Combines R 50 fire

I havent had any experience with fire but I do know salvage yards are full of combines of all makes and models that burned because of excess trash buildup. A little daily maintenance goes a long way toward preventing problems. Tom in MN

The first place I'd check as the cause of that fire is the right side pivot shaft bearing at the top of the front feeder chain. last fall we were cutting soybeans one evening and smelled the faint smell of smoke. Kinda makes a guy nervous when something that shouldn't smell smokey starts smelling smokey!! Searched the combine entirely, felt all bearing housings, etc and couldn't find the source. It was about quitin' time so we parked the Silverton a ways away from buildings "just in case" she decided to spontainiously combust during the night. Next morning she was still intact but still smelled like smoke. Now that we had light, we could check things closer and discovered the large pulley on the R.H. pivot shaft was wobbly - bearing was out. Upon disassembly, we discovered that a teeny little smoldering fire had started in dust that had accumulated inside the back feeder chain drum. That drum was HOT too! It's a good thing Gleaner makes those drums fairly airtight! Anyhow, a fire in the location you described may very well have been started by that bearing going out.

I know its to simple but, keeping your leaf blower handy and taking a few minutes to blow the unit off (in the field) prior to serviceing keeps you and the unit cleaner.

Never a fire where you describe. Crossing my fingers and toes. Rarely have to fix fire damage if there was no extinguisher for it will likely be to far gone. Can't say enough about having operator that has and can run fire extinguishing equipment. Haven't lost any machine to fire newer than a '82 N6 and it happened when no one had been around for many hours. My guess was the spontanious combustion of oily mess under engine. Dirt or chaff line could be easily sited on oil pan after a very hot fire. I don't think it should be so hard to prevent major combine burn but maybe alot harder to prevent field burn. Keep em clean and be prepared and you'll be going the next day.