The characteristics of the repair and maintenance costs distribution of rice combine harvester in Malaysian paddy fields

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to characterize the repair and maintenance (R&M) costs distribution of rice combine harvesters in the Malaysian paddy field.  The survey method through face-to -face interviews was used to collect the data and relevant information from the owners of sampled combine harvester at rice granaries in Langkawi and Kota Setar districts of Kedah state, in Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. The data and information collected includes annual R&M costs and activities, components to be replaced, and their portion of the total R&M costs. The findings showed that the mean R&M costs distribution of combine harvester during off-season was 3.92 times higher than the on-season. Repairing pump bush track, wheel, conveyor belt, wheel bearing, soucy track, straw walker and header are among the components that took large portions of mean R&M costs during off-season. Meanwhile during on-season, repairing the ground speed vari-drive, wheel shaft, cutting knife, grain elevator drive, and lubricant oil consumed large portions of mean R&M costs.