If you supply olives to fresh produce stores, then having an olive harvester oiled and ready to go during the harvest season is vital. However, what do you do when the harvest season is over, and you have to prepare the land again for planting season? Most farmers simply keep their harvesters idle in the barn for months and only roar the engine a few weeks to harvest season. Like any other machine, an olive tractor has several parts that work together to make the equipment function optimally.

This article highlights the critical components of an olive harvester that you must inspect to prepare for the harvest season.  

Collection Net

One crucial part of an olive harvester is the collection net. As the rows of tines trap and rip olive fruits from tree branches, the harvest falls onto the collection net. Notably, most farmers pay little attention to collection nets during a bumper harvest. However, no matter how many olives you harvest, you should not allow a single fruit to go to waste. Therefore, you need to examine the collection net regularly, especially during the offseason. Check for holes and loose attachment points regularly to prevent loss of fruits. If the damages require substantial repairs, then you are better off buying a new collection net. 

Sensors 

Another essential part of an olive harvester is the sensor system that is attached to the arms of the machine. The sensors are crucial since they ensure that the device applies just the right amount of vibrations to the olive tree trunk for effective fruit removal. If some sensors don't work correctly, then the harvester might apply excess vibration energy to the canopy. It might result in fruit or structural damage to the olive trees.  However, since the sensors system of an olive harvester is complicated, you are better off taking the equipment to a qualified farm equipment technician for thorough check-up and repairs. Even if you know your way around the system, avoid the temptation of conducting this type of maintenance yourself.  

Conveyor Belt 

Once olive fruits fall from the tree canopies, the fruits to a catchment section. The conveyer belt rotates continuously whenever the harvester is on the field; therefore, tear and wear occurs on the joints quickly. For instance, the pulleys are strategically positioned at the ends of the belt for turning movement. When it starts to wear, the belt can get stuck, thus delaying the harvesting process. Therefore, ensuring that the belt and its components are in excellent condition is vital during harvesting.