Row Units| Symptom | Problem | Solution | Stalks not entering row unit. | Stalklifters not adjusted properly. | Adjust stalklifters. | | | Stalklifters bent or binding. | Inspect parts for damage and lubricate hinges. | | | Bent grid bars. | Replace grid bars. |
Open cotton bolls left on plants. | Pressure plates not adjusted properly or bent and hinges worn. | Adjust, repair, or replace pressure plates. | | | Solution system not adjusted, operated or cleaned properly. | Clean and adjust solution system. | | | Spindles not doffing. | Check and adjust doffers and picker bars. Check moistener system. | | | Moistener system malfunction. | Check for correct amount of solution being dispersed for operating conditions. | | | Dull spindles. | Replace spindles. | | | Knotty cotton. | Adjust pressure plates. | | | Row units running too slow. | Check for any de-rate condition. Perform unit speed calibration. | | | Unit input clutch slipping. | Adjust unit input clutch torque. Replace worn input clutch jaws. | | | Spindles not rotating. | Check/replace snap ring on spindle drive shaft. Replace spindle drive gear roll pin. (See your John Deere dealer.) |
Picker drops cotton. | Picking in second gear. | Pick in first gear. | | | Pressure plates too loose or bent and hinges worn. | Adjust, repair, or replace pressure plate. | | | Plugging in air ducts, discharge pipes, and suction doors. Doors may be too wet. | Clean and check for leaks. Check solution system for proper adjustment and leaks. Adjust air system. | | | Grid bars bent, missing, or out of adjustment. | Replace or adjust bars. | | | Door does not align with unit door supports. | Adjust doors for proper alignment. | | | Stalklifters too high. | Lower stalklifters. | | | Spindles not doffing. | Check and adjust doffers, picker bars, and moistener system. | | | Moistener system malfunction. | Check moistener column adjustments, solution ratio, and pressure setting. | | | Dull spindles. | Replace spindles. |
Not picking low bolls. | Stalklifters too high. | Lower stalklifters. | | | Dull spindles. | Replace spindles. | | | Units running too high or too level. | Adjust unit height and tilt. | | | Plant guides adjusted too high. | Adjust plant guides. | | | Header height control system not set properly. | Adjust header height control. |
Picker knocks off green bolls. | Pressure plates too tight. | Loosen pressure plates. | | | Idler drum clutch slipping. | Check idler clutch and replace worn parts. | | | Picking speed to high. | Decrease picking speed. | | | Row unit clutch slipping. | Check for worn jaws and/or proper torque. Check for correct number of shims. | | | Missing grid bars. | Replace bars. | | | Gap between stalklifter extension and front of unit. | Reposition stalklifter extension. |
Dirty cotton. | Dirty unit doors. | Clean doors. | | | Bent or missing grid bars. | Replace bars. | | | Row units too low or too level. | Adjust height or tilt row unit. |
Plugging in suction doors or ducts. | Dirt build-up in suction doors. | Clean doors. | | | Doors not aligned with ducts. | Align doors with ducts. | | | Wet suction doors. | Clean and service solution system. Increase spindle cleaner ratio and decrease pressure setting. | | | Jet post plugged. | Remove lint or dirt from jet post. | | | Air leakage. | Find air leak and repair. | | | Fan air pressure low. | Inspect condition and tension of fan belts. Operate engine at rated rpm. | | | Fan rotor vanes plugged. | Clean fan rotor vanes. |
Spindles not doffing. | Doffers height is incorrect. | Adjust doffer height. | | | Doffer pads missing or badly worn. | Replace doffer assemblies. | | | Doffer assemblies not ground to specification. | See your John Deere dealer. | | | Solution system not adjusted, cleaned, or operated properly. | Clean and adjust solution system. Operate flush system. | | | Moistener system malfunction. | Check for correct amount of solution being dispersed for operating conditions. Check solution ratio. | | | Worn bushing in spindle nut. | Replace bushing. Be sure moistener pad fins are perpendicular to spindle. | | | Spindles not operating at same level under doffer. | Shim picker bars. (See your John Deere dealer.) | | | Loose or worn picker bar stud. | Replace stud. | | | Moistener column not adjusted. | Adjust column. Moistener pad must wipe spindle surface. | | | Doffers tilt incorrect. | Adjust doffers tilt with radius and leaf gauges. |
Spindles coated with green stain. | Moistener system not cleaned, adjusted, or operated properly. | Clean and adjust complete moistener system. (See REACTING TO SPINDLE BUILDUP in Moistener System section.) | | | Cotton not defoliated. | Defoliate properly. | | | Using an additive or a wetting agent instead of spindle cleaner. | Use John Deere wetting agent, or spindle cleaner at proper ratio. (Use John Deere Spindle Cleaner in tough conditions.) | | | Not using flush system correctly. | Operate flush system. (See USING MOISTENER SYSTEM FLUSH SYSTEM in Moistener System section.) | | | Moistener column not adjusted. | Adjust column. (See ADJUSTING MOISTENER COLUMN POSITION in Moistener System section.) |
Noisy row unit. | Bent cam follower on picker bar (scraping sound). | Replace or repair. (See your John Deere dealer.) | | | Dry picker bars (high pitched squealing sound). | Lubricate picker bars. | | | Doffer column bent. | Replace column. | | | Worn out spindle bushing. | Replace bushing. | | | Spindles or spindle nuts striking grid bars (tapping sound). | Replace or adjust grid bars. | | | Doffer bearing worn. | Replace bearing. | | | Loose picker bar stud. | Tighten stud. | | | Doffer adjusted too low. | Adjust doffer. | | | Spindles hitting pressure plates. | Adjust pressure plates. | | | Doffer idler gear installed at angle. | Be sure idler gear spacer sits inside hole in row unit sheet metal. |
Drum clutch slipping. | Worn clutch jaws. | Replace clutch jaws. | | | Cotton build-up in moistener column. | Clean moistener column. | | | Bent picker bars. | Replace or straighten picker bars. | | | Drum jammed at bottom frame. | Remove obstruction. | | | Doffers too low. | Raise doffers. (See ADJUSTING DOFFER COLUMN HEIGHT in Row Units section). |
Unit input clutch slipping. | Bent picker bars. | Replace or straighten picker bars. | | | Stiff grease. | Run in row units. Use John Deere spindle lube or equivalent. | | | Wrapped spindles. | Clean spindles. Adjust Moistener System. | | | Worn clutch jaws. | Replace jaws. | | | Clutch springs not adjusted properly. | Adjust shim pack. | | | Spindle or picker bar bearings or bushings seized. | Replace bearings or bushings. (See your John Deere dealer.) | | | Doffers too low. | Raise doffers. (See ADJUSTING DOFFER COLUMN HEIGHT in Row Units section.) |
Excessive wear on doffer pads. | Moistener system malfunction. | Check moistener system for proper operation. (See Moistener System section.) | | | Doffers set too tight. | (See CHECK DOFFER COLUMN ADJUSTMENTS in Row Unit section.) | | | Bent doffer shaft. | Replace shaft. (See your John Deere dealer.) | | | Worn spindle bushings. | Replace bushings. | | | Doffers too high or too low. | Adjust doffers to proper height. |
Excessive wear or loss of moistener pads. | Moistener column out of adjustment. | Adjust moistener column height, rotation, and position. | | | Worn spindle bushing. | If spindle wobbles, replace bushing. | | | Dirty moistener column. | Clean columns. | | | Doffers out of adjustment. | Adjust doffers, height and tilt to eliminate "wrapped" spindles. |
Loss of pressure in moistener system. | Belt broken or slipping. | Replace or tighten. | | | Moistener system plugged. | Clean and adjust system. | | | Broken hose. | Replace hose. | | | Air lock or empty solution tank. | Use drain plug on pump to prime system. (See Prime Solution Pump in Moistener System section.) |
Low fan clutch control pressure. | Oil not properly warmed up. | When operating in temperatures below -12°C (10°F), run-in picker 10-15 minutes to warm up oil. | | | Low on oil. | Check for leak and correct. Fill sump with oil. | | | Plugged oil filter. | Replace filter. | | | Pressure regulator valve failure. | See your John Deere dealer. |
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