Combine Ready for Harvest? A Pre-Season Inspection Checklist for Lousiana Row Crop Growers

9/28/2026

The harvest window in Louisiana is short and unpredictable, which means the last thing you need is for your combine to be unreliable. When it’s go time, your equipment needs to be ready to power through the day. The best way to avoid downtime is with a routine inspection before the season begins. Keep reading for a front-to-back inspection checklist to run before the first field, organized by system, so nothing gets missed.

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Why Pre-Season Prep Matters More in Louisiana

Performing preventive maintenance on your equipment before harvest should be standard practice, but it’s especially important in Louisiana where windows are short and unpredictable fall weather is a given. Corn typically starts in August, rice is largely a south-Louisiana crop, cotton harvest is concentrated in October, and soybeans follow behind corn, which means for a lot of farmers, there’s little time for rest. Every minute counts, and the last thing you need is a broken-down combine during a 3-day dry window.

Engine & Fluids

Your engine is the heart of your machine. If it’s not working, then nothing else will. Start your inspection here.

Check oil level and condition, and change the oil and filter if it's due
Inspect coolant level and confirm it's protected for the season ahead
Pull the air filter and actually look at it — don't just eyeball it from outside
Check fuel filters and the water separator

Belts, Chains, and Drivelines

Your belts drive critical components that are necessary for your combine to function properly. They also are the parts most likely to fail without warning once you're in the field, so it’s worth a thorough inspection.

Walk every belt with the combine running, then shut it down and check tension
Inspect chains for stretch, wear, and proper lubrication
Check the header drive and feeder house chain condition

If anything looks out of shape, this is the time to replace it.

Header and Cutting System

The header is the first point of contact with crop, making it the most vulnerable of any part of the machine. Ensure these parts are in good condition before you hit the field.

Check sickle sections and knife guards for wear or missing teeth (grain platform)
Inspect gathering chains and snouts for wear (corn head)
Spin the reel and cross auger by hand and check for binding
Calibrate header height and tilt sensors after any service work, then verify with the head on the ground

Threshing, Separating, and Cleaning System

This system does more to determine your grain quality and yield loss than anything else on the combine, so it's worth the extra time.

Open the rotor and check the rotor strips and concave bars for wear
Open the shoe and inspect the chaffer and sieve for condition and proper adjustment
Check fan belts and confirm airflow is set right for the crop you're running

Grain Handling

Inspect the grain tank auger and clean grain elevator for wear, damage, or obstruction
Check the unloading auger flighting for wear
Look over the tailings elevator and return system

Electronics, Sensors, and Precision Ag

Modern combines run on data as much as diesel, and bad data is a season-long problem, not a one-day one.

Confirm your display and combine controller are running current software
Inspect the moisture sensor face for buildup and replace any cracked dust shields
Pull last year's yield monitor calibration file and plan to recalibrate on your first several loads. Uncalibrated yield data leads to costly management decisions down the line
If you're running a grain-quality or loss-monitoring camera, check the lens and confirm the lighting works

Tires, Undercarriage, and Safety

Check tire condition and pressure, or track condition on tracked machines
Confirm lights, mirrors, and slow-moving-vehicle signage are in place before road moves
Make sure a fire extinguisher is on board and charged
Check that all guards and shields are in place before startup

Order Parts Before You Need Them

High-wear parts — sickle sections, guards, concave bars, fan belts, header chains — move fast once harvest opens across the region. If your inspection turns up anything worn, order it now. The difference between same-day pickup and a three-day wait is usually just how early you called it in.

Goldman Equipment stocks parts across all 12 of our Louisiana locations and can help you track down what you need before the season gets busy.

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Ready for Harvest?

A system-by-system check now is what stands between a smooth harvest and a breakdown right in the middle of a good window. Stop by any of Goldman Equipment's 12 Louisiana locations for a pre-season combine inspection or pick up parts before the season gets away from you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long before harvest should I inspect my combine?

Start two to three weeks out. That gives you time to order and receive parts if the inspection turns up worn belts, chains, or header components.

What are the most common combine breakdowns during harvest?

Belt and chain failures, worn concaves and sieves, and header component wear are the most common. All of them show up in a pre-season inspection if you know where to look.

Do I need to recalibrate my yield monitor every year?

Yes. Sensor drift and equipment wear affect accuracy from one season to the next. Recalibrating on your first several loads each year keeps your yield data reliable.

What parts should I keep on hand during Louisiana harvest?

Sickle sections, knife guards, fan belts, and header chains are the highest-wear items. They're the ones most worth having in stock before the season starts.

Where can I get combine service near me in Louisiana?

Goldman Equipment services combines at all 12 of our North and Central Louisiana locations, including Alexandria, Bossier City, West Monroe, and Natchitoches.