[Oz farmer]

Currently running a 36 foot 960 head and was thinking of upgrading to a 972. Could someone tell me the difference between the two heads. As far as I can see it has smaller tyres and a different adapter setup with retractable fingers in the auger. Also it seems heavier on the machine. Thanks for the help.

 

[coolio]

The 972 has a 6 batt reel, doesn't the 960 have a 5 batt reel.

 

[Oz farmer]

Can not remember off the top of my head. The 972 has a pick up reel. The 960 has bats but not sure how many.

 

[Okey]

I believe the cutterbar is different. 972 has better knife angle for shaving close to ground.

 

[SWMan]

I believe the cutterbar is different. 972 has better knife angle for shaving close to ground.

Yes and I believe that the 972 had a better setup for tensioning the canvasses. I would think there were many other subtle differences as well. 972 was a higher-end header at the time.

 

[Don Boles]

All correct.
The knife angle was 7 degrees steeper than the 973 that followed which was intended as a combine header.
The 972 was the first MacDon header that incorporated the "C" shaped cutter bar for closer cutting still used today.

 

[maninsilver]

972 is leaps and bounds better than a 960. If theres a molehill the 960 will make take it in and a 972 will flatten it without taking it in. The 972 has the newer style wobble box. the reel fore and aft is a better system because it moves parelell to your header angle.

 

[Don Boles]

The 972 has the newer style wobble box.

In fact that marked the end of the Deere wobble box and the start of they're own design box which has since proven to be extremely reliable.

I think the 972 was introduced in 1998. Think.

 

[GrampaMark]

In fact that marked the end of the Deere wobble box and the start of they're own design box which has since proven to be extremely reliable.

I think the 972 was introduced in 1998. Think.

We have a 972 that was built in 1998. I think you may be right.

Mark