What Big Older Combine ?

[Pedders]

i know its a perennial question but knowing how much we all love talking about combines I thought it worth asking again anyway !
Having had one of the most disrupted starts to the harvest ever and seeing neighbours going all around whilst my skyfall has languished in the field losing its Hagbegs I can't help but start thinking about getting our own combine ...

we've got 550 acres of Arable so a new one is out of the question..for hiring the economic threshold seems to be 1000 acres and I dont want to be crawling through crops so a high capacity is imperative

Given that we could cope with the odd day loss to breakdowns as it couldnt be any worse than waiting for the contractor to come when the suns shining anyway or seeing him pull out midway through a crop .. my mind has gone towards getting a decent capacity older machine for around £20,000 ...we are divided equally between Winter Wheat and Spring Barley with some decent slopes .. I'm thinking something like a New Holland TF78 would be a suitable candidate ...anyone else have thoughts about them or other suggestions ? TIA

 

[Tonym]

TF78 would be a good choice if you don't need to bale the straw. If you need the straw what about a Massey Ferguson? They are not as bad as some people would have you believe and with your acreage as you say you could afford some downtime and you can have a hillside model for the slopes.

 

[Richard III]

Cross a TF78 off your list, they are cheap for a reason, there are some electrical components that are obsolete. If these go, she is a scrapper apparently! The TX60 series don't have the same issues, so would be OK.

 

[Gapples]

Claas mega, 218 or even a 208.
If you like rotary you'll get a good Axial Flow, very quiet & reliable.

 

[SilliamWhale]

For 550 acres I'd spend a bit more than 20k if I were you. Your spending £17k a year in contractor costs anyway. Why not spend 60-70k and get something a bit nicer

 

[Pedders]

For 550 acres I'd spend a bit more than 20k if I were you. Your spending £17k a year in contractor costs anyway. Why not spend 60-70k and get something a bit nicer

that is the £ 64,000 dollar question ...mainly because I'd rather not put too much on finance and we dont have any trade in etc ...but as you say up to £17 k a year repayments would be cashflow neutral anyway

 

[goldeneagle]

If you are spending 20 k on a machine you should be able to get a machine to do the acres involved considering your spread. Would add into budget money for carrying out necessary repairs as at that price range there are probably going to be parts requiring replacing through either normal wear or tear or poor (or non existent) maintenance practices. For that reason have a look at what the breakers yards have in stock in case there is a major component issue with what you buy. For your budget could likely get a DV2 MF 40RS with power flow and auto level which would comfortably manage that acreage. TX 36 would be another option though they are heading towards high hours at that budget.

 

[4course]

each to their own, we run an older 2nd hand mf on 400 acres cereals no osr have had mf for over 25 years and as posted elswhere have only had minor niggles other than self inflicted changed the last one for very little cost must be kept dry and clean to avoid electric problems or over heating other than that just keep header well maintained and then high capacity to avoid excessive drying works for us 12 good days and weve done allowing for moving and small fields in places as well as growing seperate varieties reckon we are under £10/acre other than driver

 

[Exfarmer]

I would vote for TF78, not sure about any electricals would be worth speaking to APH about the situation.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/massey-fe...626568?hash=item3d44580e48:g:sn0AAOSwcYxZjgx5

there you go bang on budget, will cut your grain with ease, after 2 years it will owe you nothing, but will be good for a few years after that, will be fine on the hills you have

 

[SilliamWhale]

that is the £ 64,000 dollar question ...mainly because I'd rather not put too much on finance and we dont have any trade in etc ...but as you say up to £17 k a year repayments would be cashflow neutral anyway

Fair enough. But no harm in having things on finance if its below the contractors cost and you get something that will always be popular to sell on.

 

[Tractor Boy]

I'd try and get a 2388 axial flow. Good capacity and simple to maintain and use.

 

[Pedders]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/massey-fe...626568?hash=item3d44580e48:g:sn0AAOSwcYxZjgx5

there you go bang on budget, will cut your grain with ease, after 2 years it will owe you nothing, but will be good for a few years after that, will be fine on the hills you have

had a look at that and that seems like just the sort of thing we're looking for ..does it have self levelling sieves etc ?

 

[Run to the hills]

Claas mega, 218 or even a 208.
If you like rotary you'll get a good Axial Flow, very quiet & reliable.

+1 for mega long as the hills arent to steep
Even a 204 would cut that area without too much strain

 

[Sheep]

JD 225* wouldn't be too far out of budget either?

 

[D14]

i know its a perennial question but knowing how much we all love talking about combines I thought it worth asking again anyway !
Having had one of the most disrupted starts to the harvest ever and seeing neighbours going all around whilst my skyfall has languished in the field losing its Hagbegs I can't help but start thinking about getting our own combine ...

we've got 550 acres of Arable so a new one is out of the question..for hiring the economic threshold seems to be 1000 acres and I dont want to be crawling through crops so a high capacity is imperative

Given that we could cope with the odd day loss to breakdowns as it couldnt be any worse than waiting for the contractor to come when the suns shining anyway or seeing him pull out midway through a crop .. my mind has gone towards getting a decent capacity older machine for around £20,000 ...we are divided equally between Winter Wheat and Spring Barley with some decent slopes .. I'm thinking something like a New Holland TF78 would be a suitable candidate ...anyone else have thoughts about them or other suggestions ? TIA

If the contractors pulling out mid crop and it's ripe then why not try another contractor or a neighbour? As you may well just have the wrong contractor or give two contractors 225acres each and watch them via for it all being on time, keen etc.

 

[RAF]

Will your local claas dealer not hire u an oldish one out the yard ? I use hire a 580 but I ve now gone down the contractor route as I have a very good contractor .

 

[AF Salers]

I fully agree with @SilliamWhale you can easily 'afford' to spend a good bit more for your acreage. Less breakdowns and more sleep at night!

A late (2005/06) TX66 would be a very sensible choice, lots of capacity, very reliable, parts readily available, easily serviced/mended & won't depreciate like a stone. Just mind they are quite wide if doing a lot of narrow roads.

 

[goldeneagle]

had a look at that and that seems like just the sort of thing we're looking for ..does it have self levelling sieves etc ?

The massey auto level is full machine, massive rams on each front wheel level the whole combine, the table should be levelling as well.

 

[Mursal]

The easiest part of the whole thing will be the purchase.
If you are doing all your own maintenance/repair go with what you feel best will do the job. If you use an outside repair shop ask their advice, so they will come out to you when needed. Local dealer for parts in a hurry might be worth considering?