combines
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
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URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=134079
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Topic: combines
Posted By: Rick143
Subject: combines
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 7:31am
I have posted in the past that I am looking for a combine. But I need some opinions. I was originally thinking that an all crop would be the way to go. But now I am not sure. I am only looking to combine a few acres now and maybe 20 - 30 acres in the future (yeah I know mega farmer). Every time I locate an all crop it is usually 4 hours away and a lot of the time very expensive. I am seeing self propelled combines fairly reasonable. For example there is a Massey 410 about twenty minutes away for $950.00 and is supposedly in good shape. I also saw an E Gleaner about two hours away for about the same price. Should I be looking for a self propelled combine or a pull type? I would like to get the most bang for my buck but don't want a maintenance nightmare. Any and all opinions would be appreciated.
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Replies:
Posted By: tomstractorsandtoys
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 8:46am
I would not buy the Massey. They were great machines when new but parts are getting harder to find and very expensive and they have lots of parts. The Gleaner E would be a good choice if in good condition. They are easy to work on and Gleaner used mainly stock bearings that can be had anywhere. The D17 engine is plentiful as well. Dad had an E,E-III and an F before changing to Deere 3300-4400 machines. The Deere I feel was a little better in small grain but very hard to work on. I have two Deere 95's and a Deere 105 diesel. They are much like the Gleaner everything out in the open and easy to work on. The disadvantage of a pull type is having to run some some of the crop down opening up small fields. The Allcrop was a good machine but small and slow. My great grandfather wore out a set of cylinder bars every year custom cutting clover seed. No other machine was as good as an allcrop for that job. Good luck. Tom
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Posted By: littlemarv
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 6:12pm
I am in the same boat. Someday I hope to farm a whopping 40 acres myself. I have committed to purchasing an all crop very close by. That will be great fun for soybeans, wheat, and barley. But, I am also thinking of getting an old gleaner with corn head so I can plant corn as well.
Once again, the brain is going way faster than the wallet.
------------- The mechanic always wins.
B91131, WC23065, WD89101, CA29479, B1, Early B10, HB212, 416H
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Posted By: AC7060IL
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 6:27pm
A Gleaner E, K or F would be a good buy. They are simple combines but have impressive innovation for their time.
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Posted By: Ryan Renko
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 6:36pm
If you are basically hobby farming I would buy a allcrop to use on days when the weather is awesome and you can enjoy the harvest. And then buy a small Gleaner for the small harvest when conditions are not so favorable and you want a cab!! Just my two cents but you will have fun either way! Ryan
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Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 7:46pm
I can't believe a Massey 410 has survived....they all had a nasty habit of burning.
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Posted By: victoryallis
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 7:50pm
I remember helping grandpa with the All Crop 60 it served the purpose but that was about it. You would be way further ahead with a E or K.
------------- 8030 and 8050MFWD, 7580, 3 6080's, 160, 7060, 175, heirloom D17, Deere 8760
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Posted By: VAfarmboy
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 12:50am
shameless (ne) wrote:
I can't believe a Massey 410 has survived....they all had a nasty habit of burning.
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It probably has the Perkins diesel in it. The diesels were not as bad about burning up as the gassers.
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Posted By: Rick143
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 2:10pm
Thanks for the opinions. I really appreciate it.
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Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 2:22pm
Unless you find a good deal on something smaller I think I would just start with an F gleaner
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 7:38pm
shameless (ne) wrote:
I can't believe a Massey 410 has survived....they all had a nasty habit of burning.
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Just like the --00 series JD combins!
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 7:47pm
I'd go with the Gleaner E, since it sounds like it's either that or the Massey. All-Crops are VERY nice, though.
All this talk about the Massey got me thinking about an old promo video I saw for them. It described, in song, the 410 as having "Bigger size to put you on top, a bigger appetite for every crop. You can bet it will lend you harvest non-stop; the 410! The new Massey Ferguson 410!" Lol
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Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2017 at 9:52pm
You can usually find an older self propelled cheaper then a good All Crop. I have an A with a 3 row corn head and an All Crop 60, Also a MF 750 with a 24' head, bought that one for $575 10 years ago. Unless you are doing a specialty crop, any SP in good condition will do the job.
------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant
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Posted By: matador
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 9:49am
A Deere 3300/4400/6600/7700 is an absolute nightmare to work on. I can't recommend one to anybody.
Ages ago, my father had a Massey 410, but he hated that one. I'll have to ask why. I'd do what pretty much everyone is saying- a Gleaner E or F is probably the safe bet
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 1:16pm
matador wrote:
A Deere 3300/4400/6600/7700 is an absolute nightmare to work on. I can't recommend one to anybody.
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Not to mention a little clumsy to operate! I drove a 1978 6600 once, and the wheat was really good in one spot of the field, about 45 bpa (The rest was about 10!) Well, this spot was good yielding because it was in a low spot, and got more water from runoff. As a result of the runoff (and kinda poor farming practices by the land owner), there was a big rut in the field. I didn't notice it because wheat was growing IN the rut! (That part didn't make much sense to me) Anyways, I didn't see the rut, and I drove straight into it (It's about a foot deep) All of a sudden the combine drops down, header digs in, and the wheels are spinning. If I was in my L3, I would've quickly pressed the header switch with my thumb and pulled the hydrostat backwards at the same time, in one fluid motion. But since on this combine, the two controls are two separate levers, I was thinking quick about what to do, so I had to put it in reverse, wheels spinning, then raise the header. It took a few seconds to do all that, which wasn't too bad, but it still filled the header with dirt. That setup also makes going over terraces a bit harder. Usually I slow down a bit when crossing them while I raise and lower the header. It's just handier in a Gleaner! Why JD used that design from the 55s through the --20 series combines, I'll never understand. Plus, the --00 JD combines have the wind adjustment outside the cab, on the side of the combine. When working on them, the Gleaners have swing-out guards....these combines don't. And if you're tall, you're going to bang your head a lot on the side panels when you're greasing or working on them because the side panels are rigid and don't swing out. I knew running that 6600 (with all the cab insulation) was louder than our L3 (which is missing some insulation), so I looked up combine test results online (Like Nebraska tests tractors, this place tests combines). The 6600 is 88 decibels and the L2 is 79. Supposedly that's about 3 times as loud, judging by one website. One LAST thing....if you have a problem with any of the major drives, you won't have to go far; they're right under your seat! Guess I'm just spoiled with the convenience of the Gleaner.... 
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Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:03pm
and what ever kind you gits, don't let Ceston drive it, he goes outta his way to try and gits them stuck! LOL...sorry Creston...but you're right on what you said above! all the deere combines I've owned (yes I have owned several in my younger years) all were a &%@^#% to work on! only combine I bought in new condition was my "K" and that was a wonderful small combine. still have it, but haven't used it for a few years! my Gleaner "G"s were other great combines. and later on in the years I wanted a rotary combine, couldn't find any Gleaners in my price range but did on IH roarties. and that's what I have run since. you are a ways away, but I would sell either one of my 2 IH rotaries, both good machines.
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:40pm
Aw geez....LOL You'll have to come watch me bury my Super 100 this year. I talked to a friend who is on the board of directors, and he said the wheat hasn't even been planted yet! The ground has been too wet. He thinks they're going to tile the field pretty soon, then plant spring wheat.
Hey, bring your K up to the show! You won't bury it! Them things are a lot lighter than any other combine!
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Posted By: Jwmac7060
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:43pm
I would almost consider paying you the 950 dollars to not buy the Massey...They are a fire waiting to happen and parts availability is non existent. Not gonna make many Gleaner guys happy but here goes..Gleaner parts are hard to come by for the older machines too..I would buy a Deere...3300 or 4400...The diesels with the rotary screens were good combines...Yes the cabs are louder...The hydro lever and raise lever are in a stupid places but you will always have parts for them and they're relatively easy to work on..
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:51pm
And parts are priced like gold.
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Posted By: Jwmac7060
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:54pm
Never said they were cheap...But I'm not sure any parts are cheap any more
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2017 at 2:56pm
A buddy of mine in NW OK has a L3 and an M2, and yes, new parts aren't easy to come by quickly during harvest where he lives (No close dealer). BUT....a lot of guys out there run L/M series combines, and they work together. Nearly everyone that runs them has at least 1 or 2 parts combines, and when someone needs parts, they check their own combine first, then if that machine doesn't have the good part they need, they go to the neighbors'. Nobody minds, they just do it. They're all in it together. We had to go rob a chaffer and sieve this last year, but the parts combines are older short shoe models, so they didn't work in the L3. Duct tape got us through the last 100 acres though.
And if you DO opt to get an older Gleaner (like a K or F), I've encountered farmers with old combines in the fence rows who are willing to just GIVE you all the parts off the machine you want! (They'll never use them) If you can find something like that, or even buy the parts, that would work. I tend to strip the combine almost clean. Never know what you'll need in the future. And if you end up with 3 or 4 of the same part, and a buddy needs one, you can help him out!
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Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 6:58am
Never had many problems getting parts for my L2 except a complete good long shoe for it. I can order the shoe, sheet by sheet from AGCO and rivet and bolt it together. Good short shoes are abundant in salvage yards. I've been forced to work on 00 Series Deeres and you couldn't give me one......... scratch that, you could give me one, I'd make about $90 a ton.
------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot
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Posted By: Kurt WI
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 7:40am
I see your not to far from me! Get a gleaner as parts would be easier to get yet. There are 2 on craigslist a E and a K http://racine.craigslist.org/grd/5889865764.html Plus we have a great dealer close by! Kurt
------------- WD D17D 170 190xt 190xtIII 200 7020
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Posted By: Rick143
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 12:22pm
Kurt which dealer are you referring to?
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Posted By: Kurt WI
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 12:35pm
Schraufnagal's they are great people to work with for parts.
------------- WD D17D 170 190xt 190xtIII 200 7020
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Posted By: shameless (ne)
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 2:02pm
deere dealers don't even wanna talk to you if you want parts for their older combines. they want you to buy new or newer, fellow I talked to has a 4400 diesel combine, he says he's gonna either scrap it or take it to a sale, he can't find parts for it anymore.
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Posted By: Kurt WI
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 7:15pm
Yeah deere dealers they just suck unless you can find a small one left! We had one close by and deere forced the sellout. Had a bwa disc at the time and they had blades and scrapers in stock now that a big deere dealer took they dont but that diac got sold and bought a allis 2300!
------------- WD D17D 170 190xt 190xtIII 200 7020
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Posted By: Rick143
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 7:48pm
I will agree I have a deere dealer about two hundred yards from my house and deere forced them to sell out to a larger dealer. They told them that they would no longer let carry new combines and choppers if they didn't. I hope people wise up and this bites deere in the a##.
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Posted By: Dave in il
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 8:53pm
In 2005 when I traded my 8820 for my R62 the local Deere dealer was down to 5 other 8820s in his service area. At that time they had the largest inventory of 8820 parts in northern IL but they were no longer reordering parts that weren't fast moving or common to other 20 series combines. They could still get anything you needed but it might take a day or two.
I doubt any dealers keep parts on hand for nearly 40 year old combines unless they have several around or they are common to other equipment like bearings etc.
It's lucky AGCO still provides us parts for some of our tractors. I've heard big green no longer can get everything for anything like they used to.
------------- AGCO My Allis Gleaner Company
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2017 at 10:14pm
Dave in il wrote:
I've heard big green no longer can get everything for anything like they used to. |
A few years ago (Maybe not anymore) Deere was always putting an advertisement in their "The Furrow" magazine about a guy who was so proud of his Deere dealer because they stocked a ton of parts for his 95 combine.
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Posted By: Allis dave
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 7:10am
I can still get most anything for the JD 7720. SOme in stock, some come in a day or 2. You can't expect any color dealer to stock every part for 50 years worth of combines.
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Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 7:25am
I currently own a deere combine, I have had an E in the past -- 100% easier to fix than this deere. belts are out in the open not buried under the cab. Ran the 300-410-510 maseys in the past. I you buy the massey with both heads, be advised it needs to be the quick attach system for the heads. They are a super pain in the bu-- to change heads if they are the older non quick attach version.
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Posted By: Rick143
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2017 at 7:49pm
I appreciate all the suggestions it really is giving me something to think about. I have really learned a lot.
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Posted By: GM Guy
Date Posted: 27 Jan 2017 at 12:48am
I vote for the Gleaner, parts are not hard to get, just gotta know where to find them.
The F is a little bigger and had the longest production run of any Gleaner (Between F, F2, F3 it went from 1968 to 1987) so parts are easy to find. Plus, its the smallest unit that you can get with a hydro.
Nothing wrong with the E though.
------------- Gleaner: the properly engineered and built combine.
If you need parts for your Gleaner, we are parting out A's through L2's, so we may be able to help.
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