Module 3:

Mechanized Harvesting and

Threshing
Engr. Teodulo C. Dalusong, Jr.
FMFOD, PhilMech
OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION:
I. Principles and Systems of Rice Harvesting threshing
• Rice Harvesting and threshing
• Considerations for Good Harvesting and Threshing Practices
• Parameters in Harvesting
• Methods and Procedures (Manual vs Mechanical)
OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION:
II. Rice Threshing
• Considerations for Good Threshing Practices
• Methods and Procedures (Manual vs. Mechanical)
a. Manual Threshing
b. Mechanical Threshing (Hold- on and Throw-in/Axial Flow Types)
- Advantages and Disadvantages Using Rice Threshers
- Basic Operations using Axial Flow Thresher
- Basic Maintenance and Troubleshooting
OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION:
III. Combine Harvesting using Rice Combine
• Definition and Technical Specifications of Rice Combine
• Parts and Components of Rice Combine
• Considerations for Good Combine Harvesting Methods
• Rice Combine Operations
• Advantages and Disadvantages Using Rice Combine
• Basic and Safe Operations of Rice Combine
• Basic Maintenance and Troubleshooting
PRINCIPLES AND SYSTEMS
OF HARVESTING RICE
RICE POST HARVEST SYSTEM
HARVESTING

THRESHING

DRYING

STORING

MILLING
Harvesting and Threshing
RICE HARVESTING
RICE HARVESTING
• It is the process of cutting and gathering of the rice panicles from the
mother plant

• This includes:
Cutting
Field Drying
Bundling
Hauling and Hay
stacking of the paddy
CONSIDERATION FOR GOOD HARVESTING PROCESSES

 Quick and timely harvest

Minimum harvest losses

 Manage grain moisture to

prevent deterioration
PARAMETERS IN HARVESTING

1. Maturity
 Correct maturity days
 Ripe grains per panicle: 80-85% are
yellow- colored Unto 95% if using
combines
 Number of days after sowing and
heading are considered
PARAMETERS IN HARVESTING

2. Moisture Content
 Ideally at 21-25% moisture content
RICE HARVESTING
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Manual vs Mechanical

Using SICKLES (manual) Using Rice Reapers (mechanical)

METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Manual vs Mechanical

Manual Harvesting

Cutting of Windrowing Gathering and Rice Stacks or piles

paddy (in-field drying) Hauling to piles ready for threshing
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
MANUAL HARVESTING
ADVANTAGE(S) DISADVANTAGE(S)

Most Effective in lodged Labor intensive (20-40 man-hr/ha)

crop
Prone to delays

High in losses (ave. 2.11%)

Incurs additional costs

(food,fare,etc)
 BASIC SPECIFICATIONS OF
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER
MECHANICAL REAPER BASIC SPECIFICATIONS
Type Hand tractor mounted
Cutting Device Reciprocating cutting knife
Width 1-1.2 m.
Engine Power 3 HP - 5 HP
Forward speed 2.5 kph - 4.5 kph
Weight 120 kg – 150 kg
Capacity 2 ha/day – 3 ha/day
Labor requirement(s) 1-2 operators
Applicability Dry and Wet Land
 BASIC PARTS AND FUNCTION: MECHANICAL
RICE REAPER
Chain Conveyor

Front Cover

Star Wheel

Marker

Gathering Header

Lower Frame
Header Point
Reciprocating
Cutter Knife
Crop Divider
BASIC PARTS AND FUNCTION: MECHANICAL
RICE REAPER
Handle

Fuel tank

Engine Switch
Recoil Starter Carrying deck
Handle
Recoil Starter

Wheels

Bonnet
Marker
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Reaping Patterns and Changing Direction

Counter Return Changing

clockwise Reaping Direction
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Turning Techniques
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
MECHANICAL HARVESTING (RR)
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Higher capacity than manual High capital cost

Lower labor requirements Difficult to reap lodged crop

Availability of machine may be an
Less dependent on field size
issue
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Harvesting Operation
The field condition when using the reaper must be the same with the
field condition for manual harvesting.

A. Reaped height: 10 to 30 cm
B. Stalk height: 50 to 100 cm
Ɵ. Prostrate angle: 60°
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Harvesting Operation

• Prepare the field.

BEFORE • Prepare the reaper.

• Maximize cutting width of the machine.

DURING • Make efficient turns.

• Windrow moderately, if necessary.

AFTER • Build small piles and use underlays.
The field condition when using the reaper must be the same with the field condition for manual
harvesting.
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Harvesting Operation

1. Before Starting
Make sure the following lever are either “NEUTRAL” or
“OFF”:
1. Main clutch lever
2. Harvest clutch lever
3. Throttle lever
4. SP-change lever

2. Before Shifting
Before shifting the SP-change lever from one position
to another, make sure that the Main clutch lever and
the Harvest clutch lever is in their “OFF” position.
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Basic Maintenance

Engine Crank Casing and Transmission Casing

1 Checking your
lubricant

2 Discharge Plug
1 2 3
3 Lubricating Port &
Engine Crank
Casing

4 Transmission
4 Casing
 MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Basic Maintenance
LUBRICATING AREAS
Crank Roller

Knife Clip Knife Head

Slide Plate
Reaping Cutter
Fulcrum of
Tension Sprocket
Corresponding Cutter

Carrying Chain
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Basic Maintenance
SAFETY PINS
 Sprocket in the
carrying chain

 Cutting blade
crank in the
carrying drive
chain
RICE THRESHING
CONSIDERATION FOR GOOD THRESHING PROCESSES

1. Harvesting grains at optimum maturity.

 To maximize yield and minimize losses

2. Timing of threshing.
 Immediate threshing after reaping prevents quality deterioration of grains.

3. Machine Adjustments
 Machine should be set properly according to crop conditions.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Manual vs Mechanical

Foot Treading

Impact (Hampasan)
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
Manual vs Mechanical

Hold On Types
 Pedal Threshers (or motorized)
200 to 300 kgs/hr

Throw-in Types
 Axial Flow (0.5 to 2 tons/hr)
 BASIC SPECIFICATIONS OF
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER

RICE THRESHER BASIC SPECIFICATIONS

Mobility With Wheels and Drawbar
Design Peg-tooth/ Concave Grate
Width 1.5 m.
Engine Power 12 HP - 16 HP
Forward speed 2.5 kph - 4.5 kph
Weight 200 kg – 500 kg
Capacity 0.5- 3 tons/hr
Labor requirement(s) 3-4
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
USING MECHANIZED THRESHING

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
High capacity Higher capital cost
Low Labor Requirements High in losses (ave
2.18%)
Suitable for Fresh/Wet Dependency on the
Palay availability of contractor
Mobile and easy to operate
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

BEFORE DURING OPTIMIZATION

1. Positioning of the 1. Starting the engine. How to optimize when:
thresher. 1. Rice straws are short or
2. Loading the feed tray.
2. Checking of the long.
3. Feeding crop at a
machine. uniform rate. 2. Hard to thresh varieties.
4. Adjusting settings to suit 3. Wet or partially
threshing conditions. decomposed crop.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

BEFORE DURING OPTIMIZATION

1. Positioning of the 1. Starting the engine. How to optimize when:
thresher. 1. Rice straws are short or
2. Loading the feed tray.
2. Checking of the machine. long.
3. Feeding crop at a
uniform rate. 2. Hard to thresh varieties.
4. Adjusting settings to 3. Wet or partially
suit threshing decomposed crop.
conditions.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

BEFORE DURING OPTIMIZATION

1. Positioning of the 1. Starting the engine. How to optimize when:
thresher. 1. Rice straws are short
2. Loading the feed tray.
2. Checking of the machine. or long.
3. Feeding crop at a
uniform rate. 2. Hard to thresh
varieties.
4. Adjusting settings to suit
threshing conditions. 3. Wet or partially
decomposed crop.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

BEFORE
1. Positioning of the thresher.
 On level area to minimize losses
2. Checking of the machine.
 Use underlays to collect spilled grains
 Install cylinder, cover, and feed tray if
dismantled during field transport
 Consider the direction of the wind.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

BEFORE  Check each belt’s alignment

and tension.
1. Positioning of the  Check pulley surfaces.
thresher.
2. Checking of the
machine.  Open the cover and check all pegs
on the on the threshing cylinder for
tightness.
 Examine the peg teeth for wear.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

DURING
1. Starting the engine. Start *Make sure to check
engine & throttle to surroundings and machine
recommended speed before starting.
(600-700 cylinder rpm).
2. Loading the feed tray.
3. Feeding crop at a uniform
rate.
4. Adjusting settings to suit
threshing conditions.
MECHANICAL RICE REAPER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

DURING
3-4 Persons required:
1. Starting the engine.
2. Loading the feed tray. 1-2 for loading the feed
tray
3. Feeding crop at a
uniform rate. 1 for feeding the machine
1 for bagging
4. Adjusting settings to suit
threshing conditions.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

DURING
 Adjust the feed rate to
1. Starting the engine. match the condition of the
2. Loading the feed tray. material.

3. Feeding crop at a  Maintain maximum

uniform rate. feeding rate without
4. Adjusting settings to suit overloading the engine.
threshing conditions.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

DURING
1. Starting the engine.  Cleaner
2. Loading the feed tray.
 Blower openings
3. Feeding crop at a
uniform rate.
 Angle of the wind-board
4. Adjusting settings to
suit threshing
conditions.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

OPTIMIZATION
Long straw: briefly hold the crop bundles at the feed
opening for partial threshing. How to optimize when:
1. Rice straws are short
Short straw: Recycling the straw if necessary or long.
unthreshed loss is high. 2. Hard to thresh varieties.
3. Wet or partially
decomposed crop.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

OPTIMIZATION

Install stripper bars. The stripper bars prevent How to optimize when:
straw from wrapping around the cylinder and aid 1. Rice straws are short or
in threshing. long.
2. Hard to thresh
varieties.
3. Wet or partially
decomposed crop.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Operation Using Axial Flow Thresher

OPTIMIZATION
 Reduce feeding rate to avoid overloading.
How to optimize when:
 Ensure that the cleaning screen is kept free of 1. Rice straws are short or
clinging straw. long.
2. Hard to thresh varieties.
 Open the cylinder cover periodically to remove
straw and chaff accumulation at the lower concave 3. Wet or partially
decomposed crop.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Maintenance

 Lubricate cylinder and fan bearings.

 Inspect the machine regularly.
 Reduce belt tensions by loosening the idler pulley.
 Check engine crankcase oil level at least every 4
operating hours
 Service the air cleaner, fuel filter, fuel line, carburetor,
and spark plug regularly according to engine
manufacturer's instructions.
MECHANICAL RICE THRESHER:
Basic Maintenance
 Storage of a threshing machine
 Clean the machine thoroughly.
 Remove belts and store in a dry place.
 Store the machine in a clean, dry location and
cover to reduce damage from dust accumulation.
 Paint parts that need repainting.
 Clean and apply oil to exposed metal surfaces to
prevent rusting.
 Follow the manufacturer's recommendations on
engine storage
RICE COMBINE
HARVESTER
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Definition and Technical Specification

 Combines the operations of harvesting

and threshing

 Mobile grain-harvesting machine for:

• Cutting & picking,
• stripping or picking up crop,
• threshing, separating, cleaning
• conveying grain into a grain hopper and
• depositing harvest residue onto the
ground.
 COMBINE HARVESTER:
Definition and Technical Specification

RICE COMBINE BASIC SPECIFICATIONS

Type of Machine : Self-propelled (crawlers or
wheel-drive)
Power : 60hp to 70hp
Field capacity : 3-4 hectares/day
Fuel consumption : 6.5 - 8 liters / hr. (diesel)
Discharge of palay : Bulk or bagged discharge
No. of operators required : 2-3 persons (including
baggers)
Lifespan : 10 years
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester
Driver’s Cab
Grain Tank Unloading Auger
Re-threshing of Tailings Engine
Threshing Drum

Reel Impeller
How does the inside of harvester
Grain Conveyor Straw Walker

work?
Straw Chopper
Bottom Sieve
Stone trap
Grain Pan Top Adjustable Sieve
Cutting Bar Header Auger Concave Tailings
Fan Conveyor
Grain Auger
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

RUBBER CRAWLER
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

CUTTERBAR & BLADE

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

BOTTOM SIEVE AND TOP ADJUSTABLE SIEVE

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

PICKUP REEL AND GRAIN TANK

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

LEVERS
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

LEVERS
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

REAPING SECTION
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Parts and Components of Rice Combine Harvester

THRESHING SECTION
Threshing teeth

Cone-
shaped
Entrance
Grain Concave
Pan
Chaff Sieve
Tailing
Fan Clean CleaningAuger
Grain Sieve
Auger
 CONSIDERATION FOR GOOD COMBINE
HARVESTING PROCESSES
1. Timing of Combine Harvesting
 Consider grain maturity
 Weather condition

2. Machine Adjustment
 Set the threshing speed according to the machine specifications
 Refer to operator’s manual
 Fine tuning forward speed and header height is especially important to
minimize field loss.
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Operation

BEFORE DURING
1. Preparing the field. 1. Make ready for grain bags.
• Drain the field prior 2. Identify drop points or
harvest unloading stops (for bulk)
• Prepare entry points for
3. Manually cut crops in
the machine
corners or edges not
-Clear or Cut reached by machine.
(manually- using sickle)
for point of entry
2. Checking of the machine.
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Operation

BEFORE DURING
1. Preparing the field. 1. Make ready for grain bags.
• Drain the field prior 2. Identify drop points or
harvest unloading stops (for bulk)
• Prepare entry points for
3. Manually cut crops in
the machine
corners or edges not
-Clear or Cut reached by machine.
(manually- using sickle)
for point of entry
2. Checking of the machine.
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
USING RICE COMBING HARVESTER
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

High throughput; Timeliness Higher capital cost

Produces Clean Grains

Spread Straw Back in the Less effective in partially

Field lodged crop
High Mobility
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Safety Operation
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Safety Operation
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Safety Operation
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Safety Operation
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
CLEANING AROUND THE ENGINE.
Dust proof cover

Radiator

Oil cooler fin

Pre-cleaner

Dust proof screen

Muffler pipe
Dust proof cover
Clean every 50 hours.
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
CLEANING AROUND REAPING COMPONENT.

Clean every after-harvest season.

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
CLEANING THE THRESHING COMPONENT.

Concav
e
Grain pan Chaff sieve

Clean during reaping process and after harvesting is complete.

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
CLEANING THE AUGER, GRAIN HOPPER, AND CRAWLER DRIVE
SPROCKET.
COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
DAILY LUBRICATION FOR REAPING COMPONENT.
Reaper Drive Chain Reel Drive Chain Front Auger Drum Finger & Drive
Chain

Lubricate daily as well as with the reaping blades..

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
GREASE EVERY 50 HOURS, OR IF NECESSARY.
Rear Wheel Feeder Conveyor Fulcrum

Reaper Hydraulic Fulcrum

Track Roller Carrier Roller

COMBINE HARVESTER:
Basic Maintenance
CLEANING EVERY 50 HRS FOR AIR CLEANER ELEMENT
(REPLACE EVERY 300 HOURS)
 POSTHARVEST LOSSES
Based on a study of PHilMech and PhilRice (2010), a total of 16.47% Grain
losses incurred during the postharvest activities.

POSTHARVEST
% LOSSES
ACTIVITY
Cutting 2.03 %
Piling 0.08 %
Threshing 2.18 %
Drying 5.86 %
Milling 5.52 %
Storage 0.80 %

TOTAL 16.47%
THANK
YOU FOR
LISTENING!