As Irish farms grow in size and with ever-increasing straw prices, straw blowers are becoming more and more popular. The use of straw blowers has proven to greatly reduce the amount of straw used in addition to reducing labour hours.

Many straw blowers on farms may have been parked up in early spring and, as the autumn begins to close in, the housing of animals will soon be on farmers’ minds. Like any machine, a regular service interval will play a huge role in determining the machine’s lifespan.

We take you step by step through servicing a used 2016 McHale C460, a straw blower that is used on many Irish farms.

Gearbox

The oil in the gearbox should be changed once per season or after 500 hours of use. To change the oil, open the drain plug at the bottom of the gearbox, draining all the existing oil.

The waste oil should be collected and properly disposed of. The drain plug should then be closed up.

Next, the breather at the top of the gearbox and the plug in the middle of the gearbox should be removed. The oil should be replaced by filling it via the breather at the top of the gearbox.

Gearboxes from different manufacturers will require different amounts of oil. This particular gearbox requires five litres of 80W/90.

The oil in the gearbox should be changed once per season or after 500 hours of use.

Rotor

The rotor on this machine is belt-driven from the gearbox. As a result, the cover should be removed and the tension and condition of the belt inspected. The belt is easily tightened by adjusting the tensioner between the two pulleys.

Typically, these machines run on 56 knives, but can be fitted with additional knives. The condition of the knives should be checked. If the edges are blunt or damaged, the knives can be turned around, as they are double-edged. If the knives are worn and if they have already been turned then it may be time for a new set. Each new knife will set you back €6.15 including VAT. The rotor runs on two bearings which should be occasionally greased through the centralised grease points.

Blower

The blower will usually operate maintenance-free. However, farmers should open the service plate at the front of the machine to check the positioning and condition of the shear knife.

To do this, it is essential that the tractor is turned off, the control box is disconnected and that all safety procedures are adhered to before inspecting the shear knife.

The knife should be positioned 1mm to 2mm above the tip of the blower. If it needs adjusting, there are two adjuster bolts either side of the housing that can be altered.

This V-shaped knife may need to be sharpened if it is damaged from contact with foreign objects such as stones etc.

Conveyor floor

The conveyor floor is driven by a hydraulic motor. The tension of the chains should be inspected. It is advised to have 50mm slack between the slat and the floor.

This should be checked by lifting the slat off the floor and measuring the distance.

Two tensioners either side of the back door can be used to adjust the conveyor chain. It is very important to check the condition of the chains and the U-bolts holding on the slats and replace if necessary.

PTO

The PTO shaft should be removed from the machine. The sliding profiles should be taken apart and checked for any bends. The sliding profile, the head and the crosses should be all greased. The lock pin should be inspected for wear. Most straw blowers will be fitted with wide-angle shafts so it is essential that the additional grease points are also greased. It is vital that all PTO covers and guards are fully functional. Covers are inexpensive to replace and ensuring operator safety is crucial.

Hydraulics and electrics

The control box should be connected up and all machine functions should be run through to ensure they work. The condition of all hydraulic hoses should be inspected for corrosion or damage. For those working in yards with an incline or for those working the machine in fields, the hydraulic hoses that run underneath the back door should especially be inspected.

There is a hydraulic inline filter at the front of the machine. The filter element should be replaced once per season. This filter will set you back €98 plus VAT. All rams should be checked for any leaking seals and the ram rods should be checked over for any corrosion. The main valve should also be inspected for any leakages.

Tyres and axle

The vast majority of straw blowers on the market are either mounted on the lift arms of the tractor or rest on a single axle, usually a static axle. A check over can be as simple as checking the torque on the bolts.

Tyre condition and tyre pressure should be assessed. Tyre pressure should be based on manufacturer recommendations.

The hubs should be opened up and the adjustment should be checked on the wheel bearings. They may need greasing.