Combine headers

[John mc cormack]

We are looking at changing our T660 combine. We were disappointed with self levelling on the R header and the Reels can bend and crop flow off the divider was poor. We think the lexion standard header has strong reel bars better divider for crop flow and better self levelling due to the ground reader bars being closer to the knife underneath and the header is levelled with 2 Rams. But we haven’t drove a lexion so would like people’s opinion.

 

[Spencer]

Buy a Macdon..

 

[John mc cormack]

Buy a Macdon..

Not an option here

 

[MrNoo]

NH Varifeed's the one you want, love mine. Have never driven a Lexion though so cant really comment

 

[homefarm]

Ditto NH vario
We have a JD X now, not as good not sure why.
Not tried Claas either but put off by lifters.

 

[quattro]

Nh vario better than lexion and that’s from a lexion operator

 

[Spencer]

Not an option here

Be cheaper than buying a Lexion just for its Vario header ?

 

[snipe]

We are looking at changing our T660 combine. We were disappointed with self levelling on the R header and the Reels can bend and crop flow off the divider was poor. We think the lexion standard header has strong reel bars better divider for crop flow and better self levelling due to the ground reader bars being closer to the knife underneath and the header is levelled with 2 Rams. But we haven’t drove a lexion so would like people’s opinion.

Don’t think any other walker combine will keep up with a 6 Walker JD

 

[John mc cormack]

We are looking at changing our T660 combine. We were disappointed with self levelling on the R header and the Reels can bend and crop flow off the divider was poor. We think the lexion standard header has strong reel bars better divider for crop flow and better self levelling due to the ground reader bars being closer to the knife underneath and the header is levelled with 2 Rams. But we haven’t drove a lexion so would like people’s opinion.

Also note that we will only be buying the standard header and not a vari as we only cut barley and wheat and it’s Ireland so we don’t get big open fields. Spring barley generally gets broken down if not lodged by the time we get to it. Looking for class operators opinion really especially if they have experience of JD as well.

 

[Phil P]

Only have the standard 750 auto contour header on 560tt, ran a Deere with R header before that and the Deere header was sh!te in comparison for picking up flat crop. Cut everything from wheat, barley, beans, rape, and oats and can’t knock the auto contour.
Its 25’ I would probably go vario on my next one mainly for rape losses but can’t really see many other advantages.

No problem in with this stuff this year

 

[glasshouse]

We are looking at changing our T660 combine. We were disappointed with self levelling on the R header and the Reels can bend and crop flow off the divider was poor. We think the lexion standard header has strong reel bars better divider for crop flow and better self levelling due to the ground reader bars being closer to the knife underneath and the header is levelled with 2 Rams. But we haven’t drove a lexion so would like people’s opinion.

The t660 fairly mashes the straw

 

[Lincsman]

Dont forget the NH vario goes from crop to crop at the touch of a button, not all do.

 

[Two Tone]

Only have the standard 750 auto contour header on 560tt, ran a Deere with R header before that and the Deere header was sh!te in comparison for picking up flat crop. Cut everything from wheat, barley, beans, rape, and oats and can’t knock the auto contour.
Its 25’ I would probably go vario on my next one mainly for rape losses but can’t really see many other advantages.

No problem in with this stuff this year

The advantages of true fully adjustable Vario header (like the NH or Case IH) go way beyond using it for just Rape.
Where they really come into their own if is in any of the taller crops like wheat.
In a standing crop, Non vario headers will pull most of the crop into the feeder housing ears first, which is the ideal presentation to the drum or rotor, except for the crop that is immediately in front of the feeder housing (straw elevator). This bit is the crop has to squash under the header auger where the central retraction tines are, which will then end up hitting the drum in all directions and creating inefficiency.
You can often see this as it seems that there is a wave of crop moving from one side to the other and back again where the auger central retraction tines are.

By moving the Vario header forward just enough, you can make sure that all the straw hits the auger ears first (especially where the central retraction tines are), therefore all the straw now hits the drum ears first.
This will give an instant at least 10% increase in Combine output performance.

This is the true advantage of Vario headers.

 

[yellow belly]

The nh vario in short or laid crop or tall crops
Linseed or beans is unbeatable
It will follow the ground at 15 k or higher 10 mm above the stones once you take care setting it up

 

[John mc cormack]

Don’t think any other walker combine will keep up with a 6 Walker JD

Would agree if it’s a perfect field but we find if crop is broken down you spend a lot of time reversing due to poor levelling and poor divider make up. Class header seems to have better crop flow on the side of the header. If you can’t get crop into it output is gone out the window. I put it another way when was the last time they made any improvements to the R header?

Only have the standard 750 auto contour header on 560tt, ran a Deere with R header before that and the Deere header was sh!te in comparison for picking up flat crop. Cut everything from wheat, barley, beans, rape, and oats and can’t knock the auto contour.
Its 25’ I would probably go vario on my next one mainly for rape losses but can’t really see many other advantages.

No problem in with this stuff this year

excellent photo off what you end up having to deal with. At that stage your not worried about auto trac etc.

 

[cletracboy]

You can have extra reel tines at the edge of the reel by the dividers with composite reel tines on a john Deere x header, don’t know about the R series. Also choice of different dividers.
very happy with the contour following on our 625x but didn’t like the stubby dividers as prone to crop hanging up on them. used a claas Vario header previous year and I think the contour following was not as good but it was a few years older.

 

[quattro]

Would agree if it’s a perfect field but we find if crop is broken down you spend a lot of time reversing due to poor levelling and poor divider make up. Class header seems to have better crop flow on the side of the header. If you can’t get crop into it output is gone out the window. I put it another way when was the last time they made any improvements to the R header?

excellent photo off what you end up having to deal with. At that stage your not worried about auto trac etc.

Ours nh was cutting side by side with a jd 670?straw walker with 25ft power flow it was mix of short/tall and flat crops,don’t know if jd was needing setting up better but the nh made a fool of it

 

[juke]

Ours nh was cutting side by side with a jd 670?straw walker with 25ft power flow it was mix of short/tall and flat crops,don’t know if jd was needing setting up better but the nh made a fool of it

If it was an original t series I'd agree with you , losses can be an issue. The newer ones from what I have witnessed will outperform the lexion and newholland especially in the heat of the day.

 

[Mark C]

First time with a NH varifeed this year. What a gift ! Flat spring barley , no lifters needed. Just push the reel out And it pulls the crop onto the knife as the reel times will go below the level of the knife when it’s right out. Tall hybrid barley , push the knife out so it drips head first onto the auger, no lumping in the drum, better output , less stress on the combine.

 

[Lewis821]

Using a new claas 1060 header this year and found the auto contour brilliant BUT it does need setting up, sensitivity, lateral tilt etc.
The only problem ive found is with it having a gearbox each end of the header it can block on the corner in laid crops of brackled spring barley. I looked at various divider option but stumbled across the extra reel end tines in the parts book. Claas at Saxam had no idea they exsisted and had never sold any, so i put a set on and it solved the problem.
The newer ones being full vario, rather than fitting filler plates, is also an improvement especially when cutting hybrid winter barley where you have varying straw length