Setting Your Combine for Soybeans: Getting Ready for Harvest
Harvest season brings unique challenges, and when it comes to soybeans, proper combine setup can make all the difference between a smooth, productive day and a frustrating one. At Reynolds Farm Equipment, we know that preparation is key. From the cutter bar to the cleaning shoe, every adjustment plays a role in crop quality and machine efficiency.
Platform Guards and Knives
The foundation of a clean soybean harvest begins at the cutter bar. The guards and knives act together like scissors, slicing through tough soybean stems. Ensuring sharp edges on your guards is critical, especially early in the season when cutting is at its toughest. John Deere offers both standard green guards and high-wear black guards. With the prevalence of fungicide use and tougher stalks in recent years, high-wear guards are strongly recommended.
Hold-Down Clips and Poly
After inspecting guards and knives, attention should move to the hold-down clips. These clips, when adjusted correctly with a 2,000 feeler gauge or even a business card, can last through two or three sets of sections. Be sure to check them while the head is flexed properly on the combine, not on a header cart. Underneath the cutter bar, examine the poly skids. John Deere offers a thicker, high-wear option that can provide extra durability for high-acre operations, though it may require a slight cutting angle adjustment.
Skid Shoes, Belts, and Bearings
As soybeans flow from the cutter bar onto the draper, skid shoes and belts keep everything moving efficiently. Inspect the skid shoes for alignment and free movement, then carefully check the draper belts for frays or cuts. A cut along the edge of a belt usually means it’s time for replacement, as in-season downtime can be costly. Newer RD heads feature raised lips and cleat-style belts, which allow you to flip belts for extended life. If belts are removed, always replace the roller bearings and wear strips at the same time.
Rotor and Concaves
Inside the combine, the rotor does the heavy lifting of threshing and separating. For soybeans, at least 90% of beans should be out of the pods in the front half of the rotor, with final separation in the back half. Round bar concaves are a reliable general setup, while small-wire concaves perform especially well in soybeans and wheat. Deere’s Condex concaves, available from the factory or through Reynolds, offer a versatile all-season solution for corn, soybeans, and wheat without frequent changeouts.
Leveling the concaves is one of the most overlooked adjustments. If the rear of the concave sits too far from the rotor, threshing efficiency will drop and material other than grain (MOG) will build up. Always check rasp bars and separator tines for wear and replace them in balanced sets to maintain smooth rotor performance.
Cleaning Shoe, Chaffer, and Sieve
Clean grain quality depends on proper air and sieve adjustment. Many operators mistakenly close the sieve too much, pushing airflow to the back of the machine and leaving unthreshed pods in the sample. For soybeans, keep the sieve more open than you might expect and use the chaffer to fine-tune sample quality. Also, inspect louvers for bends and confirm calibration for proper opening and closing.
Chopper, Spreader, and Residue Management
Soybeans require the chopper to be in high speed, with knives set around three-quarters engaged at the start of harvest. As conditions dry, reducing knife engagement will save horsepower and fuel without significantly affecting residue size. Always keep chopper knives sharp and replace discharge paddles if they are too rounded to spread residue evenly across wider heads.
Feeder House and Chain Setup
At the front of the machine, the feeder house sets the tone for smooth feeding. Inspect drum slats for cracks or bends, as these can cause crop damage. For soybeans, the feeder chain should be on the smaller 26-tooth sprocket, and the feed accelerator should run on low speed. Serrated slats on the feed accelerator should be intact to prevent seed damage and feeding issues.
Elevators and Sensors
Both the clean grain and tailings elevators deserve close attention before harvest. Check chains, links, and paddles for wear, and ensure proper tension. If your combine is equipped with John Deere’s HarvestSmart automation, clean camera lenses and augers thoroughly to prevent false readings and blown fuses.
The John Deere Equipment Mobile App
No matter how well you prepare, harvest is unpredictable. That’s why the John Deere Equipment Mobile App is an essential tool for soybean harvest. This app puts operator’s manuals, quick-reference setup guides, and adjustment recommendations right at your fingertips. Need to double-check a concave setting? Wondering about the best sieve opening for your crop conditions? With Equipment Mobile, you can pull it up instantly in the cab or field. At Reynolds Farm Equipment, we encourage every operator to download and use this app to stay confident and efficient during harvest.
Final Thoughts
Soybean harvest is all about preparation and precision. By paying close attention to cutter bar components, rotor setup, cleaning systems, and residue management, you’ll maximize both machine performance and crop quality. And with the John Deere Equipment Mobile App alongside the support of your local Reynolds service team, you’ll have the tools you need to harvest soybeans with confidence.