What are the 3 Main Functions of a Combine Harvester?

Whether you are looking to upgrade your current agricultural equipment, or make the jump to a new type of equipment altogether, you might be interested in used combines for sale. Combine harvesters (combines for short) are a heavy-duty piece of farming equipment that combines multiple tasks into one process.

Combines are of the more complex types of farming machinery to understand and use, so in this blog we are going to break them down in detail. In particular, we will look at the functions and main parts of combine harvesters, and where you might find a quality used one for sale.

What is a Combine Harvester?

First things first, a combine harvester is a relatively advanced farming machine that streamlines multiple actions with one piece of equipment. Combines are used to quickly and efficiently harvest large masses of grains, corn, soybeans, and more. Some more modern combines can cut up to forty feet at a time.

What are the Functions of a Combine Harvester?

One of the reasons combines are so useful is that they combine three main farming functions into one. These functions are reaping, threshing, and winnowing.

Reaping is simply the act of cutting, gathering, or harvesting your crops.
Threshing consists of separating seeds or grains from the plant itself.
Winnowing is the process of separating quality grains from the chaff by a current of air.

Separately and manually, these functions can be extremely time-consuming and laborious. Fortunately, you can cut down on the time and effort required to get through an entire field with a combine.

What are the Parts of a Combine?

There are generally about six to eight parts of a combine harvester that you care about as the consumer. Of course, like any piece of machinery, there are tons of small parts and pieces of hardware that make it work. However, for our purposes, let’s take a look at the main parts of a combine harvester and their functions.

Header: The header is the front part of the combine that is responsible for moving the whole plant into the machine and cutting off the plant close to the ground.
Spinning Augers and a Conveyor Belt: These pieces work in tandem to move the crop up from the head towards the center of the combine.
Threshing Segment: This portion of the combine beats up and shakes the crops to separate the grains from the stalk.
Grain Tank: Once the grains are separated, they travel into the grain tank where they are stored. The chaff, stalk, and husks travel up conveyor belts to different locations.
Elevator and Unloader: As the grain tank fills up, an elevator will carry it up to the unloader (a pipe leading out of the combine) where it will be transferred into a grain cart (essentially a tractor carrying all the grains)
Straw Chopper: The rest of the remnants like the stalk and husks go through a straw chopper and are shot out of the back of the harvester.

As far as combine harvester parts that need maintenance, it is best to keep the combine relatively clean to allow for better inspection of rust or wear problems. In addition, make sure to check pieces of hardware such as chains, belts, blades, and more. Similarly, be sure to do any and all required engine maintenance like changing the oil as needed or the fuel and air filters. For a more comprehensive list of how to take care of your combine, be sure to read the owner’s manual.

Find Your Next Combine with Machinery Pete

When the time comes to invest in a combine harvester, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. That means not overpaying, and being conscious of how to get the most value for your money. At Machinery Pete we can help you do just that in a couple of ways.

First and foremost with our online marketplace, you can buy and sell a whole range of used harvesting and other equipment for sale. We can also help you figure out exactly what your needs are and what equipment best suits you. With Machinery Pete, you can be sure that you are getting quality machines with top-tier customer service. Head over to our site today!