Harvest Truck and Header Electrics in the Great Southern

This guide is for Great Southern farmers, contract harvesters and truck drivers getting ready for the grain harvest around Albany and Mount Barker. It covers the electrical checks worth doing before the season, the faults that show up most once machines start working hard, lighting and warning light rules on WA roads, and fire safety on high-risk days.

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From paddock to port

Grain is one of the main commodities through the Port of Albany, which sits on Princess Royal Harbour where grain is loaded through a shiploader on one of the berths. Each season, crops of canola, barley, wheat and oats move from farms across the Great Southern to receival sites, and from there by truck towards Albany. In the 2023-24 season, for example, the Albany zone's first receivals came in late October and were mostly canola, but the timing changes from year to year.

The Albany Ring Road, now Menang Drive, was built by Main Roads WA to give heavy vehicles a route to the port that avoids the city's streets. Trucks coming down Albany Highway or Chester Pass Road at harvest time are often running long days, sometimes into the night, and that's when electrical faults show up.

Why machines fail in the first week

Most harvest machinery spends months doing very little. Headers and chaser bins may not move from the shed between seasons, and some trucks only work hard at harvest. During that time, batteries slowly discharge, connectors corrode, rubber seals harden and rodents move in.

When the season starts, those machines go straight from idle to long hours in heat and dust. Weak batteries fail on the first hard start, tired starter motors give up, and wiring that was chewed over winter shorts out when it's finally loaded. The first week is often the worst for breakdowns, and it's also the week when every auto electrician in the district is busiest. Finding faults in early October is far easier than in the middle of a run.

A pre-harvest electrical checklist

Work through each machine with a second person at the controls so you can check lights and switches from outside. Note anything that needs fixing and order parts early, because some machinery parts take time to arrive in regional WA.

• Test each battery under load, not just with a voltmeter. A battery can show good voltage and still fail to start a big diesel. See how to test a car battery for the basics.
• Clean and tighten battery terminals, main earth straps and starter cables.
• Check the charging voltage with the engine running. Know whether the machine is 12V or 24V before you start, as many trucks run 24V.
• Check every headlight, work light, indicator, brake light, marker light and beacon.
• Look along wiring looms for chewed insulation, nests, droppings and rubbed-through spots near moving parts.
• Check the trailer plugs and sockets between trucks and trailers, and the chaser bin lighting if it travels on public roads.
• Test the UHF radio, cab fans and air conditioning blower, which make long days far more bearable.

Rodents and stored machinery

Mice and rats love the warm, sheltered spaces inside stored headers, tractors and trucks, and some modern wiring insulation seems to attract them. The damage is often hidden behind panels or under the cab. A chewed wire might work for a while and then short out when it vibrates or gets wet.

Before harvest, take off the easy-to-remove covers and look. If you find damage, repair it properly with the right gauge of wire, a sealed joint and protective sleeving, rather than wrapping it in tape. Our national guide on rodent damage to car wiring covers prevention ideas that also work for machinery sheds.

Lighting and warning lights on WA roads

Harvest machinery often has to travel on public roads between paddocks and properties. Wide machines need extra attention. Main Roads WA's guide to moving oversize agricultural vehicles sets out requirements including amber warning lights and oversize signs for wider vehicles, along with conditions for pilots and night travel. The exact requirements depend on the vehicle's size and the permit or order it operates under, so read the current documents for your machine.

Flashing amber warning lights on ordinary vehicles are a separate matter. The WA Department of Transport says flashing warning lights are restricted to authorised vehicles and specific uses, and that lights fitted for private property use must be removed before driving on a public road. Check the vehicle accessories and fittings page before fitting a beacon to a farm ute, and check current rules every season, as they can change.

Fire safety on high-risk days

Electrical faults can start fires. A short circuit in a dusty engine bay, a dragging trailer chain or a hot exhaust in stubble can all cause trouble. Keep engine bays and battery boxes clear of chaff, make sure every circuit has the right fuse, and fit battery isolators where they make sense so machines can be made safe quickly.

During a total fire ban, outdoor welding, grinding and other hot work are not allowed except under specific conditions, which can make in-paddock repairs difficult. Local governments can also issue harvest and vehicle movement bans, which restrict off-road use of engines and machinery in the worst fire weather. Details are on the DFES total fire ban page, and your shire publishes its own ban announcements. Plan repair work around these days where you can.

Keeping the trucks rolling

For trucks running between farms, receival sites and the port, the biggest electrical risks are lighting faults, alternator failure and corroded trailer connections. Carry spare fuses, globes or LED units, and a spare trailer plug. If you run a small fleet around Mount Barker or Albany, a quick lighting check at the start of each day takes minutes and helps keep you compliant and safe.

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Questions Albany drivers ask

When should I get harvest machinery checked in the Great Southern?

Ideally a few weeks before you expect to start. In 2023-24 the Albany zone started receiving grain in late October, but the start date varies with the season. Early checks give time to order parts and avoid the rush when every machine in the district needs attention at once.

Can I fit an amber beacon to my farm ute?

Flashing warning lights in WA are restricted to authorised vehicles and specific uses. Vehicles used only on private property don't need authorisation, but the lights must be removed before driving on a public road. Check the WA Department of Transport's vehicle accessories page and apply for approval if your use qualifies.

Why does my header battery go flat between seasons?

Even when switched off, many machines have small electrical loads such as radios, monitors and clocks. Over months, that drains the battery, and a battery left flat for a long time is often damaged. Disconnect it or use an isolator, and keep it on a maintainer during the off-season.

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