Yes, T is hybrid, but they do share a lot of parts. @Bill Turtle T670 will be wider being 6 walker chassis, just in case you are used to running up and down small roads a lot. Are you not tempted to buy a late model C670?
JD T series combines
- Thread starter willy
- Start date
9780 is rotary, T670 is marketed as a hybrid as its got various drums and then short straw walkers
9780 has a drum in front of rotors though? What afaik is called a hybrid, like a big lexion. A true rotary is an axial flow, though I and others often call hybrids rotaries. Anything with a walker is simply a walker combine regardless of how many drums. I stand to be corrected. Having 2 drums in front of the walkers as on a T is hardly revolutionary (though they do seem well liked) claas had aps on megas 30yrs ago. And my 22 series JD has a second concave
- Location
- Essex
Yes, but a lot of the driveline layout, electrics, grease points, grain tank are similar. I really meant in comparison to buying a different brand of combine.
- Location
- Essex
I have had to take a tape measure to the roads and barn. I do like my CTS, but they are no longer produced, so parts availability could become an issue in the future.
Yes JD don’t seem to be supporting their old combines like they used to
- Location
- Essex
Do you mean C? My current combine is a C, and it’s reasonably steady in barley compared to wheat.
- Location
- Essex
Which 22.. do you run. I had a 2256 for 10 years, cutting 1100 acres a year at one point, but I was young and keen then!
64. Lovely thing. 1100 is a lot for a 56.
- Location
- Essex
Yes, it took me a while to persuade my father of that,hence we bought the 9780i. Both were very reliable, so happy to stay with the brand. I have always thought that, they are more complex than an axial flow, less so than a lexion. That and I like the Hillmaster system.
T670 on tracks is same width as C670 on 800 tyres.
- Location
- Essex
All hillmasters are wheels unfortunately.
Yes, agreed, a few parts are no longer available for them. You might find a T670 on 650 tyres which slims it down a bit, the body would still be wider than 9780 obviously. Just gone from 9780 to a 580tt, it's hardy any different on over all width but is a damned sight bigger on the road when avoiding branches! Don't discount t550/60 depending on how many acres you're cutting
darrenjlobb
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
I run a MY2012 T560 Hillmaster (the first models with the new cab on them), having previously run several other Deere combines (1177/1470/W540) previously it was the natural progression / upgrade.
The T is a very capable machine once setup right imo, and the 550/560 narrow body is very compact, we manage to get around down here in Cornwall where majority of places are 12' gates off single track roads etc. Getting the header in can often be harder than getting the combine itself in.
In terms of output, from the factory extremely capable in wheat, if conditions are right, it will fly.... However if conditions arnt ideal (which they rarely are), and when in barley, espcially thick, damp strong crops, they are hugely seperator / walker limited out the factory I found.
Infact coming from a fairly modified W540 machine previously, the barley output was about the same, if not possibly worse when I first got the machine. But once you jack the back up, open up the walkers, add fishbacks, thicker curtain , slow the crop down, and modify the T series rotor grate, you can dramatically increase the output on these ealier models (literally double the fwd speed in heavy going barley).
Deere sorted alot of this in the next generation with the drop out sections in the rear rotor grate, and then sorted more again with steeper walker and longer walker in the most modern ones, hence they perform much better out the factory (how the older ones should have from day one)...but with some modification / time you can get alot better results out of them I have found.
Has been a reliable machine, one thing to watch out for is keep an eye on the primary countershaft nut on the end of the shaft, holds the pulley for the T series rotor drive and electromagenetic clutch for the feeder house, they can come loose and if you run it like this, it will ruin the clutch hub and shaft. Again, the later models have a better shaft / spline design to prevent this problem. Feeder house reverse seals can often fail, which fills the gearbox with hydraulic oil and eventually pushes it out the pto seal... so if thats leaking, thats likely why. Otherwise if you keep elavator chains / feeder house chains tight, and keep it well greased, they dont give alot of issues.
Would say a 20/22ft header is about right on the ealier models in thick cornish crops of winter barley anyway... In wheat / spring barley would handle a 25ft header all day long...
Also, hillmaster is excellent, once you have had it, it would be very hard to go back!
The T is a very capable machine once setup right imo, and the 550/560 narrow body is very compact, we manage to get around down here in Cornwall where majority of places are 12' gates off single track roads etc. Getting the header in can often be harder than getting the combine itself in.
In terms of output, from the factory extremely capable in wheat, if conditions are right, it will fly.... However if conditions arnt ideal (which they rarely are), and when in barley, espcially thick, damp strong crops, they are hugely seperator / walker limited out the factory I found.
Infact coming from a fairly modified W540 machine previously, the barley output was about the same, if not possibly worse when I first got the machine. But once you jack the back up, open up the walkers, add fishbacks, thicker curtain , slow the crop down, and modify the T series rotor grate, you can dramatically increase the output on these ealier models (literally double the fwd speed in heavy going barley).
Deere sorted alot of this in the next generation with the drop out sections in the rear rotor grate, and then sorted more again with steeper walker and longer walker in the most modern ones, hence they perform much better out the factory (how the older ones should have from day one)...but with some modification / time you can get alot better results out of them I have found.
Has been a reliable machine, one thing to watch out for is keep an eye on the primary countershaft nut on the end of the shaft, holds the pulley for the T series rotor drive and electromagenetic clutch for the feeder house, they can come loose and if you run it like this, it will ruin the clutch hub and shaft. Again, the later models have a better shaft / spline design to prevent this problem. Feeder house reverse seals can often fail, which fills the gearbox with hydraulic oil and eventually pushes it out the pto seal... so if thats leaking, thats likely why. Otherwise if you keep elavator chains / feeder house chains tight, and keep it well greased, they dont give alot of issues.
Would say a 20/22ft header is about right on the ealier models in thick cornish crops of winter barley anyway... In wheat / spring barley would handle a 25ft header all day long...
Also, hillmaster is excellent, once you have had it, it would be very hard to go back!
Simon Chiles
DD Moderator
- Location
- Surrey/ Kent Border, UK
Yours is the same build as mine. I fitted the speed flights to the header auger, not recommended by JD UK at the time but the ops manual said it was necessary for a hillmaster. Getting the right crop presentation to the feeder house transformed the performance. As I said previously I use the booster bar all the time ( except linseed ) so I’ve never needed the concave de-awning plates for barley which limit separation area. I also raised the back of the combine up to the highest point on the rear axle ( the manual says not to on a Hillmaster as it makes it over 4 m tall but it’s only 2cm over ) to make the walkers steeper, it’s on 540/65 R30 rear tyres as well which must also help.
I think the biggest problem with winter barley is that most people get impatient and try to go too early, a couple of weeks rain just when you want to start normally sorts the job out.
One other thing to add to your check list/ service plan is to change the oil in the t series rotor gearbox more often than it states in the manual.
darrenjlobb
Member
- Location
- Cornwall
Yes i forgot to mension that, I also added the center flights , can quickly see the difference it makes just by stopping the machine loaded and looking under feeder cover and also on top of the walkers. I think when you go over 20ft header though maybe there less needed due to bulk of material being presented to center anyway, but I havent tried...
Yes, also worth changing the oil in the primary countershaft box every year regardless, that stuff will come out burnt to hell on many machines if it was checked I think!
Axle on full height for sure, anything you can do to get those walkers looking more up hill!
Think the most we did on 9780i was 1700 acres over 5 farms, ring fenced farm you could probably do 2000 without too much bother. Really good machine, simple enough for maintenance both pre and during harvest. Parts prices aren't terrible, hillmaster needs a lot of grease daily, change drive box oils annually, do rotor bearings if its new to you. E clutch is reasonably expensive. Never had any horrors on the two 9780s we've had, just age related odds and sods. C670 is very much the same machine but more refined. Paintwork is poor, get the odd bit of metal fatigue.