Blogs

One of the biggest factors that accounts for tractor deaths each year is tractor rollovers. Whether you are working with a new tractor or a used tractor, being well-versed on your machine and manual as well as being aware of your surroundings can greatly reduce the risk of your tractor rolling over. Also, making sure your tractor is in good working condition will help eliminate the risk of a rollover. It is recommended that you have an authorized tractor dealer do a full inspection and tune up on both new tractors and used tractors prior to the start of the season.

Now that spring is officially here, it is time to start getting ready for the planting season. It is important to take necessary steps to ensure a safe planting season without interruptions. Making sure that proper maintenance and configuration has been done to your equipment will make for a successful planting season. Here are a few tips from the crew here at Koenig Equipment as you’re getting ready to plant:

Nothing is more unpredictable than winter in Ohio and Indiana. That's why it's crucial our snow equipment is ready to go when we need it. Here are some things to consider courtesy of Briggs and Stratton.

If you're having trouble getting your snow blower started...

While in the throes of a standard Midwestern winter, keeping your snowblower in tip-top shape is of premium importance. No one wants to look out the window at 8” of fresh snow, only to find that the snowblower in the garage is on the fritz. There are a few important items that any homeowner can attend to in order to ensure that optimal snowblower performance is there when needed.

Fuel Filter

Remove your fuel filter and clean any residue. If you find debris clogging the mesh screen inside the filter, replace the screen rather than cleaning it. Remember that some fuel filters are located in the fuel line and some are located inside the fuel tank. Consult your snowblower’s operating manual for specifics.

Fuel Cap

Though it may seem like an incidental part, the fuel cap plays an important role in the performance of your machine. Check to see if your fuel cap’s air vent holes are blocked. If they are, replace the fuel cap. During the off season, cover or close the fuel cap vent to maintain cleanliness.

Tires

Here is some general advice on how to operate and maintain your gas-power tools and equipment. Of course, it is very important for users to read and understand the information provided in individual power equipment instruction manuals that come with the product you are storing.

CHECK THESE AREAS FOR A TROUBLE FREE HARVEST.

Cutting & Feeding: Correctly maintained and adjusted platforms, heads, & feeding systems must operate at a speed and height which will hold and remove all the harvested crop without seed loss and then deliver that material undamaged in an uniform mat to the threshing area of the combine. 

Areas of Concern: Cutter bar shatter; Reel shatter; Slug feeding, Row shelling; Ear bounce; Excessive stalks; Auger carryover; Crop auger damage, Feeder house conveyor speeds; Feeder house drum height.

Threshing: Proper threshing occurs when the majority of grain is removed from the mat of crop by contact with other grain or MOG (material other than grain). Correctly adjusted cylinder/rotor and concaves thresh almost 90% of the grain in the first 30% of the total threshing area, there by reducing grain to metal contact; a leading cause of grain damage. 

Areas of Concern: High cylinder speed; Low cylinder speed; Worn rasp bars; Narrow concave setting; Wide concave settings; Worn concaves.

By Kurtis Shipp

With net farm incomes at record levels the last few years many growers have opted to invest in new equipment for their operation.  One of the most common purchases has been new planters.  Many growers as well as industry professionals (myself Included) believe the planter is the most important piece of equipment in the entire operation, because if the seed is not planted correctly we are doomed to fail from the start.  In addition we are seeing a trend toward more and more growers switching from grain drills to split row planters for soybean planting.  Split row planters improve seed placement by offering more even seed spacing and more consistent planting depth allowing growers the ability to reduce planting populations and save seed costs.  Another huge advantage split row planters provide is the ability to plant using variable rate populations through seeding prescriptions.  So now that we know why planting equipment is crucial to a successful operation what should one consider when looking at a new planter?