Thamesford, Ontario: Optimizing a Combine Harvester for Demanding Corn Harvesting

Software calibration that delivers real results during harvest season

Date of visit: December 2023

Location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

John Deere combine at work in Thamesford during a late corn harvest

At the turn of fall and winter 2023, we visited the Thamesford area in Ontario, Canada, right in the middle of a late-season corn harvest. On site, we partnered with a farmer operating a John Deere combine harvester equipped with a large corn header – a machine under serious workload at this time of year.

Our mission was to provide a software-based ECU optimization to help the machine handle harvest conditions more efficiently and with reduced fuel consumption. Through direct diagnostics, we identified key areas for improving injection parameters, engine load response, and RPM control.

✅ What we did:

  • In-field ECU diagnostics during active harvest
  • Engine behavior analysis under varying loads
  • Fuel-air ratio calibration and performance curve tuning
  • Fully reversible and secure software modifications

The result? Smoother operation under full load, better fuel economy, and a happy customer making the most of their equipment during the peak harvesting window.

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