Buying a second hand grain drier

As the first combines of the year are entering the fields following a record-breaking dry spell in the UK, thoughts of grain drying naturally tend to slide down the list of priorities. However, this time of year is traditionally the busiest for the second hand grain drier market.  With this in mind I have put together a checklist for inspecting second hand mobile batch grain driers. This post is not an exhustive source but covers, what I believe after many years of experience to be, the main issues when looking at a second hand grain drier.

Before getting close up to the machine, on first impressions, what condition does the grain drier appear to be in? Is it stored inside or outside? Is it cleaned out or filthy? Has someone driven the telescopic over the intake hopper? The general condition is a good indicator of how well the grain drier has been looked after. A well turned out machine will be more likely to have been regularly cleaned, well maintained and properly serviced.  The older the machine the more important this indicator is.

The critical areas to inspect on a second hand grain drier are:

1. Control panel and burner – What general condition are these key components in? Check for water and dust ingress, on-farm tinkering and alterations. Are these the original components? There is little reason for the control panel and burner to be damaged, they should always be in good condition regardless of the grain driers age. If it has an oil burner, pull it out, see if it is clean and well maintained. These two components must be in good order as they are an integral part of the grain drier and both are expensive and tricky to repair.

2. Central tube and auger – Check the entire length of the central tube for wear, holes and old repairs. Check the central auger flights for wear, the thickness of the flights generally dictate the serviceable life left in them. Both the central tube and auger wear most in areas of turbulent grain flow, so check at the bottom of the central auger and at the junction between the top and bottom tubes. These components are the most hardworking on the machine and can be expensive and time consuming to replace.

3. Ancillary equipment – The best indication of how well a gearbox has been maintained is to check the oil, is it new or old? Also, look for any play on the input shaft. Gearboxes can be costly to repair or change. The condition of all belts should be checked, they are easy to replace but occasionally on older driers getting the right sizes may be tricky. Check the scraper system is properly aligned and the drive chain and support bearings are in good condition. The chain should be supple with a little flex, again, replacing these components is generally quite straight forward.

Finally, when inspecting a second hand grain drier always make sure you see it running and the burner lit up before making any commitments. If buying a grain drier that you will be expecting to do work on, make sure you know where to source spare parts otherwise this could be a major headache.

Transport to a new site is the final factor that could significantly impact the price of the machine. The height and width of some grain driers may warrant specialist haulage and some driers may be subject to highway restictions. Neglecting to investigate transport properly could land you with an unexpectedly hefty bill.

This covers the key issues relating to buying a second hand grain drier. Using this as a guide should help to ensure that you get a machine in good condition and avoid any major costs or issues.