How is a combine harvester pre-start checklist different from a tractor pre-start?

A tractor pre-start focuses on PTO guard, drawbar, three-point linkage, ROPS, seatbelt and engine condition because the tractor is a prime mover. A combine harvester pre-start covers all of those plus the combine-specific systems: header cutter bar and reel, feeder house chain, threshing drum and concave, sieves and shaker shoe, grain tank and unloading auger, chopper and chaff spreader. It also covers fire safety items (extinguisher, dust accumulation, daily cleanout) that no tractor pre-start contains because combines run in dry stubble in extreme dust and account for the majority of agricultural plant fires across Australian and US grain belts.

What Australian and international standards apply to combine pre-starts?

The WHS Act 2011 Section 19 places a primary duty of care on the PCBU to ensure plant is safe and properly maintained, and WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 requires plant to be inspected by a competent person before use. SAE J1163 (Standard Operations Manual for Self-Propelled Agricultural Equipment) describes the inspection content expected on self-propelled harvesters. AS 1636 covers ROPS for tractors and applies to combines through the harvester ROPS frame. AS 4024 (Safety of machinery) covers the general plant safety principles. AS/NZS 1418.18 applies where elevated work platforms or service access platforms on the separator drum and grain tank are inspected. ASABE engineering practice underpins lubrication and torque intervals widely adopted by US and Australian dealers.

Why is fire safety a separate focus on a combine pre-start?

Combine fires are the leading agricultural plant fire category in Australia and the United States. Hot exhausts, friction-heated bearings and belt glaze ignite dry stubble, chaff dust and crop residue accumulated around the engine bay, separator drum housing and feeder house. A single combine fire in dry conditions has destroyed entire crops, machines and adjacent bushland with insured losses regularly above $1 million per incident. The pre-start dedicates explicit checks to fire extinguisher charge and accessibility, dust accumulation against hot surfaces and the cleanout schedule because these are the only practical controls available to the operator at the start of each shift. Insurers and CFA / RFS guidance both expect documented daily fire-related inspections during harvest.

How often should the combine pre-start be completed during harvest?

Before every shift and after every operator handover. Combines run shifts of 10 to 16 hours during peak harvest, often with a relief operator taking over for the second half of the day, so any change of operator triggers a fresh pre-start by the incoming operator. The end-of-shift cleanout is treated as part of the pre-start cycle. Weekly inspections add deeper bearing, belt, hydraulic hose, tyre and ROPS bolt review. Hour-meter milestones at 100, 250 and 500 separator hours escalate the pre-start into a workshop service. After any field event (rock strike, header damage, fire near miss) a fresh inspection is mandatory before the combine returns to work.

What should I do if a safety-critical defect is found on a combine?

Stop work immediately and do not operate the combine until the defect is rectified by a competent person. Safety-critical defects include damaged ROPS or seatbelt, brake failure, steering failure, fire extinguisher missing or out of charge date, hydraulic leak near the operator station or exhaust, missing or damaged separator drum guard, missing feeder house safety lock and any sign of dust accumulation against hot exhaust surfaces. Record the defect on the checklist, attach an out-of-service tag, notify the supervisor and farm or contractor mechanic and reinspect after repair. Non-safety-critical defects (worn knife sections, low washer fluid, minor cosmetic damage) can be noted for scheduled repair but the operator can proceed if safe to do so.

Free combine harvester pre-start checklist

Jump to download form ↓

Enter your email below to download this combine harvester pre-start checklist as a ready-to-use PDF.

Free combine harvester pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Header, threshing drum, sieves, grain tank, chopper, ROPS and engine. SAE J1163 aligned.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 18 May 2026

Also see:Pre-start inspections →Best pre-start inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Updated 18 May 2026

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails

Download free PDF template

FreePDFUpdated May 2026

Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Used by construction, mining and field service teams

What is a combine harvester pre-start checklist?

A combine harvester pre-start checklist is a structured inspection form used by the operator, owner or farm mechanic to verify the harvester is safe and operationally ready before each shift in the harvest window. Combines are among the largest, most complex and most accident-prone pieces of plant in Australian and US grain production. They combine a wide cutting and gathering header (often 12 to 18 metres on Class 9 plus machines), a high-speed threshing drum and concave, multi-deck sieves, a grain tank and unloading auger, a chopper and chaff spreader and a self-propelled drive train. The pre-start checklist covers each of these systems plus the engine, hydraulics, brakes, ROPS, fire suppression, lights and operator station, drawing from SAE J1163 (Standard Operations Manual for Self-Propelled Agricultural Equipment), ASABE engineering practice, AS/NZS 1418.18 where structural elevation features apply (separator drum housing access, header service platforms), AS 1636 for ROPS and AS 4024 plant safety principles.\n\nUnlike a tractor pre-start (which focuses on PTO guard, drawbar, three-point linkage and ROPS), a combine pre-start covers many unique systems that drive harvest losses, fires and operator injury when ignored. The header reel, cutter bar, feeder house chain, threshing drum and concave clearance, sieve adjustment, grain tank auger, chopper knife condition and discharge fan are all combine-specific items that no other agricultural plant has. Combine fires are also a category of risk on their own: dry stubble, chaff dust and friction-heated bearings or belts have caused tens of millions of dollars of header and bushland fires across grain belts every year. The pre-start checklist forces the operator to inspect bearings, belts, dust accumulation, fire extinguisher charge and the cleanout schedule before the harvester starts the field. Documented daily inspections satisfy WHS Act 2011 plant duty obligations, support insurance claims after a header fire or rollover incident, defend OEM warranty on driveline components and reduce harvest downtime by catching the worn knife sections, belt glaze, blocked sieves and loose auger bolts that otherwise emerge mid-field at the most expensive moment in the season.

Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this combine harvester pre-start checklist

Combine-specific coverage: a checklist tailored to header reel cutter bar threshing drum sieves grain tank chopper and drive train catches the failure modes generic plant pre-starts and tractor checklists routinely miss across the harvest window.
Fire prevention: inspecting belts bearings dust accumulation fire extinguisher charge and the cleanout schedule before the field reduces the header fire risk that destroys tens of millions of dollars of crop and machinery across Australian and US grain belts every year.
WHS compliance: a documented daily pre-start satisfies WHS Act 2011 plant duty obligations under Section 19 and WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 for the largest piece of mobile plant in any Australian grain operation.
Harvest loss reduction: catching worn knife sections cracked feeder chain links blocked sieves and out-of-spec concave clearance before each shift directly reduces header loss return loss and tank-sample contamination that cost operators 2 to 8 percent of yield when undetected.
OEM warranty defence: a documented inspection log against SAE J1163 and the manufacturer service book is the evidence dealers and OEMs require on every driveline cleaning bearing and threshing system warranty claim during the in-warranty period.
Operator handover quality: in shift work or owner-operator-contractor environments the signed pre-start is the formal handover document that proves the combine was inspected and accepted as safe before each operator took the wheel for the next field.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise combine harvester checklists in MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Auto-schedule pre-start forms so operators are prompted before every shift.
Flag overdue pre-starts on the dashboard so nothing leaves the yard unchecked.
Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles combine harvester checklists.

Try MapTrack free for 30 days

Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.

Start free trial

No credit card required
30 days free trial
Cancel anytime

1-2 days/week saved

“Bloody amazing! We used to spend 1-2 days a week tracking and managing our generators alone.”

Steve McAllister

Asset Coordinator, Saunders International

What to include in a combine harvester pre-start checklist

This combine harvester pre-start checklist covers 11 key areas:

Combine identification: make and model, serial number, fleet ID, engine hours, separator hours, header attached (type and width) and operator name with licence or competency reference.
Header and feeder house: cutter bar knife section condition, reel bat and tine condition, feeder house chain tension and links, auger flighting condition, header drive belts and stone trap clean.
Threshing drum and concave: drum bar condition, concave clearance setting against crop, rasp bar and threshing element wear, drive belt condition and unobstructed access.
Sieves and shaker shoe: upper and lower sieve clearance and openings, sieve drive linkages, shaker shoe motion check, return auger and grain pan condition.
Grain tank and unloading: tank cleanliness and sample door, grain tank auger condition, unloading auger pivot greased, swing function operates and discharge spout clear.
Chopper and chaff spreader: chopper knife condition and counterknife setting, drive belt and bearing, spreader vanes and discharge clear.
Engine compartment: oil level, coolant level, fuel level and water separator, air filter pre-cleaner and restriction indicator, belts and exhaust integrity plus battery condition.
Hydraulics, brakes and ROPS: hydraulic oil level and visible hoses, header lift and tilt cylinders, brake operation, ROPS frame integrity, seatbelt webbing and retractor lock.
Tyres wheels and lights: tyre condition and pressure for front drive and rear steer, wheel nut torque check, all field and road lights, indicators, beacon and reverse alarm.
Fire safety and cleanout: fire extinguisher charge date and accessibility, dust and chaff accumulation in engine bay and around bearings, blower function and the daily cleanout schedule completed.
Defect register and sign-off: defect item description severity action required and responsible person plus operator and supervisor signatures with date and time.

How to use this combine harvester pre-start checklist

Park the combine safe and capture identification: park on firm level ground with the header rested on the ground or service stand, engage the park brake, isolate hydraulics, shut down the engine and record make model serial fleet ID engine and separator hours header type and width and the operator name with competency reference before any further inspection.
Walk the header and feeder house: inspect every knife section across the cutter bar for cracked or missing teeth, check reel bats and tines for damage and even spacing, inspect the feeder house chain for tension and missing links, check the stone trap is empty and the auger flighting has no bent edges before the day starts.
Open the side panels and inspect threshing drum sieves and grain tank: rotate the threshing drum by hand to check rasp bar and concave clearance against the crop being harvested, inspect sieve openings and shaker shoe motion, check the return auger and grain pan for hold-up, walk into the grain tank to verify the unloading auger condition swing function and discharge spout clear of obstructions.
Inspect engine bay hydraulics brakes ROPS chopper and fire safety items: open the engine bay and check oil coolant fuel air filter pre-cleaner battery and belts looking for dust accumulation against hot surfaces, walk under the combine to check hydraulic hoses for chafing and leaks, test the brakes and ROPS frame and seatbelt, inspect the chopper knife and counterknife and confirm the fire extinguisher is charged in date and accessible from the cab.
Start engage and document defects: start the engine and verify gauges and warning lights are normal, engage the header drive at low speed and confirm the threshing drum sieves and chopper engage cleanly, raise and lower the header check brake function and steering response, document every defect against severity and responsible person and ensure the supervisor countersigns any safety-critical defect before operation.

In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full combine harvester pre-start checklist as a PDF.Back to download form

How often should you complete this checklist?

A pre-start inspection must be completed before each shift during the harvest window. Combines work shifts that often exceed 12 hours during peak harvest, so any change of operator (shift handover, owner to contractor, contractor to relief) triggers a new pre-start inspection by the incoming operator. Daily cleanout (engine bay, threshing drum housing, sieves and chopper) at the end of each shift is treated as part of the pre-start cycle because dust and chaff accumulation is the leading cause of header fires. Weekly inspections add a deeper review of bearings belts hydraulic hose routing tyre pressure ROPS bolt torque and fire extinguisher charge date. Hour-meter milestones (typically 100, 250 and 500 separator hours) escalate the pre-start into a workshop service under the OEM service schedule. After any field event (rock strike, header damage, header fire near miss, operator incident) a fresh inspection is mandatory before the combine returns to work. MapTrack hour-meter triggers can schedule the daily pre-start, weekly inspection and 100 250 500 hour service due alerts against every combine asset.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

WHS Act 2011 (Section 19)
WHS Regulations 2011 Chapter 5 (plant and equipment)
SAE J1163 (Standard Operations Manual for Self-Propelled Agricultural Equipment)
AS 1636-1996 (ROPS for tractors)
AS/NZS 1418.18:2001 (Crane structures elevated work)
AS 4024.1 (Safety of machinery)

Need to run digital pre-starts attached to each asset?

Register every combine harvester in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.

Start free trial Book a demo

Pre-start inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo