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Fire Prevention Tips for Cotton Harvester Parts

Certi-Pik, USA | February 22, 2018

One of the most catastrophic events that can occur on your cotton farm is a sudden fire. Because it is a very dry and flammable material, cotton is extremely sensitive to heat and ignites easily, which can lead to complete destruction of cotton fields, farm property and expensive cotton picking machinery in the event of a fire.

Fires involving cotton harvester parts are an unfortunate reality for farmers around the world, but are also easily avoided. To prevent fires from destroying your next cotton harvest and endangering the lives of you and your employees, exercise caution and use these tips to keep your cotton farm safe.

Implement thorough fire prevention methods

The easiest way to avoid large-scale cotton picker fires is to implement routine methods for fire prevention. The first thing you should do is clean all cotton harvester parts thoroughly on a routine schedule. Debris is known to build up on parts such as spindles. The lint, seed and oil from cotton crops can act as fuel if friction causes a spark on your machine. Cleaning your parts will not only help prevent fires, but can extend the longevity of your equipment.

Additionally, inspect the bearings on your machines every day to identify signs of overheating or looseness, as these can ignite fires. If you do identify a problematic part, replace it immediately.

Finally, keep the baskets of your cotton harvester clear. Some cotton farmers are hesitant to clear baskets due to the loss of some crop; however, uncleared baskets provide additional fuel for fires and can also obstruct the view of hydraulic hoses and fuel lines, making you unable to detect a fire early on in the event that one occurs.

Be prepared for the worst during harvest

After a routine cleaning and inspection of your cotton harvester parts is complete, you should still continue to exercise caution while harvesting your crop. Be careful to avoid rocks or other debris on the ground that might become lodged in picking units and cause sparks when driven over.

Although you hopefully will not need them, always equip your harvester with fire extinguishers to put out a fire while it is still manageable. Additionally, make sure you have a radio or cell phone available on the machine to communicate with others in the event of a blaze.

While harvesting, always remain aware of any signs of fire. The smell of burning cotton is very distinct and is often an initial giveaway to the appearance of a fire. To prepare, burn a small amount of cotton to become familiar with the scent so you can recognize it later if need be.

Choose Certi-Pik, USA for reliable cotton harvester parts

Certainly, using top-quality replacement parts for your cotton harvester can assist in reducing the risk of fire during harvest season. For a wide selection of manufactured and fabricated cotton harvester parts, call Certi-Pik, USA. We also offer a broad list of quality specialty items and sheet metal parts for rebuilding picker units. For more than 30 years, we’ve served customers around the world with our top-quality products and competitive prices. Call today!

5 Tips for Replacing Old Cotton Picker Parts

Certi-Pik, USA | February 8, 2018

The numerous parts that make up your specialized machinery for cotton harvesting are not built to last forever. With proper maintenance and care, parts can last for their full life expectancy, but they do begin to break down over time and with continued use. Failure of cotton picker parts is accelerated by improper use, a lack of maintenance, failure to clean the machine, the use of little to no lubrication and poor manufacturing.

We at Certi-Pik, USA always encourage cotton farmers to routinely inspect their machines and all their parts. Replacing cotton picker parts before they fail completely is much cheaper than waiting to replace them until after they break and cause damage to other parts of the machine. During your routine parts inspection, use these tips to help you identify when it is the right time to invest in replacement parts for your cotton harvester:

Visual evidence of wear: During your routine inspection of your cotton picker parts, you should be able to notice clear visible signs of wear and tear on most parts. Spindles, moistener pads and bearings, in particular, typically show obvious signs of deterioration or fraying, which is a telltale indicator they should be replaced as soon as possible.
Decreased picker efficiency: During your harvest, if you notice your cotton harvester is leaving cotton in the field or is otherwise decreasing in efficiency, there may be a problem with one or more of its parts. To start, make minor adjustments to see if the problem rectifies itself. If the efficiency continues to drop, do a thorough inspection of the machine’s parts to identify where the problem lies.
Adjustments fail to make a difference: Some parts need to be adjusted every so often to ensure smooth functionality, but there comes a point where no amount of adjustment can make up for the wear on a part. In fact, some parts become so worn down that they cannot achieve the necessary alignments. If you make adjustments to a part only to have the part continue to fail, it’s probably time to replace it.
Parts have been poorly maintained: In the event that you obtain a used and poorly maintained cotton harvester from someone else, or you yourself have neglected to maintain your cotton picker in recent years, the chances that you will need to replace parts is high. Cotton pickers require extensive maintenance and lubrication to remain effective and safe, and if that maintenance doesn’t occur, parts fail much faster.
Fires start easily: Fires in your cotton harvester can quickly turn into a disaster for your machines and cotton fields. Regular cleanings will help cut down on the risk of cotton picker fires, but sometimes the problem doesn’t lie with dirty parts. Worn-out parts can also cause fires, as they are more likely to collect debris and oil that fuel frequent fires.

To browse a wide selection of manufactured and fabricated cotton picker parts, call Certi-Pik, USA. We also offer a broad list of quality specialty items and sheet metal parts for rebuilding picker units. For more than 30 years, we’ve served customers around the world with our top-quality products and competitive prices. Call today!

Rebuilding Your Harvester with John Deere Cotton Picker Parts

Certi-Pik, USA | January 23, 2018

Any machinery rebuilding project will likely require purchasing new parts to replace older or broken parts. Such is the case with a failing or old cotton harvester. If you choose to rebuild your machine instead of scrapping or selling it, know that the whole process is made simpler when you have a reputable source for quality John Deere cotton picker parts. And, since ideally you want your harvester to work well for years to come, you’ll definitely want to purchase these specialty parts from a source you trust.

If you are planning to rebuild your cotton harvester with John Deere cotton picker parts, then the following information is for you!

Choose a trusted source

Chances are low that you’ll find cotton harvester replacement parts at your local home improvement store. This is a niche industry and you’ll need to seek out a source for in-stock and custom parts building. First, find a distributor that carries parts for your particular harvester model. This means getting familiar with your harvesting equipment’s specifications. Choose a source that offers the best harvester brands on the market, like John Deere, so you can go through your cotton harvest with the peace of mind that comes with being able to trust your parts and machines for years to come. Key parts you’ll need to keep in mind include:

Row units: Cotton harvesters have a very noticeable part called row units. Row units are the claws that are fixed to and stick out of the front of the machine to collect cotton plants and funnel them through. Not immediately visible in each row unit—there are six to 10 row units on average—are the cotton spindle bushings and the spindles.
Spindles and bushings: These two parts work together to get the job done. The bushings are rotating cylinders and the spindles stick out of these cylinders. When the harvester is in full operation, these parts grab the cotton plant that is put into the row unit and separate the cotton flower from the rest of the plant.
Doffers: The harvester parts that take the fresh cotton flowers from the spindle are called doffers. Spinning more than three times faster than the spindles, the doffers quickly remove the cotton and remaining debris from the spindles. This allows the spindles to continue functioning without issue.
Picker ribs: Located vertically in the row unit are the picker ribs. They are in place to separate the spindles as they spin fast during harvest. Picker ribs are vital for clearing away twigs, leaves and other plant matter from the spindles.
Plant lifters: You’ll find plant lifters at the bottom of the row units—only about an inch off the ground—and they work hard to funnel cotton plants into the row units. They grab the plant and carefully feed it through the harvester.

Getting ready to start a cotton harvester rebuilding project? While this list covers just a few of the key harvester parts, you can find everything you need for at Certi-Pik, USA! Contact us today for a list of in-stock John Deere cotton picker parts.

What Is a Cotton Picker Spindle and Why Is It So Important?

Certi-Pik, USA | January 9, 2018

As you would when you own any large piece of machinery, the best way to ensure you are using, cleaning and maintaining your cotton picker spindle properly is to have a basic idea of its function and mechanics. Having this understanding will also come in handy when you go to purchase replacement parts from a reputable source, like Certi-Pik, USA, as well as when your equipment requires regular care and maintenance. Being familiar with this harvester part helps you avoid unplanned downtime due to repair needs.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at cotton picker spindles, and clarify why regular maintenance is such an important part of owning cotton picking equipment.

What spindles are

The cotton picker spindle is one of the most essential parts to your harvesting machine, and therefore requires individual attention when it’s time for cleaning and maintenance work. Additionally, since the good condition of the spindles can better guarantee operational efficiency during harvest, regular inspections are recommended.

Spindles are not unique to cotton harvesters, as they are used in other machinery such as milling equipment and drill presses. But, as a tool for a harvester, they are made to rotate on an axis at very high speeds as a method of removing seeds from the picked cotton plants. In the past, the seeds were removed by hand, which took a significant amount of time to accomplish, making the cotton spindle a seriously time saving invention.

The cotton picker spindle has not change much since its creation. What has changed is the understanding of the importance of parts maintenance for long life and a superior harvest. For instance, you can tell there is a problem with the spindle when the cotton that gets picked is not usable or there is damage to the plants. If your spindles are properly maintained, they can last for years, so make sure preventative maintenance starts the day you get a new harvester.

Before and after harvest

As mentioned above, maintenance of your cotton picker spindles is an important step to prevent damage to cotton crops during harvest and to ensure a long machine lifespan. Check the spindles before harvest, and perform maintenance afterwards:

Before and during picking: A part of maintenance is to check the condition of the spindles regularly during the harvest season. Inspect them before picking, and then check for damage or needed adjustments throughout harvest time. Also, check other harvester parts that contribute to the function of the spindles—such as the moistener pads, bushings, doffers and cam track—for wear, damage and debris buildup.
After a harvest: You may be able to feel or sense there is something wrong with your harvester while it’s in action. Once the machine has cooled, check for broken parts or wear and tear. The spindles will also need cleaning after every harvest, especially since any green plants that touch the spindles could result in a jam.

Proper preventative maintenance of picker spindles and other harvester parts is the key to a successful and lucrative cotton harvest. Call the team at Certi-Pik, USA to find cotton harvester replacement parts, including cotton picker spindles, drumheads and slip clutches.

Tips on Maximizing Cotton Picking Efficiency

Certi-Pik, USA | December 19, 2017

Are you wondering how you can make the most of this year’s cotton crop? Thanks to technological advancements and continuing innovations in the way that agricultural goods are planted, grown and harvested, you may be able to maximize your investment in this year’s planting and produce a bumper harvest.

The best way to ensure that you are receiving the best possible return on your crop investment is to utilize the highest possible quality of cotton picker parts. Using cotton picker parts produced by a well known and trusted fabricator is a surefire way to guarantee that you will be able to make the most of your crop.

In addition to using high-quality harvesting equipment, there are a number of other ways that you can make the most of your time, seed and soil. Here are just some of the most significant ways that you can maximize your field’s efficiency, and implement an effective strategy to make this year’s harvest more productive than ever:

Check your spindles: One of the most important components of the cotton picking process is the picker spindles. If any of the spindles are damaged, deformed or missing, you will not be able to yield your full crop. Work with a trusted purveyor of cotton picker parts to replace any damaged or missing spindles.
Clean the spindles: Once all of your spindles are intact and in proper working order, you must ensure that they are cleaned and lubricated. Debris on the spindles or a lack of proper motion can result in lost harvest opportunities in your fields. Working with mechanical experts is the best way to maximize your yield.
Align the equipment: The spindles and the doffers on your cotton picker must be perfectly aligned before you take your machine out into the field. If these two components are out of alignment, it will result in lost bolls during the harvesting process. Consult with a cotton picker parts expert to learn more about attaining alignment.
Calibrate clearance: Make sure that the spindle tip clearance and the picker head height are perfectly calibrated well in advance. Failure to calibrate these two components can result in lost crops and bolls that haven’t been properly yielded. If you are unsure about the proper way to calibrate your machine, consult with a cotton picker parts expert.

Since 1988, Certi-Pik, USA has been the nation’s foremost fabricator of cotton picker parts. For nearly three decades, farmers have relied on us to provide them with the most dependable, trustworthy agricultural supplies in the region. You can count on us to deliver reliable components that will help you to maximize your field’s efficiency, and receive the largest possible return on your investment. We are proud to support American cotton growers with our high-quality, domestically fabricated components.

If you are looking for ways to improve your cotton picking processes, you should reach out to one of our talented and knowledgeable associates today to learn more about the ways that we can help you make the most of your cotton fields.

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