Quick checks before you begin
- Stop, isolate and prevent restart. Wait for all movement to stop and secure raised units with the prescribed mechanical supports before access.
- Record the picking unit, row, front/rear position and recent repair or impact before moving parts.
- Collect photographs only under the applicable safe-access procedure. Do not run the unit to reproduce suspected contact or insert a gauge into moving machinery.
Identify which relationship is being checked
Keep these results separate on the job sheet. Binding, contact or an unusual wear pattern identifies an inspection need, not an automatic diagnosis. Stop using the unit when damaged components or unsafe contact are suspected.
| Check | Question it answers | It does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Cam roller and follower | Are the rolling surface, bore, stud and track fit acceptable? | That the full track is unworn or the cabinet is aligned |
| Cam-track wear | Does the track meet its specified wear-gauge check throughout the travel path? | That the cabinet and shaft positions are aligned |
| Cabinet and track alignment | Do the specified pilot shafts, plugs and gauges establish the required geometry? | That a worn track or roller can be returned to service |
| Installed picker-bar leveling | Are the spindle planes correctly related from bar to bar? | That cabinet distortion or track wear has been corrected |
- Inspect the cam roller and follower
Check the mating roller as well as the track before selecting replacements.
- Separate bar straightness from installed leveling
Do not use bar-height adjustments to compensate for an unassessed cabinet or track.
Track wear requires the prescribed gauge, not a visual guess
TM2109 Section 90 identifies the CG-333 wear gauge for this check. The inspection covers the entire cam track in the direction of travel, with particular attention to the illustrated high-wear area. A good-looking section is not enough to clear the whole track.
Under that specific procedure, entry of the prescribed gauge into the track at any point is a replacement criterion. Have a qualified technician perform and record the complete check. Do not substitute a ruler, a different gauge or a photograph, and do not grind the track to obtain a preferred result.
CG-333 is a service-tool designation. It is not a replacement cam-track number. Record the actual track reference and installed position separately.
- Identify the exact track and keep front/rear records separate.
- Record the gauge used and the locations where the check fails.
- Inspect the mating roller and follower rather than assuming a new track completes the repair.
- Keep unresolved wear measurements off the confirmed replacement list until assessed.
Cabinet alignment belongs to a major-overhaul or damage assessment
The manual calls for cabinet alignment checks during major overhaul or after extensive picking-unit damage. The prescribed setup removes multiple internal assemblies while leaving the cam tracks in place. That preparation is why an external photograph cannot establish that the cabinet is aligned.
The described PRO-16 arrangement uses the 16-CG-PRO cam checking gauge at the front and the 12-CG-PRO gauge at the rear; the described PRO-12 arrangement uses the 12-CG-PRO gauge for both. Do not extend this tool selection to an unidentified revision or VRS arrangement without checking the applicable instructions.
The 1.6 mm clearance in this alignment procedure is between the doffer pilot shaft and the gauge notch on each side. It is not a cam-track wear allowance, roller clearance or picker-bar leveling value.
Damaged cabinet posts or sheets require assessment before alignment. Jacking, structural correction, drilling and shim selection need the full procedure, appropriate supports and qualified service personnel. No universal shim stack or abbreviated correction sequence is provided here.
Ask the workshop for a clear pass, repair or measurement record
If the track fails its wear check, identify the correct replacement and assess the mating parts. If the track passes but alignment remains unresolved, continue the cabinet assessment; do not change bar height merely to hide the symptom. If the setup or gauge applicability is uncertain, retain the record as needing measurement rather than declaring the assembly serviceable.
| Record | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Unit, serial number and front/rear position | Separates configuration and tool-selection questions |
| Impact history, earlier repairs and visible distortion | Explains why a cabinet check may be needed |
| Track and roller identification, with separate findings | Avoids treating one component’s pass as approval of the other |
| Gauge identification and measured locations | Makes the inspection repeatable and distinguishes alignment from wear |
| Post-repair recheck under the applicable procedure | Fitting parts or tightening fasteners is not the final geometry check |
Match the replacement to the installed track, not the tool number
Provide the removed reference, unit identification, front/rear position and clear photographs of the track profile and mounting interface. Include the workshop’s findings for the roller, follower and cabinet, and identify which parts are actually required.
This guide does not assign an unverified cam-track part number or claim complete cabinet-repair-kit availability. YUCHENG HARVEST can review an identified parts requirement; a catalog match does not replace the on-machine inspection.
- Browse picker-bar and related parts
Start with a category review. This link does not confirm a matching grid bar, pressure plate or cam track is stocked or fits your unit.
- Inspect the cam roller and follower
Check the mating roller as well as the track before selecting replacements.
- Check grid bars and pressure plates
Separate contact damage, grid-bar spacing and pressure-plate position.
- Discuss the identified parts requirement
Send the installed reference and mounting details for review.
Technical basis for this article
The article paraphrases and organizes the sources below. It does not copy a service manual, and it does not replace the current documentation for the exact machine.
- TM2109 — PRO-12, PRO-12 VRS and PRO-16 Picking Unit Repair (20 July 2020), Sections 30 and 90, Group 05John Deere Des Moines Works | repair manual
Text, specification tables and illustrations reviewed: printed pages 30-05-1–6 and 90-05-1–5. Bibliographic reference only; the purchased manual is not hosted here. Verify the current procedure for the installed configuration.
Questions buyers and technicians ask
Will fitting a new cam roller fix a worn cam track?
Not necessarily. The roller, track wear and cabinet alignment have separate acceptance checks. Inspect the mating parts before making the replacement list.
Is 1.6 mm the allowable wear in the track?
No. It belongs to a specific pilot-shaft and gauge-notch alignment setup. Track wear is assessed with the specified wear gauge under a different procedure.
Does every PRO-16 position use the same cam checking gauge?
No. The reviewed procedure distinguishes front and rear tool selection. Confirm the exact installed arrangement and current service instructions.