Coefficients of repair and maintenance costs for axial and transverse combine harvesters in Argentina

Abstract

Maintenance and repair cost (M&RC) coefficients were estimated for grain harvesters in Argentina. Two representativemachines were selected, the Deutz-Fahr Optima 550 and CASE Axial Flow 2188, both equipped with wheatand maize platforms. Estimated coefficients were 6.685 and 7.143 [10-5 h-1] respectively for the Deutz and CASEcombines using wheat platforms; and 7.082 and 8.294 [10-5 h-1] using maize platforms. The confidence intervals forthese values were estimated through regression analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, in an evaluation of severalharvesters (including grain, sugar cane and cotton harvesters), M&RC coefficients were observed to show a meandecreasing tendency of around 1.5% per year.