Case axial flow 1680

[mf7480]

We are looking into getting a combine for the first time. One of these has come up- what's to know about them? I've always understood the axial flows are a mechanically simple machine. What is there to look for? How are they reliability wise? It wont be doing many acres at all, so massive outputs aren't needed, but we do need something that isn't going to cost the earth to keep going.

Any other points or experiences would be interesting to know!

Many thanks

 

[tw15]

Great combines that don't cost a lot to run , run two 1680's here .
a few points to look at
1 fists on the rotors for cracks
2 shaker shoe hanger rails ( best to change them for the latest 2388 cast ones as the old type crack
shaker shoe bushes Best to budget and replace the whole set to start with new.
3 Rotor belt for cracks
4 check all bearings and shafts for play in bearings
5 Run the rotor up to full speed to check for vibration .
6 Bubble up auger bearings in grain tank
7 straw chopper blades / bearings ( also look at the panel above the sieves below the engine you will see it will have a few marks were stuff or blades have damaged it so will give you an idea as to what has gone through it .
8 sieves for cracks best to drag them out to get a good look at them and their carrying bars.
9 look at the con caves for damage .
10 all other belts
11 general engine checks
12 state of the fingers and knife , table auger and wobble box wear .
13 grain elevator and tailings elevator chains paddles and sprockets.
14 air con and cab dials/ gauges are working .
Hope this helps a bit

 

[bovrill]

I run a 1680, the one in my avatar there. It's a good solid tool, but there's still lots of twiddly bits with bearings and what have you to go wrong. I wouldn't say it's really any simpler than the NH8080 that I had before it.
I'll have to have a think about what's liable to be wrong with them, but I can tell you there are lots of shaft monitors to play up, but they don't affect the actual working of the machine, so can be ignored if need be. There's an over-ride button in the cab that can turn off the beeper!)
It's worth checking the front concaves, and below them. You have to change them for peas and beans, and they're a bit awkward to do, and if they've dropped at any point because they weren't secured properly, they can damage all the little augers underneath in the grain pan.
I had the main thresher engagement clutches pack up on me twice, but I think the second time was because they weren't replaced properly the first time.
The chopper wants to be in good order, as it's always working, even when you're swathing the straw. If a bearing goes, you stop combining!
Because the header is a Dronningborg somehow, I started getting bits for it from an AGCO dealer as they're 20 mins up the road rather than an hour away, and they've turned out to be able to get all the parts for the whole combine cheaper and quicker than the CaseIH dealer!
I'll have a think on this and come back to it.
What engine has it got, by the way? The later ones were meant to be better, I think a '92 onwards 1680 is what they sold as a 1688 in America.

 

[Spotty Dog]

Thats interesting, how come an AGCO dealer can get Axial flow combine parts ?

 

[mf7480]

Many thanks for the replys so far, some useful info there. It has the Cummins engine fitted.

How badly smashed up is the straw? Is it ok to bale or impossible to get in the baler pickup?

 

[Spotty Dog]

Smashes wheat straw up a fair bit but it bales up easy enough. But if it gets rained on before you bale it then is a right bugger to get dry again

 

[bovrill]

Square balers are fine, large or small. But I won't willingly try round baling behind it again!

The header was made by Dronningborg, which made MF and Fendt combines, so because of the link I think the parts show up on the AGCO parts system, so you can order them!

 

[mf7480]

What's the problem with round baling it?

 

[Drillman]

What's the problem with round baling it?

No problem round baling behind an axial flow. I've been doing it for 13 years with NH belt balers. If the swath is a bit narrow rake 2 together. This increases baler output massively.

 

[milton-95]

There isn't really,if the straw is really short like it was later in the season this year I had to do it all with the round baler. Tried with the square but it was to short and I couldn't stop the bales from bursting, just couldn't get the pressure off enough.

the biggest problem with baling with the round is trying to get the bales evenly formed because of the bouts having more straw at one side.

Our first axial flow was a 1680 and it was an excellent combine , had it 4 years and spent £70 on it in parts. We took a grinder and took the edge off the blades of the chopper so that it didnt chop the straw up so badly, the only time we find it really choppes it up is when it's really ripe and brittle. The rest of the time it's never a problem.
We also put on a slide so the straw fell To the ground rather than being tightly pushed into the ground made a big difference for baling behind it.