balers, seeders, and forage wagons will benefit from cleaning too. In addition to daily cleaning, agricultural machinery should receive a deep clean at the end of the season. Dirt and debris left on these machines during prolonged periods of downtime can lead to paint damage and promote rust formation. Gentle cleaning with compressed air prevents potential problems from arising and enables early detection of damaged or missing parts.
Of course, whenever using compressed air for blowing applications such as this we strongly recommend wearing eye protection and other personal protective equipment.
Compressed air cleaning is only one of several necessary actions to reduce risks. Your equipment supplier will certainly have guidelines and you can easily find information online.
KAESER MOBILAIR compressors make great farm hands. Built for durability and simplicity, they deliver reliable, quiet and fuel-efficient performance that makes clearing of dust and debris quick and easy.
For your maintenance shop, KAESER has a wide range of small electric screw compressors. Check out our current SX Double Play promotion.
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