A combine harvester is a complex farm equipment used for reaping, threshing, and winnowing. It executes the different steps in harvesting in a single go which reduces the time and effort required by the farmers to perform these tasks manually. It also helps in increasing the productivity of the field and helps in preparing the field for the next crop in a much faster way. This modern machine is widely used to harvest wheat, maize, barley, rye and various other crops. It is a very useful machine which has contributed greatly to the development of agriculture.

A modern combine consists of a header, cutter bar, sieves, rotating blades, augers, grain tank and many other parts. The header is the device that cuts and feeds the crop to the combine. The crop is fed through a threshing segment that beats and shakes the grains to separate them from their stalks. The chaff and unwanted weeds then fall back into the field. The separated grains are then stored inside the grain tank.

The threshing segment of the combine harvester is one of its most important parts. This is because it separates the edible part from the rest of the plant and ensures that only the grain makes its way into the tank. The threshing segment of the combine also has a clearance system that is adjusted to match the type of crop. A higher clearance allows the threshing process to be carried out more efficiently, while a lower one means that many of the grains may still get stuck in the threshing drum.

After the threshing segment, the remaining grains move into a clean grain auger that conveys them to an elevator and then into a storage tank. The chaff and straw then fall back into the fields to be baled or spread over by a fanlike spreader. Most combines also have a straw chopper for slicing the remaining straw and making it easier to gather.

There are several factors that can affect the price of a new combine harvester. These include commodity prices, Section 179 write-offs, and emissions requirements. In addition, the size of the combine harvester can change its price, as larger machines are typically more expensive.

When a combine is purchased, the seller will usually provide information about how many engine hours it has been put in and how many separator hours. The separator hours are the number of hours that the combine was used for threshing, while the engine hours are the total number of hours the machine has been operated. This is because the engine is used to power the threshing and unloading processes, while the separators do the actual work of separating the grain from the chaff and straw. The separator hours are therefore more significant than the engine hours. As a result, it is more important to consider the separater hours when buying a used combine. This will give you a better idea of how well the machine has been maintained.