Combine....sell or leave in shed

[FG.]

Got a Claas Dommy 218 that hasn't turned a wheel this year, due to selling for wholecrop.
Next year only 70ac.
Following year a lump of stewardship matures and unsure what will happen.
It owes me nothing and my gut feeling is to hang on to it, but it has a fair value.
Sell and use a contractor, but I don't have a drying system.
If I have more to cut in few years time and I've sold it, are replacement machine prices going to be crazier and or contractor prices.
I know it's a very big machine for a very small acreage.
But it saves any need for a dryer.

 

[Lincs Lass]

The longer you keep it ,the more chance of vermin using it for a nesting spot and then you stand the risk of chewed wires and fires

 

[Farmer Roy]

Spray it all through with diesel, fill it with rat bait & take the batteries out . . .

 

[FG.]

I've always tried to run my combines up once a month and see if the rat bait bags come out full or empty.
I 'try' not to coincide it with "Margaret having a lesson on Dobbin" in the school,

 

[Chae1]

Claas might buy it off you. They have been unable to fulfil orders on new machines and replacing them with used.

 

[Lincs Lass]

There will be a demand for quick replacement combines after the fire ,alot of older machines have been exported so anything now is at premium money

 

[PSQ]

Maybe do a bit of contract cutting for other farmers in a similar position to yourself?
Seems a shame to have a combine and driver at a loose end during harvest.

 

[spin cycle]

hire it out....full repairing lease?

 

[benny6910]

Put it on the market for silly money sell if you get any interest. Sadly this year there are a lot of fires in dry conditions so you may get more interest than you think.

 

[redsloe]

As benny says, put it up for good money and see. If the backlog of new combines eases in future years there maybe a hoard of newer ones for sale in a year or two for sensible money.

 

[tw15]

hire it out....full repairing lease?

I wouldn't just hire it i would just offer to cut it for them then you know it won.t be abused. Thing to bear in mind is that are parts going to be even harder to get in 2-3 years time . If it looks like will be stood idle for a couple of years i might just put a ad out at fairly steep money as now is the time to sell stop gap combines and buy a fresher one when needed . Personally i don;t care about age it is the condition that matters and as long as it does the job you wan\t well thats all you need . Running 3 1680 axialflows here not worth 4o k the lot . Can easily clear 120 -150 acres a day .

 

[startinghandle]

Sell it

 

[glasshouse]

Got a Claas Dommy 218 that hasn't turned a wheel this year, due to selling for wholecrop.
Next year only 70ac.
Following year a lump of stewardship matures and unsure what will happen.
It owes me nothing and my gut feeling is to hang on to it, but it has a fair value.
Sell and use a contractor, but I don't have a drying system.
If I have more to cut in few years time and I've sold it, are replacement machine prices going to be crazier and or contractor prices.
I know it's a very big machine for a very small acreage.
But it saves any need for a dryer.

How many hours on it?
Is it mk 2?

 

[CPF]

Nearly looking for one .
Have look in the thread
Classics earning their keep.

 

[Kryten]

Just be aware if you sell it, all the sale price will be viewed as income and you may end up paying a chunk of tax on it. That said if you're not going to use it, get it gone.

 

[Flatlander]

If you going to need it next year and no dryer I would keep it. As said by the time the tax is paid you’ll end up with a small portion towards a newer one down the road. Nothing is going to get cheaper and if this combine is in decent shape it’s worth keeping. Go do a few days contract work with it to earn a few quid if your twiddling your thumbs and get the urge.

 

[Flatlander]

I wouldn't just hire it i would just offer to cut it for them then you know it won.t be abused. Thing to bear in mind is that are parts going to be even harder to get in 2-3 years time . If it looks like will be stood idle for a couple of years i might just put a ad out at fairly steep money as now is the time to sell stop gap combines and buy a fresher one when needed . Personally i don;t care about age it is the condition that matters and as long as it does the job you wan\t well thats all you need . Running 3 1680 axialflows here not worth 4o k the lot . Can easily clear 120 -150 acres a day .

I had two 1680s and can honestly say they were reliable and great combines. Just keep the shaker shoe bushings replaces every other year. What engine is in those that you have. Mine had a 466 ih and an 8.3 cummins. One short shoe one long.

 

[FG.]

How many hours on it?
Is it mk 2?

'97.
2700

 

[thesilentone]

Cash it in and use the money elsewhere, what will you earn from the capital when you don't require a combine ?

However, the situation changes and you need a Combine, what will you get for that capital ?

Metal rusting away in the shed is dead money.

A few hundred acres of local contracting would make things look a whole lot different.

 

[FG.]

Cash it in and use the money elsewhere, what will you earn from the capital when you don't require a combine ?

However, the situation changes and you need a Combine, what will you get for that capital ?

Metal rusting away in the shed is dead money.

A few hundred acres of local contracting would make things look a whole lot different.

I have just been asked to cut 100ac for crimping and big bale the straw.
Not keen on cutting at too high a moisture though.
To be honest I'm enjoying an easier year, after last year's 4 month hay season and catchy harvest.
Maybe have a rethink in October, after harvest machine prices drop