Spring
2015
grainswest.com
45
BY PETER GREDIG
TECH@
WORK
Techprepapriority
PROPERMAINTENANCE IS A KEY TOSUCCESS
THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN
having all your iron prepped and ready
for action only to be stalled by glitchy
electronics.
Almost every late-model seeder and
sprayer relies heavily on electronic mon-
itors, controllers and GPS-enabled tools.
It’s a double-edged sword: The accuracy
and flexibility a orded by programmable
electronics is amazing and we wouldn’t
want to be without it. The downside is
that we are dead in the water if the elec-
tronics fail. The expression “you can’t put
a wrench on it” is painfully true. Techni-
cal fixes during busy times can take longer
to resolve than replacing a part or welding
up a break.
Like it or not, our equipment is largely
driven by technology and this will contin-
ue. Getting ready for spring must entail
more than greasing and replacing wear
parts. The electronic monitors and termi-
nals are like the central nervous system of
your equipment. If you talk to reps from
technology companies and equipment
retailers, they o er similar advice to help
avoid delays due to electronic failure.
Tip No. 1 is to start early—as in now.
The di erence between iron and electron-
ics is that electronic components may go
into storage working fine, but you can’t
assume they’re good to go come spring.
Cold, corrosion and condensation wreak
havoc with connections and circuit boards
in monitors and terminals. Wherever
possible, bring all electronic components
in from the cold during storage.
To start prepping for the 2015 growing
season, make sure all monitors and GPS
equipment are loaded with the most up-to-
date software. Most newer monitors and
controllers allow you to run a diagnostic
protocol that will identify any issues—be
sure to take advantage of this after the
latest software has been installed.
When it’s time to reinstall components
in tractors, sprayers and combines, start
an inspection at the battery and work your
way back to the components, checking
power wires for wear and integrity. Cor-
rosion at battery terminals is a common
problem and bad ground connection is
one of the most prevalent issues in the
spring. If you are not already using di-elec-
tric grease and contact cleaner at all wire
harness connections, it’s time to start. Do
the same inspection on the wire harness
from the monitor back to the implement.
Turn on all electronic components and
make sure you have power, function and a
GPS signal where applicable. For guidance
equipment, make sure antennae cables are
plugged in—this is a common mistake.
Shake the antennae—if there is water
inside, it’s a problem waiting to happen.
Make a pass out the lane or in the field
and then set the guidance to send you
back along the same path. Tires should
line up with the tracks from the first pass.
Electronic controls are often blamed
for performance issues that are actually
mechanical. For variable-rate drives, flow
controllers and seeder section clutches,
make sure they are working and not
seized before you blame the controllers.
Data collection and transfer is an im-
portant part of new electronics. It’s a good
idea to pull up an existing file from last
year to make sure the system is working
properly. Create a new dummy field/file
and push to the appropriate destination so
you can confirm data transfer.
Maintaining a relationship with the
companies that sold you the technology
is critical, especially if you’ve just up-
graded or added new technology for the
upcoming season. For after-market gear,
understand how you access support. Is it
via the retailer or through head o ce? For
major equipment manufacturers, know
whom you will talk to at the dealership on
tech issues.
If you had any problems last season,
discuss with tech support to resolve them
well before you head to the field. Be sure
you have all contact information for tech
support loaded into your smartphone so
it is super easy to get help when you need
it. If you have a tablet, load all relevant
websites and user manuals to the device
so it is at your fingertips in the cab.
If you want to improve your skills in
this area, take advantage of seminars
and training resources that are becoming
more popular in the o -season.
If all of this is outside your comfort
zone, most major manufacturers and
after-market technology companies o er
pre-season service so that the job gets
done properly. Some companies o er a
full-service package where, for an annual
fee, they will do a pre-season inspection
and tune-up and then provide any service
required throughout the season.
Peter Gredig is a corn, soybean and wheat
producer based near London, ON. As a
partner in AgNition Inc., he is involved in
developing mobile products and strategies for
agri-business, producer organizations and
farmers across North America.
