Getting you harvest ready
July is “Go Time” for the agricultural industry, farmers across the UK start harvesting barley, quickly followed by wheat, kicking the industry into overdrive. When it comes to crop harvesting, failure is not an option, a broken tractor or combine sitting idle in a field can cost thousands in lost revenue, ruining drying schedules and at its worst causing a total inability to harvest. There is extreme pressure at harvest time which is why it’s important to have an engineering partner you can trust.
At Hickman Engineering, we understand the need for urgency, our head office is situated in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, an area known for both its docks and its agricultural offerings. Our rapid response guarantee ensures that we can have an engineer on site at your business within 90 minutes for any business within 20 miles of our office.
Don’t wait for a breakdown
The stress of the harvest doesn’t just affect farmers, it affects their machinery. At Hickman Engineering we don’t believe in waiting for a breakdown, our engineers specialise in proactive maintenance to ensure that downtime is a word you rarely hear.
We know that underlying issues in your machinery that weren’t addressed in the winter will inevitably surface in the heat of July when you need your equipment most.
Our team covers everything mechanical from welding and line boring to engine and body work maintenance, if your agricultural machinery has an issue, the Hickman Engineering team is on hand to fix it and if you are signed up to a proactive maintenance plan we can catch the issues before they happen.
Don’t let breakdowns affect your harvest and grain quality, arrange a machinery review with Hickman Engineering today!
Strategic location
Hickman Engineering is strategically located in Lincolnshire, the undisputed heart of the nation’s farming community, our location isn’t just a point on a map, it’s an operational advantage that allows us to serve local farmers quickly and effectively.
Our engineering team is structured in a way that allows us to serve customers across the UK, however we also offer a rapid response service for customers within 20 miles of our head office.
A Hickman Engineer can be on site and ready to repair your agricultural machinery within 90 minutes! So when your agricultural machinery fails, you can be certain that we’re never far away.
Maintenance checklist
As a farmer, you want to protect yourself from costly breakdowns especially during peak harvest season. Our engineers have put together this helpful checklist to help you to prevent heavy machinery failure.
While we still recommend a proactive maintenance service, these tips can go a long way to keeping your farming equipment in optimal condition.
Check Engine oil and filters
As you will know from experience, modern agricultural machinery operates under extreme stress at harvest time. High temperatures combined with high workloads can quickly lead to problems. Hickman Engineering recommends a full oil and filter change using high specification fluids that can handle the thermal stress of a long harvest day.
Cooling
Harvest time, and specifically barley harvesting is notoriously dusty. Chaff and debris from the crop can quickly clog radiators and intercoolers, leading to engine overheating and causing the potential for long term damage. Inspecting belts, hoses and ensuring your machinery’s cooling fans are operating at maximum efficiency is critical for prolonging the life of your agricultural machinery.
Service grease points
The header is the business end of the combine, and it takes the most punishment. Every grease point, from the knife drive to the auger bearings must be serviced daily. At Hickman Engineering, we often see failures in the feeder house chain tensioners and slat bearings simply due to a lack of lubrication. Ensuring these moving parts are free of friction is essential for a smooth harvest.
Hydraulics
From steering to the unloading auger, hydraulics are the backbone of your machinery. We recommend checking for leaks at hose fittings and ensuring hydraulic fluid levels are optimal. If you notice a “soft” feel in the controls or a delay in the header lift, it’s time to call in the professionals at Hickman Engineering to test the pump pressures.
Hickman Engineering – we’re fully mobile
Transporting a massive combine harvester or broken down tractor to a workshop during peak season is a logistical nightmare. We completely bypass that problem by bringing our team directly to your field. Whether you require precision machining or complex bore welding, we’re here to help! We guarantee a ninety minute response time for farms within a twenty mile radius of our base, getting your equipment back to being harvest-ready fast!
No call out fees
Breakdowns do not respect office hours and neither do we. We operate a strict around the clock emergency call out service specifically tailored for the agricultural sector. Because we believe in total transparency we charge one flat rate regardless of the time or day. You get our premium problem solving expertise at eleven at night on a Sunday for the exact same price as a Tuesday afternoon with absolutely no hidden emergency charges.
We can help you too
We are up for the challenge! Hickman Engineering prides itself on undertaking works that are considered too challenging for other firms. We never shy away from a problem. Whether this is a small project or large we offer a set rate around the clock coverage which is available to all of our clients. Challenge us to come up with your solution.
