The John Deere Cotton Picker is designed to do one thing really well, and that is to pick cotton efficiently. It will then bale it so that it is protected until it arrives at the market in the best possible condition to attract the best possible price.
However, cotton pickers require regular inspections and maintenance to ensure that they operate correctly, providing the best possible service.
The owner’s manual provides the most accurate information regarding maintenance schedules and adjustments that can be made in the field. However, trained technicians who utilize precision instruments are best placed to undertake major repairs and adjustments.
It is vital that John Deere aftermarket parts are sourced from a reputable supplier with the knowledge and expertise of maintaining John Deere equipment.
Here’s an overview of the various systems, the common problems experienced, and some possible solutions.
Let’s look at something that is often overlooked when experiencing problems with the row-unit height control system.
Tire Condition and Pressure
Correct alignment of the row unit is critical to efficiently picking the lowest cotton on the plant. This height will be affected by underinflated tires or tires that have different levels of inflation on each side.
Under-inflation leaves the unit too close to the ground as well as causing the unit to bounce up and down excessively. This is both inefficient and places unnecessary loads on the row-unit height control system.
If one or the other tire is under-inflated, it causes the row unit to tilt by several inches, leaving cotton on the plant that should have been harvested.
Once the tire pressures have been assessed and corrected, it’s important to check for wear or damage to the sidewalls and tread. Blowouts can either lead to delays while harvesting or cause accidents during high-speed travel between fields.
Row Unit Tilt Angle Adjustment
If there is either cotton left low down on the plant after harvesting or if there is an excess accumulation of plant material and debris on the cabinets, then it is most likely an incorrectly set tilt angle on the row units.
The correct angle and height adjustment on the row unit ensures efficient harvesting and reduced wear and tear on the bottom of the cabinets.
If the angle is incorrectly set, the row unit will not contact the cotton plant at the right height. The cotton plant will also not progress through the front and rear spindles at the correct angle, resulting in inefficient harvesting with cotton being left on the plant.
It is therefore important to check that the tilt angle is correctly set and that the lower edge of the row units is approximately 1 inch above the soil.
Wear and tear are also reduced on the bottom of the cabinets as the correct angle will help to clear the leaves and other debris away.
Correctly Adjusted Tilt Angle for Specific Conditions
The operating manual specifies a “pin-to-pin” center adjustment on the adjustment link. This should be considered only as a starting point, based on the specific crop conditions and planting arrangement.
“No-till” planted cotton or cotton that fruits low down on the plant is more efficiently harvested with the picking head set nearer to the ground. This requires a slightly reduced tilt angle.
Conversely, cotton that fruits higher up the plant requires a greater angle of tilt and this can only be done based on the unique circumstances particular to the unique conditions on each farm or field.
Starting with the front of the cabinet approximately 1-inch off the ground at picking height and then making adjustments in the angle will facilitate improved yields as well as less wear and tear on the machinery.
Spindles and Spindle Bushings
For obvious reasons, spindles and bushings wear lower down as that is where the majority of the cotton is located, as well as soil that has splashed up and collected on the plant.
The picker spindles should ideally be as sharp as possible to grasp the cotton effectively. However, over time the edges become worn together with the bushing.
Rotation of the spindles during the off-season extends the life of the spindles as well, increasing harvesting efficiency. It is important to check for corrosion that accumulates on the worn spindles while the harvester is in storage.
Broken spindles and ones that no longer spin need replacement to avoid damaging the doffers and the spindle moistening pads. It is best to remove and disassemble the bar to remedy any non-rotating or dead spindles.
Replacing Worn Parts
As the harvesting efficiency and longevity of the equipment is dependent on regular maintenance and inspection, any worn or damaged parts need to be replaced as soon as they are identified.
There should be some play in the spindle assembly once it is fitted into the bar. If there is no slack evident between the drive gear and the spindle gear or if the spindle binds when rotating it in your fingers, then shims are required and the assembly must be removed and fixed before refitting it.
Worn thrust flanges and spindle bushings that exceed the vertical movement tolerances accelerate wear on the drive gears.
Typically, one would expect the useful life of spindles and bushing to be around 600 fan hours but bad weather, high crop yields, and soil, conditions can all play a role in reducing the life of these components.
Bar Height, Doffers and Spindle Moistening System
To ensure that the correct gap is maintained between the spindles, doffers, and moistening system, the picker bar height must be precisely maintained.
Any deviation will result in excessive wear and tear and lower harvesting efficiency.
Each component in the system must be thoroughly cleaned and then checked for wear or damage. Excess play in the components must be adjusted timeously and the moistening pads must be kept in good condition with a constant supply of cleaning solution to ensure that the spindles are properly cleaned while harvesting.
Paying attention to the maintenance factors above and replacing damaged components with reputable John Deere aftermarket parts will help to avoid some of the more common problems experienced with cotton pickers and ensure an efficient and timely harvest.
