Combine Advice Needed

Ok...I'm looking at 2 different machines. Need advice.

#1 1985 Gleaner N6 with 3200 engine hrs & 2600 sep. Hrs comes with 320 head. It is pretty close to me like 300 miles. Looking at about $15K for the package. Combine is in very good shape. I've got a buddy that can haul for me(cheap)

#2 1982 Gleaner N6 Series 3. This one has a Cummins L10 engine conversion with only 710 hrs. Not sure on sep. Hrs. It has a heavy R7 rear axle and several other updates. Combine has been in storage since 2006 according to owner but has been run in the barn pretty regularly. No heads with it. Over 1000 miles from me. Shipping will be ALOT!! Asking $19K for it before shipping.

Just looking for y'all's opinions. I'm leaning toward #1

Thanks Clay

Edited by Tncropsman - 10 Jul 2015 at 4:49pm

Around 750. I will also be running an N5 in soybeans.

Take the 1 off the price and you sould be about right on the price.
      IG

also...around here N6's go for about $3000-$6000.

the go cheaper when their ain't no dealers around close!

Value depends on the condition and your use for the machine. But IG's point about what they are worth in the market has to be considered as a fact too. On the other hand you could end up with way more in repairing a $5000 combine. It is hard to come out after you paid too much in the first place. It is hard to find the right one at the right price but usually the harder you shop and the more of them you see sell - the better decision you will make. Sometimes guys end up with too many updates and upgrades in an older machine and need someone to bail them out.
I know a little about L10 engines, less about combines, but I'm surprised to hear of one in a combine. I wonder how many RPMs they are running the L10 because as a truck engine they work best in a range of 1500 to 2000 RPMs. Lots of ways to get around the RPM thing but until I knew about that I'd sure be looking what else could be had for $19000.

CrestonM wrote: Dadgum! Why do those machines go so cheap, but I see L3's going for $10K to $15K?

that's crazy! I bought my late L2 Corn Plus that's almost a L3 for $7000. came with a 15 foot flex head, a 630 corn head that had less than 40 acres on a full rebuild, 6 pick up loads of spare parts.

the only option the combine doesn't have is the cigar lighter, rear wheel assist and powerfold ladder

I've pretty munched ruled out the $19K option. The machine that's closer to me I think is a better machine. It is the last year they were made and has a head with it. That would give me 2 20 ft heads to run in soybeans. Should be able to move through my acres much faster.

I'm a wheat farmer, so I'm not too corn savy. What's the difference in a "regular" Gleaner and a "Corn Plus"?

CrestonM wrote: I'm a wheat farmer, so I'm not too corn savy. What's the difference in a "regular" Gleaner and a "Corn Plus"?

as near as I can tell, its got beefed up wear areas and a larger clean grain elevator to deal with 180+ bpa yields instead of 60 bushels per acre

Tncropsman wrote: I saw that R62 for 18K. I was trying to stay away from the Deutz Air cooled. Not that I don't think they are ok but I am cautious on not knowing who had it before and how they were maintained. Right or wrong thinking?? A lot of guys I talked to also say to get at least a 96 model b/c that's when they lengthened the shoe and it made them so much better. What's your thought their? Their is a 97 model RWA with 24 ft head on tractor house for 32K but that's getting on up their for my size operation. Clay

Yes the longer shoe is better, and I would take the cummins over the deutz, since there 20 some years old and you don't know the past maitinence record. But I was just comparing the price of the N6 you talked about, compared to the R62 price.
        IG

They have one every month . There next one is Aug. 7th.
      IG