A corn cob harvesting machine includes a tractor, cob harvester, and trailer that together lift, clean, and separate corn cobs from a corn harvester combine chaff windrow. The cob harvester has a floating cob lift immediately adjacent to and through various skirts engaging the earth that is supported by and floats with respect to a support frame. The floating cob lift has a rotary paddle that lifts and throws cobs into the first cross draft separator. The first cross draft separator has a blower that generates a vacuum within the floating cob lift. An adjustable flap intermediate between rotary paddle and blower deflects cobs and other heavier matter out of the air stream, while lighter matter is removed. A first cross draft separator removes chaff, a rock trap separates rocks, and a second cross draft separator removes additional chaff. A discharge conveyor transfers cleaned corn cobs to the trailer.
