Post-Harvest Combine Cleanup & Storage Checklist

A little work now saves a lot of headaches next fall

The last field is done and the combine is finally parked. It’s tempting to shut the shed door and forget about it until next season, but the way you put your combine away has a lot to do with how it runs when you pull it back out.

Crop residue holds moisture, which leads to rust. Leftover grain and chaff attract rodents that chew wiring. Old oil sits in the engine all winter. And small problems you noticed during harvest have a way of being forgotten until they turn into big ones. This checklist walks through the steps to clean, service, and store your combine so it’s protected over the off-season and ready to go next fall.

Always follow the specific recommendations in your operator’s manual. Use the list below as a starting point and adjust it for your machine.

1. Clean It Out, Inside and Out

Cleaning is the most important step. Residue left on the machine traps moisture, invites pests, and can hide wear or damage. A clean machine is also a safer one. More than three out of four combine fires begin in the engine area, according to research cited by Oregon State University Extension, so getting dust and chaff away from hot components should be at the top of your list.

Run the machine empty for a few minutes at the end of harvest to clear out as much grain and residue as possible.
Open all clean-out doors on the grain tank, elevators, unloading auger, and rock trap, and get out every bit of grain and trash you can reach.
Blow it down first. Use compressed air or a leaf blower, starting at the top and working down. Do the engine area first, then the radiator and coolers, exhaust, wiring, and around bearings. Blowing down is gentler on the machine than washing and removes most of what rodents are after.
Wash if needed, carefully. Avoid spraying high pressure at bearings, seals, and electrical connections. If you wash, run the machine afterward to warm it up and grease the bearings to push out any water that got in.
Clean or replace air filters, including the engine air filter and cab air filter.
Clean the cab, including floor mats and windows, and remove any food or trash that could attract rodents.

2. Inspect and Make a Repair List

With the machine clean, it’s the best time of year to see what needs attention. Start with any notes you made during harvest about problems or adjustments, then walk around the machine front to back with a notepad or your phone and write down anything that needs repair or replacement.

Belts and chains: look for cracks, fraying, stretching, and worn sprockets.
Bearings: check for roughness, play, or signs of heat.
Threshing and separating components: inspect the rotor or cylinder, concaves, rasp bars, and separator grates for wear.
Cleaning shoe: check sieves and chaffer for damage or plugging.
Feeder house: check chain tension and slat wear.
Header: check knives, guards, snouts, gathering chains, and auger flighting. On draper heads, check belts and consider reducing belt tension for storage.
Straw chopper and spreader: check knives and paddles for wear or damage.
Hydraulic hoses and lines: look for cracks, leaks, and rubbing spots.
Tires: look for cuts, cracks, and uneven wear.

3. Change Fluids and Grease Everything

Change the engine oil and filter. Used oil contains acids and contaminants that shouldn’t sit in the engine all winter.
Grease every fitting to push out moisture and protect bearings and pivot points.
Check coolant level and freeze protection for the lowest temperatures you expect this winter, and replace it on the interval in your manual.
Check hydraulic and gearbox oil level and condition, and change filters if they’re due.
Fill the fuel tank to reduce condensation, and consider adding a fuel stabilizer. Drain the water separator before you start the machine next season.
Check DEF, if your combine uses it, and follow your manual’s guidance for storage.

4. Protect Against Rust and Rodents

Touch up paint on scratched or bare spots to keep rust from starting.
Lubricate chains and coat exposed metal surfaces with a light oil or rust inhibitor.
Relieve belt tension if your operator’s manual recommends it.
Cover openings like the exhaust and air intake to keep out moisture and pests.
Set out rodent deterrents around the machine, and avoid storing it near feed or grain.

5. Take Care of the Battery and Electrical

Disconnect or remove the batteries to prevent slow drain over the winter.
Fully charge the batteries. A discharged battery can freeze in cold weather. Store removed batteries somewhere cool and dry, and use a maintainer or recharge them a few times over the winter.
Clean battery terminals and coat them with a thin layer of grease to prevent corrosion.
Inspect wiring for chafing or rodent damage and repair it now.

6. Park It Right

Store it inside if at all possible, in a dry building out of the sun and weather.
Set the header on a cart or blocks instead of leaving it on the feeder house.
Lower the machine and relieve hydraulic pressure. Retract cylinders where possible, and coat any exposed cylinder rods with grease to protect the chrome.
Inflate tires to the pressure your manual recommends for storage.
No room in the shed? Pick a spot where water won’t pool around the tires, and cover the machine to keep out rain, snow, and sun.
Check the fire extinguishers on the machine and recharge or replace them so they’re ready next season.

7. Don’t Forget Your Data and Technology

Back up yield and field data from your display before the season fades from memory.
Store removable displays and receivers indoors, in a climate-controlled space.
Note any software updates that need to be installed before next season.

Storage Tips by Region

Parallel Ag customers farm everywhere from Texas to Minnesota, and winters look very different across that range.

Northern areas (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois): Long, hard freezes put batteries and coolant to the test. Make sure batteries are fully charged or removed, double-check coolant freeze protection, and keep the machine inside if at all possible.

Central and southern areas (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas): Winters are milder, but freeze-thaw cycles, humidity, and dust still take a toll, and rodents stay active longer. A thorough cleanout and rodent control matter just as much here, and machines stored outside need extra protection from sun and weather.

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With sixteen locations throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, Parallel Ag will provide quality parts, various equipment sales, and 24/7 exceptional service across the agricultural industry. Visit us in person or online at www.ParallelAg.com for more information.