Cotton farmers generally begin the planting season by late April in most places around the United States, though that can vary slightly from region to region. At the start of each season, it’s important for all cotton farmers, no matter the size of their operation, to make sure their equipment is ready to get the job done as efficiently as possible, and to engage in thorough planning to aid in that process.
Here are some of the things to consider at the start of each cotton planting season.
Maintenance
Take care of all the basic maintenance issues for your planting equipment early in the season, before you actually get out into the fields. Double check all the bearings, discs, vacuum systems, chains and plates on your planters to make sure none of them are damaged and that everything is in good working order. If you do have any cotton picker parts that are damaged or have some significant wear and tear on them, then it’s important to replace them as soon as possible, before you begin planting. This will help ensure you complete the planting process with efficiency and precision.
Be sure to check the seed tubes. In some cases, these can get plugged up as a result of a buildup of debris and insects. Take whatever steps are necessary to make sure those delivery tubes are clean, allowing for a free flow of seeds. Otherwise you run the risk of not getting the seeds planted with the proper distribution, which could make for a poor crop.
Analyze the fields
Before you begin planting, you should perform a careful and thorough assessment of each field. The variations in the soil and moisture can affect how you adjust your planter. It’s important to have a good seed-to-moist-soil contact level, especially in the zone immediately surrounding the seed you plant. If there’s too much dry soil that gets removed from the planting zone, then there’s a good chance you could experience some hard crust forming behind the planter, especially if you’re dealing with environmental challenges such as wind, high temperatures and low humidity that already dry out the soil.
This isn’t as much of an issue with today’s planters as it used to be, but it’s still something you’re going to want to take into consideration. You can adjust by making sure the soil is properly moist at about a couple inches deep. Otherwise you’ll find it harder to get a good planting for the year.
Another environmental consideration to keep in mind is the temperature of the soil at the time of your planting. A good standard is to look for a soil temperature of 65 degrees at about four inches below the surface.
For more information about what you should analyze before you begin the process of planting your cotton and how you can prepare your equipment and ensure you have all the necessary cotton picker parts for the process, we encourage you to contact the experts at Certi-Pik, USA today!
Regular cleaning and servicing of your cotton picker parts will help ensure the long-lasting quality performance of the machinery. It’s important to stay on top of your ongoing maintenance all season long to get reliable operation out of your equipment. Here are just a few tips to help you accomplish this.
Check fluids
Before you start your cotton picker’s engine for the first time each day, you should do a quick check of some of the most important fluid levels in the machine, including engine oil and coolant. Like with any other type of machine, it’s important to change the oil as needed so you can be sure the engine is properly lubricated and that it doesn’t work harder than it needs to. Changing your oils produces better efficiency and better results.
Washing
Washing your cotton picker with water is one of the easiest ways to keep it clean. You can use either low- or high-pressure washing solutions.
Low-pressure water from your own hose or other convenient water systems can help you spray debris away from the row units. This is an effective method of cleaning those units off, but if you have larger, multiple-row pickers, it might take a pretty good chunk of time to get this job done. It will also get the ground wet around the picker, which could turn into a safety issue if you’re not careful.
You can use a pressure washer to even more effectively remove debris and grease in row units. This is much faster than hand washing or using low-pressure washing solutions, but you need to be careful that you don’t damage the machinery at all with the high-pressure water stream. If you’re not careful with how you use the pressure washer, you could damage seals, mess with some of the wiring or even push dirt and water down into some important bearings and other parts of the machine. In addition, you should always wear protective gear any time you’re using a pressure washer with a picker. Protective eyewear and clothing can help you avoid issues caused by splash back. Never, ever direct a pressure washer toward people or animals.
Air cleaning
You can also clean your cotton picker parts with pressurized air. High-volume and high-pressure air can be quite effective at removing buildup of debris and lint from your cotton picker, and lower-volume compressors can also be effective in some situations with the proper type of nozzle. The volume you use influences the cleaning power.
With any of the above methods of cleaning or servicing a cotton picker, be sure to wear protective equipment, including gloves, boots, eyewear, long pants and long-sleeve shirts, hearing protection, a dust mask and a respirator. Once you’ve finished cleaning the picker chassis, you can clean the lights, cab glass and other cotton picker parts as needed.
To learn more about the steps you should take to keep your cotton picker in great condition all year long, we encourage you to contact the team at Certi-Pik, USA today with any questions.
Are you in need of a cotton picker machine? Choosing the right cotton picker machine and cotton picker parts is essential for success in your endeavors. The wrong machine or a machine with poor quality cotton picker parts can lead to frustrations and disasters.
So how can you choose the right cotton picker machine for you? Use the following questions to guide your selection.
Do you want the responsibility of maintaining the machinery?
As you weigh your options for cotton picker parts and machines, one of the possibilities is to custom hire the operation. In this scenario, there is no need to purchase any cotton picker parts. You hire others, who provide all the machinery and labor to complete the job. This relieves you of any responsibility for maintenance and repairs. If you think this lessened responsibility will be helpful, it might be worth considering this hire-out option.
How much capital do you have available to invest in machinery?
Purchasing cotton picker machines and cotton picker parts typically involves thousands of dollars. Consider your budget. How much can you invest? Prices for cotton picker parts can vary greatly, so it’s good to know what you can afford. Your budget will be one of the main factors that guides your final purchase.
How long will you need the cotton picker machine?
Consider current cropping practices and any technological developments in the works. Don’t invest in cotton picker parts that will soon be outdated. New innovations will probably surface occasionally, making it necessary to update equipment. However, you want to make sure that you don’t choose something that is already on its way out. On the flip side, if you know you will only need the machinery for a season or two, you can be less concerned with longevity or new harvesting processes.
What is the history of the cotton picker machine?
As you shop for cotton picker machines, consider where the cotton picker parts were manufactured. Look for quality brands and proven performance. Even the best parts can’t operate correctly if they are not professionally crafted and installed, so get your cotton picker parts from a trusted source. Find out where the cotton picker parts were created and where the cotton picker machine was assembled.
Who is available to operate the machinery?
A new cotton picker machine won’t prove helpful if you don’t have anyone to operate it. Consider what training and technicians you have available as you choose a cotton picker machine and cotton picker parts. Is one machine easier to operate than another? Do you have people who are already trained on a certain style? These variables are worth considering as you make an investment in new machinery.
Choose the Best
For top-quality cotton picker parts, turn to the professionals at Certi-Pik, USA. We fabricate replacement parts for picking units and offer a broad list of specialty items and sheet metal parts, including cam tracks, drumheads, spindles and spindle nuts, picker and grid bars, slip clutches, lubrication hoses, stalk lifters, idler gears, CTX scrapping plates, CTX pressure doors and more. Contact us today with all your cotton picker part needs.
Proper maintenance is essential for smooth operation and extended longevity for any machinery. Cotton pickers and cotton picker parts are no exception. Good service practices will keep cotton pickers in top condition and produce more efficient harvests.
So how often should this service occur? The answer partly depends on the type of machine and how it is used. Use the following guidelines to perform regular service for your cotton picker and cotton picker parts. For additional tips, contact your local experts at Certi-Pik, USA.
Daily Maintenance
For optimal performance throughout the day, clean and service cotton picker parts each morning and night. This can be time-consuming, but the reliable performance it encourages throughout the day is a net gain, making it well worth the extra effort.
Before and after each day’s work, complete a thorough cleaning from the top of the cotton picker to the bottom, cleaning and servicing all cotton picker parts. This should include the addition of fluids as needed, greasing parts, inspecting parts and making any necessary repairs. Never ignore minor issues, as these can quickly become major and cause additional damage to the machinery.
Finishing Touches
Once you’ve cleaned and serviced the interior cotton picker parts, move on to the exterior and the cab. Clean the lights and inspect them for proper function. Replace bulbs as needed. Then, clean the cab glass. Use a soft cloth and appropriate glass cleaner for these tasks. These finishing touches will keep cotton picker operation safer and more efficient.
Ongoing Maintenance
Even with a thorough servicing before you begin the day’s work, you may need to perform maintenance during the use of the cotton picker. It’s important to remove waste buildup as it accumulates to prevent fire hazards. Use a broom or manually remove lint and trash from the basket or bale chambers.
You may want to go ahead and clean the entire chassis area, as this will encourage optimal performance. As you clean cotton picker parts, be careful when using cleaning tools, high-pressure washers or compressed-air techniques. These can cause damage. Hand cleaning offers the advantage of reducing the chances of mechanical damage.
Manufacturer Recommendations
Of course, one of the main things that should guide your cotton picker parts service is the manufacturer’s recommended procedures. Check the recommendations for your specific make and model and follow these to achieve the best results. Check the manual for frequency of greasing and proper addition of spindle solution. Keep an eye on fuel levels, coolant and engine oil, replacing these per the recommendations from the manufacturer and based on cotton picker part performance.
Get Quality Parts
To minimize the amount of maintenance and repairs required for your cotton picker, choose quality cotton picker parts. At Certi-Pik, USA, we fabricate replacement parts for picking units and offer a broad list of specialty items and sheet metal parts for rebuilding units, including cam tracks, drumheads, spindles and spindle nuts, picker and grid bars, slip clutches, lubrication hoses, stalk lifters, idler gears, CTX scrapping plates, CTX pressure doors and more. Contact us today for the quality parts you need.
Are you new to cotton picking? Or could you use a refresher on how to properly clean your cotton picker and cotton picker parts? If so, you have come to the right place!
Here at Certi-Pik, USA, we have decades of experience in producing high-quality cotton picker parts, and servicing and repairing them as well. We’ve seen time and time again how not properly cleaning and taking care of your cotton picker can cause some serious problems, which is why we decided to put together some basic tips on how to safely and effectively clean your cotton picker and cotton picker spindle.
With that in mind, here are five things to consider when cleaning your cotton picker:
Low-pressure water washing: Low-pressure water washing is ideal for washing debris from the front row units of your cotton picker. It is very effective, but it will require a good amount of time, especially if you have a large, multi-row picker. It also makes the ground around the cotton picker very wet, so be careful not to slip and fall when using this cleaning method.
High-pressure water washing: Want to remove the trash and grease in your row units, but don’t have time to wait around for a low-pressure water washing? If so, then high-pressure water washing is your best bet. The higher force of the water pressure is great for pushing off extreme buildup, and is particularly helpful for cleaning out the inside of row-unit cabinets.
High-pressure air cleaning: If you need to remove trash and lint buildup from a cotton picker or cotton picker spindle, then high-pressure air cleaning may be your best bet. Keep in mind that the volume of your high-pressure air cleaner will affect how powerful it is, and you will want to do some research to figure out the safest and most effective level to put your cleaner on.
Precautions: Cleaning a cotton picker can be dangerous work—but as long as you take the proper precautions, you should stay safe. Be sure to wear safety equipment, including gloves, boots, eyewear, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt and heat protection gear. Never point your high-pressure air cleaner at the radiators, hydraulic oil burners or other combustible components.
More tips: There is a lot more we could cover here—remember, if you have questions, ask a professional! That being said, here are a few more general tips to keep in mind about cleaning your cotton picker: raise the handrails when cleaning the tops of bale chambers or picker baskets; hold both handrails and face the ladder when climbing up or down; and remember to use the safety locks on all bale chambers and baskets before cleaning your cotton picker. If you follow these simple tips, you should be in good shape!
Now you know the basics when it comes to cleaning cotton pickers and cotton picker parts! We hope this has been helpful, but if you still have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the helpful team at Certi-Pik, USA.
