Maintaining a Dewulf RA3060 harvester: a step-by-step guide

Dewulf@your service 

Service is crucial and the key to success. Clearly then, you want to do all you can to ensure your harvester is in tip-top shape for the coming harvesting season. Together with your virtual service technician from Dewulf, we will go through an RA3060 so you can carry out the necessary maintenance. We will follow the product path, scrutinising all parts subject to wear and tear – from rollers to sieving web, and from drive unit to bearings – and taking care of oil changes. Tips and tricks for mechanical and hydraulic systems, step by step. We will start at the mechanical hatch, focussing first on the haulm topper. Here we go! 

1. Haulm topper 

• Check the condition of the haulm topper flails. Look for wear, such as abnormal curvature, that may prevent them from functioning as intended. 
• Inspect the rotor drive and bearings. 

• Check the drive belts for tension and wear.

• If fitted with a waste conveyor, check the drive as well as the rollers inside and below the web.

• Check the general condition of the web, and look closely for cracks where the web overlaps. The web is joined with two belts, one above the other.

• Be sure to test that the depth control sensors still move freely. If they are frozen in place by rust, the automatic depth control will not function properly.

Tip: The same rule applies to all the sieving webs (and the hedgehog unit): check all rollers for roller wear. (Are they still sufficiently round, for example?) In addition, check the drive shaft bearings, drive sprockets, gearboxes and joining rods for wear (as well as the overlap of the webs if they don't have a joining rod).

2. Harvesting channel

• Check the diabolos: inspect the bearings and scrapers. Check whether the physical condition of the diabolos is still acceptable. If there are too many dents and bulges, there is an increased risk of tearing. 
• Probes for depth control: same procedure as on the haulm topper, check that the hanging cables are intact. 
• Auto guidance of the probe: guides must still be in good condition, with no bends in the system. 
• Check the length of the harvesting shares; these are subject to wear. New shares are generally 375 mm, and at 300 mm they need to be replaced. 

• Check all the rollers in the harvesting chute.

• Inspect the drive shaft bearings.

• Check the PU pull sprockets. 

• Change the oil in the gearbox.

• Check the bearings of the agitator (if present), as well as the drive unit.
• Check the joining rods of the sieving web. 

3. Haulm roller 

• Check the general condition of the haulm roller.

• Check the bearings.

• Check the coupling between the haulm roller and the drive shaft.
• Check whether the cladding of the haulm hooks is still adequate. This is very important to prevent harvesting damage. 

4. Third sieving web

• Inspect all parts associated with the web: rollers, bearings, drive pinions, etc.

5. Hedgehog unit

• Check the drive, bearings and rollers of the hedgehog unit.

• Pay attention to possible wear of the scraper blocks.

• Be sure to check that the counter roller is still loose enough that it moves up and down smoothly.

• Check that the pull cables are still OK and can be opened automatically.

• Inspect the general condition of the hedgehog web itself for wear.

6. Axial cleaning module

• Check the play of the shafts.

• Adjust the scrapers properly (only applies for smooth rollers; not present for spiral rollers).

• Check the oil level in the gearbox.

• Check for leaks at the gearbox.

7. Ring elevator

• Examine the roller between the axial module and the ring elevator, and make sure the bearing is still OK and that it rotates properly.

Ring elevator itself

• Check all rollers, flights and the gearbox above them.
• Change the oil.

• Check the pull sprockets and bearings on the drive shaft.

• Web condition: check for cracks and missing flights.

• Return conveyor: recheck the rollers, condition and drive. 
• Counter web of the ring elevator: check general condition, joining rods, etc.

Tip: Replace the joining rods at the counter web of the ring elevator, return conveyor and sorting unit annually to prolong the life of the closure itself. 

8. Upper hedgehog web

• Check the rollers, drive and general condition of the upper hedgehog web.

• Pay particular attention to the V-belt for the counter roller. It is driven differently from the first hedgehog web.

• Check the scraper blocks. With extensive wear, they can break off. If only moderately worn, these can be replaced, as they are screwed on.

9. Sorting unit

• Check the joining rod, rollers, bearings and drive, and replace the oil in the gearbox.

10. Bunker

• Check the product path for wear. If it is worn down 5 mm, it is time for replacement and welding is necessary. 

• At the drive sprockets and loose sprockets: check the play of the bunker chain rollers. This determines how the bunker chain runs.

• Check the drive: the chain and sprockets (duplex).
• Verify that the bunker lubrication is still working properly.

General inspection and maintenance tips

• Hydraulics:

• Change all filters annually (or every 500 engine hours). This is a general guideline and applies to all hydraulically driven machine types. 

• Do not forget the cabin filters (2x).

• Check the final drives and the pump drive (gearbox between diesel engine and hydraulic pumps).

• Fuel filters.

• Engine oil and oil filter.

• Engine air filters.

• General inspection of the machine:

• Calibration of sensors (depth control, position control of automatic systems such as hedgehog unit and sorting unit, etc.).

• Lighting.

• Automatic grease lubrication.

• Check that all functions are still controllable from the computer.
• You will also find a maintenance chart in the machine manual that you can use as a reference at any time. 

In this article we have picked out some of the most important points to get you started. Good luck maintaining your Dewulf RA3060 harvester! 

P.S. Would you be interested in working on our machines full-time? Are you the missing link in the Dewulf chain? If so, be sure to check out the job vacancies at our various locations!