Mobile grain driers???

[Beefbullock]

Opico or Masters or Mecmar
What are users opinions of the above. Looking to purchase one for next season

 

[Boysground]

I have both opico and mecmar. Both good machines. My advice would be to buy the biggest you can afford the mecmar is 20t and is more efficient than the 12t opico.

If I was starting again I would avoid gas. Only because I can get diesel quickly and from whoever I like. With gas you are tied to whoever owns the tank and none of the suppliers I have used really understand the urgency of grain drying.

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[Beefbullock]

I have both opico and mecmar. Both good machines. My advice would be to buy the biggest you can afford the mecmar is 20t and is more efficient than the 12t opico.

If I was starting again I would avoid gas. Only because I can get diesel quickly and from whoever I like. With gas you are tied to whoever owns the tank and none of the suppliers I have used really understand the urgency of grain drying.

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What is the reliability like on the opico machines as I have only had limited experience with a masters

 

[Boysground]

They are really simple. Mine must be almost 20 years old. Done a couple of bearings over the years and odd bits on the electrics but all quite easy. Think we did a burner ring once. Had loads of trouble this year couldn’t get enough gas pressure and therefore heat from it. Turned out it was the gas tank not the dryer.
If you can get an electric drive much less hassle and quieter than pto driven

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[KB6930]

Opico but the Magna diesel one we've a 20t and it's been very little trouble. We had a 12t gas fired before that

 

[moldengineer]

Opico diesel Magna 12 tonne here. No problems so far. Got a 12 tonne because we have 14 tonne trailers that we empty into to move the grain to other buildings on site. Have a 15 tonne hopper to feed the drier. Skyvac works well. 2 way emptying, one way into a shed other way into trailer. Check what electrical power you have available before choosing the drier.

 

[MrNoo]

Masters 27t auto elec here, fantastic bit of kit

 

[super4]

opico magna 20ton auto here. been no real trouble.

 

[Lincsman]

Mecmar seem good and have really good backup.

 

[quattro]

Higher moistures = master or mecmar both have good backup

 

[David.]

Look at both Mecmar and Master.
I have a Mecmar and when it was new the agitator worm and wheel gearbox lived in the plenum chamber, it was a right ballache to access when it broke in its first season. I think the Master had the agitator box on the outside?
The main auger drive gearbox on mine drives the central auger via its six spline output shaft, that sits in a six splined boss welded into the bottom of the auger. When the gearbox failed in its second season, due to the ingress if sour mash liqueur from using the machine outside and my not cleaning the base out scrupulously every time, these splines although clean and dry, had seized together solid. I had to break up the old gearbox to enable me to drift the input shaft out of the boss. I believe the Master also had a PTO shaft driven gearbox, but had an intermediate belt or chain drive to the main auger, meaning that there would only be a relatively inexpensive bearing exposed to the elements rather than a 500 quid gearbox.
What I am saying is to check carefully the operator friendliness and ease of servicing the of current models of both manufacturers before you decide.