Fabricated vs Manufacturer Cotton Harvester Replacement Parts

Certi-Pik, USA | May 7, 2018

Even the highest quality machinery, after extensive use, begins to break down. If you’re in the cotton farming industry, you surely know that even a minimal amount of downtime can be detrimental to your business’ bottom line. When you’re looking for replacement parts to invest in, you should be aware of the different ways that cotton picker parts are made and sold.

Depending on the type of machinery you use and the replacement part you need to invest in, you may be better served by either manufacturer or fabricated cotton picker parts. There are a number of benefits and drawbacks associated with both types of cotton picker parts. If you are struggling to determine which types of cotton pickers suit you and your operation best, you should consult with a professional cotton picker parts specialist.

Benefits of manufacturer parts

Parts made by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) are specially designed to help your cotton harvesting equipment run as smoothly as possible. Typically speaking, this is the easiest and most rapid way to replace damaged or missing parts on your cotton harvesting machine.

Because OEM parts are made by the original manufacturer of your cotton picking equipment, they are often easy to both order and install.

Buying OEM parts generally reduces the amount of downtime you’ll have to subject your picking operation to, as well. Additionally, OEM parts typically include a limited warranty that ensures you’ll be reimbursed or have the part replaced if it fails within a certain time period. This can help you rest easy knowing that your cotton picker has a high-quality, guaranteed component installed inside it.

Benefits of fabricated parts

Fabricated parts, on the other hand, are custom-made replacement components specially tailored to the needs of your machine. While they take longer to produce and can be more expensive, there are a number of advantages you’ll experience if you invest in fabricated cotton picker parts.

For instance, you can take the initially damaged part to the fabricator for analysis, before they begin recreating the piece. They can determine what failed on the initial component, and address that issue as they begin building a replacement.

Because the interior workings of your machinery may shift and expand after years of operation, they can also create a component that fits your cotton picker more accurately.

Since 1988, Certi-Pik, USA has been the premier provider of cotton picker parts in the United States. We provide each and every one of our customers and clients with high-quality fabricated parts, as well as a slew of OEM components. We sell parts for John Deere and Case IH-branded cotton picking gear.

Don’t let your cotton production fall by the wayside—reach out to one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives today, and invest in new high-quality cotton picker replacement parts that you can rely on. We’d be more than happy to help you ramp up production and ensure that you’re making the most of your cotton fields. Get in touch with Certi-Pik, USA to learn more!

Use John Deere Parts This Harvester Season

Certi-Pik, USA | April 19, 2018

The proper function of your cotton picker is crucial for the successful harvest of your cotton crop. In order to ensure that your machinery is working the way it should, you need to complete regular maintenance and inspect your machinery for signs of damage or wear. In some cases, you may even need to rebuild your harvester with John Deere cotton picker parts. Find out more about some of the major components of your harvester that you should check before the harvesting season begins:

Tilt: In order for cotton pickers to effectively harvest a crop and separate cotton fiber from other plant matter, the rows of spindles are set at an angle so that the spindles are as low to the soil as possible, typically about one inch above the ground. With this tilt, spindles are kept at a slightly vertical angle for more effective harvesting. Make sure to check the tilt of your spindle rows before harvesting to ensure that it is calibrated for the best harvest possible.
Spindle bushings: Your spindles are an essential component of your harvester, and it’s important that you inspect them regularly. For the best yield, make sure that spindles are kept sharp at the front of the barb—this allows them to effectively separate cotton fibers from plant matter. If your cotton picker has been in storage for several months, you may notice rust developing on spindles and bushings. If you observe rust, it’s a good idea to replace damaged components with quality John Deere cotton picker parts.
Picker ribs: Picker ribs are supposed to work in tandem with your cotton picker spindle to remove sticks, burs and other debris from cotton fiber. When the spindles and ribs are both in good condition, they create an effect that’s similar to a cotton gin through centrifugal cleaning. Look for missing, damaged or loose ribs that may take a toll on the effectiveness of your cotton picker. You should also look for any other signs of damage or wear that might warrant replacement of some or all of your ribs.
Doffers: A doffer uses unwinding and stripping motions to pull cotton seed matter from the spindles. These doffers need to be positioned very close to the spindles in order to work effectively. Over time, you might notice that your doffers become less effective. If this happens, you should first check to ensure that they are properly positioned. Then, take a look at the components themselves to determine whether they are worn or damaged. You can work with a provider of John Deere cotton picker parts if you need to replace your old doffers.

Are you looking for qualtiy replacement parts to rebuild your cotton harvester? At Certi-Pik, USA, we offer an inventory of standard and specialty parts, as well as fabricating services, depending on your needs. We have decades of experience in the industry, and we would be happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Get in touch today!

The Function and Importance of the Cotton Picker Spindle

Certi-Pik, USA | April 5, 2018

Ever since the advent of agriculture, people have been developing technologies, techniques and devices that are designed to promote efficiency, increase yield and cut down on time and labor. Different crops are planted, grown and harvested with different kinds of machinery and products, and everything that is used during the agricultural process plays an important role in the production of the crop.

However, when it comes to cotton, one specific piece of machinery stands out above the rest: the cotton picker. This piece of machinery has reduced harvest time while maximizing the amount of cotton that can be harvested and used. There are different kinds of cotton picker components, but the most efficient is the cotton picker spindle. Find out more about how this technology came to be and how it has become such an important part of the agricultural industry.

The advent of the cotton picker

Cotton has a long history in the United States, with the first reports of cotton growth occurring in the 16^th and 17^th centuries in Florida and other southern regions. Cotton fibers were a popular good that was traded throughout the world, with significant demand in Europe. Because of the prominence of this crop, there was a lot of motivation for farmers and traders to develop technology to streamline the growth process. In fact, Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin in 1793—a tool which separates cotton fibers from seeds—is widely regarded as one of the most important inventions of the agricultural revolution.

The first piece of cotton picking machinery was developed in the early 20^th century by John Daniel Rust and his brother Mack Rust. The Rust brothers managed to develop equipment that was capable of picking cotton efficiently, although the first pieces of machinery did have certain drawbacks. The first commercially successful cotton harvester was developed in 1944, with schematics based on the Rust brothers’ initial design. These early harvesters could only pick one row of cotton at a time and, although they were much faster than picking by hand, they were still not as efficient as the kind of equipment we have today.

Spindle picker

Spindle pickers are much more efficient than more traditional stripper pickers, and they are the preferred choice among harvesters. A stripper picker picks up most of the cotton fiber as well as a significant amount of the cotton plants themselves, and then the fiber is separated from the plant matter later on. With a spindle picker, barbed spindles arranged in rows in the harvester spin at high speeds and separate cotton from seeds and plant matter. A cotton picker spindle offers efficiency and speed thanks to its advanced design.

Find cotton picker spindles

At Certi-Pik, USA, we understand how important technology is when it comes to cotton harvesting, which is why we are proud to offer high-quality fabricated parts for cotton picking machinery. We have an extensive inventory of premier specialty parts from reputable brands, and we can fabricate replacement parts that are specifically designed for your needs and the machinery you are rebuilding. Our team is dedicated to providing our customers with an outstanding service experience, as well as exceptional products and fair pricing. You can find out more about what we have to offer by browsing our website or giving us a call today to speak with one of our knowledgeable team members.

Why Choose Certi-Pik, USA for Cotton Harvester Parts?

Certi-Pik, USA | March 22, 2018

If you own a cotton harvester, you know how important it is to keep it in excellent working condition every year. Of course, over the course of time, exposure to the elements and nature will make this a little challenging. Still, a cotton harvester that is kept in good condition will be able to function for decades, as long as you keep up with repairing and replacing certain parts.

As with any piece of machinery, a cotton harvester is only as good as the operational value of all of its parts. The higher quality parts you have, the more likely it is you’ll be able to guarantee the long-term quality of its operation. Certi-Pik, USA is pleased to be a top provider in cotton harvester parts.

So, what is it about our company that makes our parts such a smart investment for cotton harvesters? Here are just a few of the reasons why, after three decades, we continue to be a leading supplier of cotton harvester parts:

International renown: Certi-Pik, USA is a truly worldwide brand. While all of our parts are made here in America, we have developed a reputation for quality all over the world, shipping our cotton harvester parts to countries such as South Africa, Greece, Spain, Russia, Australia and Israel, as well as a number countries in South America. This means you never have to worry about our business being unstable—we’ve been operating for decades, and have the backing of countries all over the world to ensure we continue to operate long into the future.
Partnerships: We take pride in working with other brands that have the same reputation for quality that we do. Our cotton harvester parts fit machines made by Case IH, CNH and John Deere, among others. These are some of the top names in the world of cotton harvesting, so by buying from Certi-Pik, USA, you can rest assured you’ll get the quality you expect out of these globally renowned brands.
Quality: We have an in-depth quality control program, because we care greatly about always meeting the standards our customers have for us. After all, you deserve the very best out of your machines for trusting us with your investment. This quality control procedure ensures every single part that comes out of our facilities has been closely analyzed and tested, so you can be sure it’ll hold up to many years of rigorous service.
Certifications: Certi-Pik, USA is proud to have numerous certifications and accreditations that demonstrate our professionalism and our commitment to quality machines. We are a member of the Better Business Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Business. We have credentials covering a wide variety of other quality systems. All of this means you can feel good about placing your trust in our brand.

These are just a few of the reasons why so many people trust us at Certi-Pik, USA with their cotton harvesters. For more information about the many benefits we provide to our customers, contact our team today.

How to Clean Cotton Picker Parts

Certi-Pik, USA | March 8, 2018

If you’ve been in the cotton growing industry for a length of time, you know just how important it is to keep your equipment clean. It’s especially important to clean that equipment at the end of each season—the harvester and baler must be cleaned and maintained before being put away for the season. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just quickly taking a hose to the equipment and letting it air dry. There’s a thorough set of processes that must be used when cleaning the picker and baler parts to ensure they function next year and far beyond.

Here are some of the methods you will need to use to clean your individual cotton picker and baler parts to ensure these components will be able to stand the test of time:

General cleaning: Before you focus on the smaller and more intricate components of your baler or harvester, you should give it a good general cleaning to remove larger pieces of dirt, debris and cotton residuals. Rather than using a hose with water for this process, you should instead use compressed air. Invest in a heavy-duty blower that is capable of blasting away all of the loose debris from your machine. Make sure you run that blower into all of the small cracks and crevices where debris might be hiding and be otherwise resistant to being cleaned out. Always wear gloves, goggles, a hat and a facemask when performing this step.
Moisture columns and row units: This is perhaps the most difficult and tedious part of cleaning your cotton picker, as it requires you to get in and pick out the debris by hand. Debris accumulated in these areas tends to be thick and wet, or was previously wet and is now crusted and dried in place. This means you’re not going to be able to get it out with compressed air. Pick through the debris to get out as much as you can with your hands, while at least loosening up what you can’t get, then go over the area with compressed air. Again, this step will take the longest amount of time, but it’s worth it to ensure a good clean.
Engine compartment: Buildups of debris inside the engine compartment of your baler or cotton picker can create disastrous situations if left for long periods of time. Open up all of the access panels to the engine and dig out any larger chunks of debris you find inside of it. After you’ve done this, take the compressed air to the engine and blow it out thoroughly, taking care to shut all of the compartments back up when you’re done.
Header: This section is also a little more labor-intensive, but shouldn’t take you quite as long as the moisture columns and row units. Here, you just detach covers from the stripping units so you can find any debris trapped inside. Pull this debris out with your hands, and once you’ve gotten as much as you can this way, blow it out with compressed air.

For more tips about cleaning your cotton picker and baler, contact the experts at Certi-Pik, USA today.

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