Windrower End-of-Season Inspection and Maintenance Checklist

Following up on our recent blog post about the importance of end-of-season maintenance we are now sharing with you our windrower checklist.  Just a few simple steps before storing your machine for the winter are keys to reliable machine performance and long life.

Windrower checklist:

• Begin your inspection at the header, looking for wear and components which should be replaced.
• For sickle-bar headers, replace cutter bar teeth and ledger plates. Replace the guards once yearly when storing machines or add this to your list for completion during winter.
• On disk mowers, replace knives and rotate or replace worn turtles covering the knives.
• Grease all lift-system wear points.
• For self-propelled machines, be sure to change engine oil and filters.
• Replace or blow out all air filters, including the cab air filter.
• Check all belts for checking and signs of wear. Inspect tires for wear that might require tire replacement. Inflate to the required air pressure.
• Check and blow dirt and debris from radiators. On machines with “smart” reversing fans such as the V-Cool™ system found on Hesston WR Series self-propelled windrowers, radiator screens already should be clean and free of dirt and hay.