2017 Yield Monitor Calibration Checklist — Part I

Ag Info Tech

Ag Info Tech in Fredericktown, OH

With fall harvest a few weeks away for most of the country, ag service providers from every walk of life are getting ready for yield monitor calibration season. Ag Info Tech CEO & VP of Sales Tim Norris spent some time with us recently in an effort to shed some light on the yield monitor calibration process.

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With simplicity in mind, the process can be split into two segments: Before you hit the field, and In Field.

Before You Hit The Field Steps

1. Check Grain Elevator Paddle Clearance:
You want to see about 3/8-5/8 of an inch of clearance between top of paddle on the elevator chain to the top of the housing. Also check the elevator chain for worn or broken paddles, too much slack, and tighten/repair/replace as necessary.

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2. Calibrate Temperature Sensor: Park the combine in a shady spot, then take the moisture sensor out and put some type of thermometer down into that chamber and read the temperature. Next you’ll go into the setup page on your Integra or InCommand and hit the wrench icon, then you’ll want to go into your configuration of harvest, and then your combine configuration, and hit the wrench again. Then enter your temperature.

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3. Yield Moisture and Proximity Sensors: Another thing that you want to check while the moisture sensor is out is the sensor itself. There’s a little gold colored dot in front of the fin and if it’s silver, it’s worn and needs replacing. Also check the fin on the moisture sensor, and make sure that’s not waved or worn thin. If it’s worn thin it needs replaced as well. Another thing to check is there’s an electronic eye in there (a proximity sensor) and what it does is sense whether anything is in front of it or not. After you pull that chamber up, stick your fingers in there and cover up the proximity sensor and the elevator motor should turn on the auger to start moving grain, as long as your power unit is turned on to your monitor.

4. Check Flow Sensor: Pull your flow sensor out and check it for wear. It’s also important that you check and make sure none of the foam is eaten, rats seem to like eating the foam. Make sure no wires are exposed because the rats like to chew those, too. You also want to check your plate for wear. If it’s worn down on the edges you might need to replace it; you want it to be nice
and smooth.

5. Header Height Sensor: We prefer you calibrate the header height sensor when you have the head on, but you go in the settings menu to calibrate the header sensor. To do this you raise the throat all the way up and hit set maximum, and then take it all the way down and hit set minimum, and then you get it to where you want it for soybeans and hit set height.

In The Field Steps

1. Vibration Calibration: Improperly calibrated vibration can either cause you to not record real low grain flows, or it can cause you to record and count bushels when the combine is running but no grain is flowing through it, so it’s important you do a vibration calibration prior to harvest, and anytime you make adjustments to your combine that could add to the vibration level.

Part II In-Field Yield Monitor Calibration Steps/Tips

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