The grass pickup is sometimes overlooked during winter maintenance, resulting in unnecessary breakage and downtime when every minute matters. Westerink Parts provides a complete checklist and keeps all essential parts in stock, allowing you to work through every cut without worries and at maximum capacity."
Function and importance
The grass pickup must lift the grass cleanly from the field, gather it to the width of the feed system and then move it inward at the correct speed. The aim is for tine speed to match forward speed and for auger speed to correspond as closely as possible to feed speed. A poorly maintained pickup disrupts this flow and immediately reduces capacity.
What should you inspect? The checklist
1. Cam-track bearings
Cam-track bearings tend to seize after winter. If this happens during operation, it often results in a broken cam track and bent tine arms. That is a failure you want to avoid.
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Check:
On almost all pickups, you can reach the bearings from below. Turn them by hand. If they feel smooth, leave them in place. If they feel rough, have play or do not rotate, replace them immediately. The cost of a bearing is negligible compared with the resulting damage.
2. Chains
Chains operate in a dry, dusty environment where lubrication is difficult because grease attracts sand. If the links become loose and can move sideways, replace the chain in good time. A snapped chain often causes far more damage than the price of a new chain.
- Please note: not all chains are listed on our new website yet. Call, email or message us through the green button for the correct set.
3. Slip clutches![]()
Most pickups have cam or plate clutches. Oil-bath clutches require little attention, but dry clutches do:
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Check:
Disassemble them every winter, clean all parts and replace plates or cams where necessary. Always reassemble them to the correct setting.
4. Grass pickup tines
They are quick to inspect and replace. Is the pickup missing a tine here and there? Grass is then left in the field. Feeding also becomes less regular, increasing fuel consumption. A complete set of tines quickly pays for itself.
5. Oil level and lubrication points
Check the oil level, usually with the machine in working position, and inspect all lubrication points. Loosen blocked grease nipples so grease can flow through properly again.
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Westerink Parts tip:
Do you have a Claas pickup with grease nipples on the plastic bearing bushes? Do not grease them. Grease attracts sand here, which actually accelerates wear between the plastic and steel. You can safely skip these points.
In brief
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What is the purpose of the check?
To prevent seasonal downtime caused by a fault in the grass pickup. -
When should parts be replaced?
When bearings feel rough, tines are missing or chains have excessive play.
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Important tip:
Do not grease the plastic bearing bushes on Claas pickups, as this accelerates wear. -
Where are parts available?
Westerink Parts keeps cam-track bearings, tines and clutch parts for most models in stock.
