GAC 2700 Support Center
Troubleshooting guides, setup instructions, and best practices for the GAC 2700 grain moisture analyzers.
What it means: Error 2 indicates the load cell (internal scale) recorded an empty-cell tare weight outside the allowed ±10-gram tolerance. The unit is not broken — the cause needs to be corrected or a recalibration performed.
- Shipping brackets were not removed before first use
- Grain or debris lodged in the weighing cell
- Unit not sitting on a flat, level, stable surface
- Grain drawer not fully emptied before the tare cycle
- Unit transported without shipping brackets reinstalled, causing vibration damage
- Shipping damage that shifted the load cell out of calibration tolerance
- Power the unit OFF completely and wait 30 seconds.
- Open and fully empty the grain drawer; remove all grain from the cell chamber.
- Verify shipping brackets have been removed (see FAQ #2 below).
- Ensure the unit is on a flat, level, stable surface — not a tailgate or vibrating surface.
- Power the unit back ON from the main menu.
- Before powering on for the first time, locate the orange-flagged bracket(s) on the underside and rear of the unit.
- Remove and save the brackets — they are required for future transport.
- Confirm the weighing cell moves freely after removal.
- Power on and confirm no Error 2 before running the first sample.
- Power the unit OFF and empty the grain drawer completely.
- Reinstall all shipping brackets in their original positions.
- Use original packaging if available; do not lay the unit on its side.
- After every testing session: empty grain drawer, brush out cell chamber.
- Weekly (or more in high-dust environments): wipe hopper, sensors, housing.
- Monthly: thorough inspection and deep clean per operator's manual.
- LCD display: commercial glass cleaner on a soft cloth. Never spray directly on screen. No solvents, acids, or alkalis.
- Exterior housing: cleaner rated for plastic and stainless steel. Wipe dry.
- Grain hopper & upper sensors: dry cloth wipe; remove grain debris.
- Grain drawer & lower chamber: empty completely after every use; brush out residual kernels.
- Load cell area: use low-pressure compressed air or a dry soft brush. Do NOT use water or wet cloths near the load cell.
- Temperature sensor: self-cleaning on most GAC 2700 units — do not scrub.
- Download the current calibration ZIP file from ams.usda.gov or dickey-john.com.
- Insert a USB flash drive into your computer and remove all existing files from the drive.
- Extract the ZIP file; copy all files to the root directory of the USB drive (not a subfolder).
- Power the GAC 2700-UGMA OFF completely.
- Insert the USB drive into the USB port on the front or rear of the unit.
- Power the unit ON. It will automatically detect and load the calibration files, backing up existing ones first.
- Verify the desired grain calibrations appear in the grain selection menu before removing the USB drive.
Contact DICKEY-john Technical Support at 1-800-637-3302 or your authorized distributor to obtain and verify the correct AGRI calibration package before loading.
- Connect a compatible USB printer to the USB port on the rear of the unit.
- Power on the printer before powering on the GAC 2700, so the unit detects it at startup.
- Access Setup from the main menu and confirm Printer is set to Enabled.
- Run a test sample and press the Print button to verify output.
- The unit must be on a flat, hard, level surface for accurate weighing. Readings are significantly affected on tailgates, soft surfaces, or tilted shelves.
- Avoid vibration sources — tractors, fans, and grain augers running nearby can disrupt the load cell tare and trigger Error 2.
- Recommended: use a small bubble level to verify the surface before each testing session.
- Avoid testing in direct sunlight or extreme heat, which affects temperature compensation.
- Always power off completely and empty the grain drawer before moving.
- Reinstall shipping brackets before any transport — even short moves across a farm. The load cell is sensitive; vibration without brackets can push it out of calibration.
- Do not lay the unit on its side or stack items on top during transport.
- Use original packaging when shipping; ensure the unit is well-cushioned.
- Uses the Unified Grain Moisture Algorithm (UGMA) — the USDA-approved standard for official grain inspection.
- Required for elevators, ethanol plants, and legally-traded grain transactions.
- Calibrations available at ams.usda.gov.
- Uses DICKEY-john's AGRI algorithm — designed for on-farm use by producers.
- Accurate and reliable for farm use, but not USDA-certified for official commercial transactions.
- Calibrations obtained from DICKEY-john or your authorized distributor.
- Ensure the grain sample is at or near ambient temperature. Cold grain from a bin produces low moisture readings — let the sample equilibrate for 10–15 minutes if possible.
- The sample should be free of foreign material — dirt, chaff, broken kernels, and weed seeds all affect readings.
- Do not overfill the hopper; use the standard sample quantity specified for the grain type.
- Avoid testing in direct sunlight or extreme heat, which affects temperature compensation.
- Run two tests and compare. If they differ by more than 0.5%, check for grain or debris remaining in the cell.
- Error 2 — follow the checklist in FAQ #1
- Cleaning and routine maintenance
- UGMA calibration downloads
- Printer connection and setup
- Leveling and placement adjustments
- Error 2 that persists after all self-service steps
- Any recurring error code other than Error 2
- Visible damage to load cell, hopper, or display
- Unit fails to power on
- Post-repair calibration verification
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Central Time
- Perform the scale tare recalibration procedure per the current service manual.
- If the load cell is physically damaged, replace per the parts catalog.
- Verify empty cell weight is within the ±10-gram spec before returning the unit to service.
- Document in the service record: initial error code, root cause identified, and corrective action taken.
AGRI calibration packages are obtained from DICKEY-john directly or through the authorized distributor portal. The AGRI unit uses a different algorithm and file structure than the UGMA unit — do not mix calibration files between platforms.
Contact DICKEY-john Technical Support at 1-800-637-3302 to verify the correct AGRI calibration package before loading on a customer unit.
- Warranty claims and warranty-eligible repairs
- Firmware updates and factory recalibration
- Persistent errors after load cell replacement
- Calibration data questions or AGRI file requests