Hello,
I just bought my first combine and I have to say that I'm a little stressed out. The reason I bought the combine is that there are only 2 custom operators who cover about 30 square miles. They charge about $50 an acre and whenever I want my crop combined I have to wait, sometimes the waiting doesn't pay off especially on some heavier clay fields when they get wet in the fall.
I bought an F2 about 1980 with 3400 engine hours with an 16 foot flex head. The combine is an early hydro with a 4 cylinder AC. I spent about 5 hours with the fella who was selling it and I have to say there seems to be a lot to learn and a lot that could go wrong. (He bough a bigger Gleaner)
I think the combine is in decent shape but I've never owned a combine and I'm wondering what I've gotten myself into and if these machines do a good job. I will only be using it for beans and a little wheat. I only have about 125 acres of crop land. The combine had no leaks but the rad fluid was down a little and the gears shifters were a little hard to get into position but once in place in the hydro worked fine. The tires were good and there wasn't much rust. It was a little hard to start as it hadn't been cranked for several months. Once, the machine ran it was fairly quiet with no unusual noises, all the belts looked good. I paid about $5000 for it with the head. Feels lite it's going to take me a long time to learn.
I sure could use some advice, what to look for maintenance wise and what big problems to avoid. Can this machine give a clean bean sample if set up right?
I hope I can sleep tonight! Are the Hydro's reliable, I realize the machine is 34 years old. Thanks to anyone who responds I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt this way? I hope!
I just bought my first combine and I have to say that I'm a little stressed out. The reason I bought the combine is that there are only 2 custom operators who cover about 30 square miles. They charge about $50 an acre and whenever I want my crop combined I have to wait, sometimes the waiting doesn't pay off especially on some heavier clay fields when they get wet in the fall.
I bought an F2 about 1980 with 3400 engine hours with an 16 foot flex head. The combine is an early hydro with a 4 cylinder AC. I spent about 5 hours with the fella who was selling it and I have to say there seems to be a lot to learn and a lot that could go wrong. (He bough a bigger Gleaner)
I think the combine is in decent shape but I've never owned a combine and I'm wondering what I've gotten myself into and if these machines do a good job. I will only be using it for beans and a little wheat. I only have about 125 acres of crop land. The combine had no leaks but the rad fluid was down a little and the gears shifters were a little hard to get into position but once in place in the hydro worked fine. The tires were good and there wasn't much rust. It was a little hard to start as it hadn't been cranked for several months. Once, the machine ran it was fairly quiet with no unusual noises, all the belts looked good. I paid about $5000 for it with the head. Feels lite it's going to take me a long time to learn.
I sure could use some advice, what to look for maintenance wise and what big problems to avoid. Can this machine give a clean bean sample if set up right?
I hope I can sleep tonight! Are the Hydro's reliable, I realize the machine is 34 years old. Thanks to anyone who responds I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt this way? I hope!