Destoner Help

[puma power]

Afternoon all,
Looking for some advice on destoners. Looking to do around 60a this year moving to 150a next season.
Dont know a lot about the job!
Budget mid teens.
Probably be on MF7618
Mostly easy working loamy soil, but may need to venture into some slightly heaver stuff now and again.
Thinking a star machine due to a lot of ground following cover crops.
Would be probably either a Grimme either an early CS150 or a late CS1500, What are the main differences?
Unistar seem a bit out of budget.
Or possibly Scanston with Stars.
Any comments welcome I'm going in at the deep end so forgive my ignorance!

 

[Will 1594]

@Spud

 

[Lewis821]

If your on varying land I’d definitely look at star machines, grimme have the ability to open the stars for cloddy work to chew more through then close them up for lighter stonier going all from the cab. I think the early combistars were chain driven and it was not a nice job doing anywork on them. the later ones are all belt driven though shaft bearings need to be kept an eye on especially on the first few rows.
If you are looking into star machines, these need to be kept full or small stones will fall through so a vario gearbox is ideal.
If a combistar is out of budget have a look at ctm, we run 2 amongst several scanstones and the ctm’s will cope alot better with trickier conditions

 

[Spud]

Way back when I pulled a contractors Combi star, chain drive thing - it was a nightmare in time hassle & cost to keep running.
In 2005 we took it back in house with a KV 3900 webbed machine, which was cheap to get us going, but not very fast (basically a copy of a Reekie 350sa)
It was joined in 06 by a 4yo Reekie Speedstar. (Web stars web) which is very good in heavier land, struggles with soil flow in lighter ground. Doesn't need big power or hyd flow, or cost a fortune to run. Our 6180 used to boss it easy enough. Still have it today, though it doesn't do a lot.
Next came a 2003 Grimme Combi web (stars, short web, 1 row stars, big web) in 2008 iirc. Belt drive. Much faster in good going, steady in the tough stuff. Complimented the Reekie well, but took another 30-40hp and a lot more oil flow to run, and much more expensive to keep. It was sold in 2015 iirc.
It was replaced by the game changer, a 2009 Standen Unistar. What a tool. All the strengths of the Grimme and Reekie, with the downsides of neither. Good to drive, good to work on and not dear to run. Needs 160hp to boss it, but it eats acres. It's needs a good driver to get the best from it, slow the PTO in the cloddy conditions, and speed it up in stony going, like any star machine, and don't be shy to send her on a bit. Vario box helps maximise output. Our windrower driver pulls ours with his Fendt 718 which is a good match.
We still have the Reekie, but where it used to do 40-50% of the total alongside the Grimme, it won't do more than 20% max now alongside the Standen. I'd have another.

Scanstone worth a look, open mouth versions are worth the extra for better soil flow. Early depth control was a bit rudimentary, like the Reekie, but better now. Grimme & Standen both have Diablo depth control, which imo is best.

We incorporate a lot of cover crops and muck, on a wide range of soil types - web machines can run out of steam pretty if it's a bit damp, the fibrous nature of the land soon builds up on the bars.

 

[benny6910]

I used to pull a cs 150 for a contractor on the Yorkshire wolds, brilliant bit of kit, fast reliable and they leave a very nice even bed to plant into. The steel feed in roller helps massively to get the soil into the machine. I think I’m my best season I did 340 acres, best day ever was 17 acres in 12 hrs.you have to keep a eye in the stars for wear but on your acres if you had to renew them they’d last a long time. I could get 2 seasons out of a set.

 

[puma power]

Brilliant!!
The CS1500 I been offered must be one of the last on an ‘05 it’s belt driven. Does anyone know the difference between the late 1500 and the 150?
Not thought about a CTM not seen any about.
I don’t think I’d find a Unistar for around 15k?
Anybody know of machines in any dealers?

 

[Lewis821]

Ben burgess have a couple of combistars in, steve thorley might be worth a look

CS1500 COMBISTAR DESTONER - Ben Burgess

7 ROWS ADJUSTABLE STARS SCRUBBER WEB AUTO SELF CENTER STEERING BELT DRIVE LEVELLING WITH EMC ROAD LIGHTS CHOICE OF WEBS

www.benburgess.co.uk