Magnum may offer some of the most durable machines in the sod farming industry, but everything on the farm requires regular maintenance to stay in top form! To keep your operation rolling at full capacity, a properly stocked parts shelf is your best ally. So what turf harvester parts do the best operations keep on hand? We’re taking a deep dive into the components our harvesters need to stay productive season after season.
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Parts of Every Successful Season
No one likes to plan for failure, but over thousands of hours in the field, some wear and tear is inevitable. Hundreds of parts simultaneously cutting, rolling, and shifting every minute can wear down even the toughest components. To minimize downtime and make replacements easy, we recommend planning ahead by stocking up on these turf harvester parts before your next harvest.
Bearings
With many unique bearings found on our harvesters, it’s incredibly important to know the right ones you need for your machine. To make finding yours easy, we suggest looking into our online parts manuals. With these guides, you’ll find the correct part number, the name, and how many of them should be on your machine.
For example, our SRA harvester has a set of pillow block bearings on each cutting head that ensure smooth operation of the belt drive. As an integral part of the drive system, these bearings can require frequent replacement. To keep your cuts uniform and your machine operating efficiently, regular greasing and stocking replacements ensure every season goes smoothly!
Bushings
These are a crucial component of the depth control and chop offs.. Bushings help maintain a quality cut by providing even spacing. Since these components go through thousands of rotations every harvest, they’re subject to normal wear, as with any part of the drive system. While regular greasing helps reduce wear, after multiple seasons of service, these will likely need to be replaced alongside bearings.
An example of commonly stocked replacement bushings is the Taper-Lock bushing on our SR cutter heads. Since this is a crucial part of the pulley-drive system, it’s a minor component that bears a major responsibility. If you’re noticing more vibration than normal in your heads, or hearing squeaks when the cutters are engaged, we recommend checking on the bushings throughout the cutting heads.
Blades
The cutting system is one of the most intricate systems on our harvesters, but no turf harvester part is quite as crucial to proper operation as the cutter blades. Just like a fresh razor cartridge makes for a smooth shave, fresh blades are essential for uniform lines and ease of operation. While some farms may opt to sharpen instead of replace them, we recommend cycling in new blades every 4 to 5 loads (or 25 to 26 rolls).
Cutting Blades
The most commonly replaced components on our cutters are the cutting blades that shape every roll. Each harvester performs best when the correct cutter blade is being used., No matter what type of soil you are in, Magnum has many different blade options to make sure you get the best quality cut every time.
These options include Clean Cut (red), Hard Faced (green), Strip Cut, and Quick Hitch blades. The Clean Cut blades feature a tapered edge that’s designed to cut into the soil and they are the most commonly used. The Strip Cut blades are designed to leave a ribbon of sod in the field between the two cut lines. Not sure which blade will work best in your field? Don’t worry, we have technicians on stand by to talk through your operation and need to help point you in the right direction.
Scraping Blades
Rollers smooth the surface of the turf to ensure a uniform roll every time. However, dirt and other sediments can get caked on them, causing uneven compaction in the profile of the roll. To limit this compaction, our rollers feature scraping blades that keep rollers clear. While scraper blades don’t see as much intense action as cutting blades, it’s good practice to replace them as needed to keep the rollers clean.. For the most productive and efficient harvest, fresh blades are a sod farmer’s best friend!
Learn more about making the cut with this related read.
Quick Tips for Better Harvester Blades
Belts
Another crucial component is the belting that connects every cutting assembly. There are a few different belts that connect these assemblies. On all of our harvesters, floating heads have a right and left belt that connects drive motors to the cutters. Solid heads use a singular V-Belt to connect the drive unit to the cutter assembly. Over time, drive belts can wear out just like blades or other components. Look for warning signs like extra slack, wear marks, and fraying to determine which belts need to be replaced.
Drive belts aren’t the only belting that will need replaced after a few seasons on the job! Conveyor belts also take a beating with every roll. Depending on your soil type and machine, you may require either a reinforced rubber belt or a 100% metal Mintex belt. Both of these come with unique maintenance and replacement needs. To learn more about our different conveyor belt options, check out this related read!
What You Should Know About Conveyor Belts in Harvesters
Shafts
Last but certainly not least on our list of essential turf harvester parts, shafts are some of the most essential parts to keep on your shelf. A snapped shaft can result in serious downtime if you don’t have a replacement part at the ready. For floating cutting heads, we suggest keeping a drive shaft and at least 2 wrist shafts on hand per head. On solid heads, it’s always good to have an eccentric shaft and extra wrist shafts on hand.
Since there are dozens of shafts throughout our machines, we recommend stocking shafts that are in constant motion in components like drive assemblies. To stock your shelves and stay productive, our nationwide network of distributors keeps most parts in stock and ready to ship to your door in as little as one day!
From Factory to Farm
When you trust Magnum with your production, you also get one of the most robust networks of parts distributors in the sod farming industry. With trusted affiliates in every region, you’re never too far away from the best turf harvester parts on the market. Why trust just any parts guy when you can get one-on-one support straight from our OEM source? In our decades serving the industry, we’ve become a household name for a few key reasons.
Designed for Farmers
There’s a reason you can still find some of our first BR harvesters in service! Our founders designed every innovation around the farmer’s needs first. At the cornerstone of this endeavor, we prioritize simple, serviceable designs to help minimize downtime and maintenance costs. You don’t have to be an engineer to complete basic replacements and keep your machine running. All you need is your trusty manual, a well-stocked tool chest, and the right attitude for most regular maintenance!
Made in America
Every Magnum harvester is proudly made right here in the United States, which means most of our components are as well! This cuts out the middleman when it comes to shipping, which saves time and money for US farms that trust our harvesters. Thanks to the proximity of our factories, our distributors can ship almost any turf harvester parts anywhere in the lower 48 states in as little as one day!
Fast Service
When you’re stuck in a field, the last thing you need is a game of phone tag with your service rep. That’s why our team is regularly available all week long to keep customers rolling as quickly as possible. Whether you need some help on an installation or a trained service technician on your farm ASAP, Magnum’s unmatched service is just a call or click away!
Installation Made Easy
No matter how big your shop is or how many tools you have, replacing broken components is the great equalizer for every farm. We proudly support the Right to Repair movement, because when our founders had to keep their sod farm moving, they couldn’t wait around to take their machines into a shop! Every machine we offer is designed around farmers, not corporate think tanks. So when you need to replace any turf harvester parts, you have all the help you need right here.
Online Manuals
Every Magnum machine comes with access to our library of maintenance and parts manuals available online 24/7. These manuals contain all the diagrams, part numbers, and recommended maintenance needed to keep your machine running at peak performance. Instead of one more booklet that can get lost or damaged, just log in and get the help you need whenever and wherever you need it!
In-Person Technicians
We know how hard it can be to ask for help, but we also know how good that sigh of relief feels when your machine is finally fixed. For the toughest jobs, sometimes it’s better to call in a pro to help. Our nationwide network of trained technicians is available to provide in-person support when you need it most. Every big red truck comes fully stocked with all the parts, tools, and know-how to keep your production rolling smoothly!
Part of Your Industry
Since our first harvester changed the world of big roll sod production, Magnum has led our industry for innovation, quality, and service. Every operation that trusts our harvesters gets more than just a machine—they get a lifelong partnership with a team unlike any other. Whether you need to order parts, netting, or a whole new machine, you can trust that we’ll keep your farm’s future in mind every step of the way. Contact our team, or get customized pricing online!
