Hey, all. Just completed our grain sorghum (milo) harvest here in south Texas. Use a '00 9650STS w/ a '98 930R, and a '95 J&M 525 grain cart. I know, I know - not the most modern, big, bad-a** machinery around, but - - - IT'S ALL PAID FOR!!! Have seen several people say that the early 9x50STS's are machines that you should run very far away from - quickly. That hasn't really been my observation. Bought this machine 4 seasons ago, paid low $90K's for combine w/ header. Had about 1,100 separator hours then. Did spend about $12K on it that first year, but not much since.
Just got my totals in from the elevator, and thought I'd give y'all an idea of what a 'sub-par' machine is capable of. Started on 16Jun09, finished on 15Jul09. Had 2 rain days, and 6 days we didn't cut (including all Sunday's
). Three days only cut a few hours. On our land, harvested 6,659,413 lbs dry weight off 1,608.4 acres (4,140.4 lbs/ac avg.). On my cousin's land, harvested 1,976,013 lbs dry weight off 1,083.8 acres (1,823 lbs/ac avg.). Totals out to 8,635,426 lbs. off of 2,692.2 acres (3,207.6 lb/ac avg.). Best days - 697,360lbs wet weight, and had 4 days over 625,000lbs. Most acres in a day - 216. Best field - 6,329 lbs/ac.
Only problems while harvesting were a lost master link on the feeder house drive chain (had just replaced the chain the previous day- probably didn't get the clip on well), bearing went out on one straw spreader shaft, hyd. hose on spreader rubbed a hole in it, broke bolts on plate holding plastic 'cone' on rear suspension (see post on '9650STS rear end troubles' thread), roll pin came out of gear that drives the RH lower pan auger (Christ, I'd like to whip the guy that designed the location of those!!!), and broke a total of 4 individual sickle sections (dura-lites). Also lost the muffler's rain cap. Only recurring problem is that I needed to clean the chaff build-up on the panel under the separator about every other day, and under the sieve about every fourth day (requires removing the chaffer and sieve each time - OH, JOY!).
Pre-season, I changed unloading auger chain, header auger chain, all 24 separator tines, one of the three elements (and the frame) on the discharge beater grate (had been bent since we bought the machine), and all the serrated 'blades' on the discharge beater. Post-season I see that I need to do something w/ the floor of the platform - has quite a few holes in it. Also need to address the horizontal augers in the grain bin - are getting quite sharp. Mae-Wes sells poly skins for the auger trough on the 930R, as well as poly lining to bolt to the auger flighting. Will probably go that route, as well as use some of the poly on the panels under the separator and sieve. Only other glaring problem is the feeder house floor has a small split on front, warranting its change, also. Other than that, just piddly stuff (knocking on wood presently!). But it'll all have to wait a few weeks - I'll start harvesting our cotton on Monday
! Climbed off the combine Wednesday night, started working on the JD 7455 stripper on Thursday, got it ready today, and Monday we'll hit it hard (I HOPE)!
Anyway, just thought I'd share a little. As always, 'your mileage may vary'! But I have had a pretty good run these last four years, and don't think these machines are anything to shy away from. Treat 'em right, keep 'em shedded, stay on top of maintenance, and look at, listen to, and feel them - they'll tell you if something's not quite right. Good luck to all.
Just got my totals in from the elevator, and thought I'd give y'all an idea of what a 'sub-par' machine is capable of. Started on 16Jun09, finished on 15Jul09. Had 2 rain days, and 6 days we didn't cut (including all Sunday's

Only problems while harvesting were a lost master link on the feeder house drive chain (had just replaced the chain the previous day- probably didn't get the clip on well), bearing went out on one straw spreader shaft, hyd. hose on spreader rubbed a hole in it, broke bolts on plate holding plastic 'cone' on rear suspension (see post on '9650STS rear end troubles' thread), roll pin came out of gear that drives the RH lower pan auger (Christ, I'd like to whip the guy that designed the location of those!!!), and broke a total of 4 individual sickle sections (dura-lites). Also lost the muffler's rain cap. Only recurring problem is that I needed to clean the chaff build-up on the panel under the separator about every other day, and under the sieve about every fourth day (requires removing the chaffer and sieve each time - OH, JOY!).
Pre-season, I changed unloading auger chain, header auger chain, all 24 separator tines, one of the three elements (and the frame) on the discharge beater grate (had been bent since we bought the machine), and all the serrated 'blades' on the discharge beater. Post-season I see that I need to do something w/ the floor of the platform - has quite a few holes in it. Also need to address the horizontal augers in the grain bin - are getting quite sharp. Mae-Wes sells poly skins for the auger trough on the 930R, as well as poly lining to bolt to the auger flighting. Will probably go that route, as well as use some of the poly on the panels under the separator and sieve. Only other glaring problem is the feeder house floor has a small split on front, warranting its change, also. Other than that, just piddly stuff (knocking on wood presently!). But it'll all have to wait a few weeks - I'll start harvesting our cotton on Monday

Anyway, just thought I'd share a little. As always, 'your mileage may vary'! But I have had a pretty good run these last four years, and don't think these machines are anything to shy away from. Treat 'em right, keep 'em shedded, stay on top of maintenance, and look at, listen to, and feel them - they'll tell you if something's not quite right. Good luck to all.