[bentnotbroken]

Hello Everyone,
My name is Dave, and I have a problem.
My problem has been ongoing for 6-7months now, and I need to end it.
How do you decide which combine to buy

I have been to both my local Deere and CaseIH dealers, read more literature than I can handle, have had both comparable combines in the field(s) to demo in soybeans, and have had each respective sales guy run number$ to what I feel is acceptable.
My problem...after all this....was that I figured after going through this whole process that 1 machine would stand-out for some reason and that would be the combine for me. However, each machine was set-up by their dealer(s) and ran flawlesly while producing near identical samples. I don't consider either machine to be "perfect" but each has their own strongpoints and weakpoints that basically balance out in the end. The price for each model is in line to where I thought it would be, and both dealers have excellent customer service/parts departments.
Is there anywhere I can go online to view field results done by a 3rd party (Like the Nebraska Tractor Tests) that can perhaps help me in determining performance, grain quality, etc in Winter Wheat, Corn, and Soybeans ?
Is there any advice / experience that any of you can share to help me out ?
Any help offered is greatly appreciated, and will help me from throwing a dart at the wall to decide !

 

[Don Boles]

Is there anywhere I can go online to view field results done by a 3rd party (Like the Nebraska Tractor Tests) that can perhaps help me in determining performance, grain quality, etc in Winter Wheat, Corn, and Soybeans ?

No. And thats ashame. I will re- post this

Do any of you remember PAMI (Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute? From 1975 to 1992 PAMI was the only independent combine testing facility in the world. They would have a reference machine that they would run beside testing for losses, where they came from, convenience features, and would put on 100-200 hours on the test machine making evaluations in several different crops on all makes of combines. PAMI would then make recommendations and the manufacturer would reply. In 1992 government support for this program was cut and the program ended. Now they only do paid for unpublished work.
If PAMI was still in business of evaluating combines I think a lot of these complaints would be addressed sooner in the developmental process. I think that when manufactures are developing a machine they are not necessarily comparing other machines to their own.
I really really miss PAMI.

Don

 

[bdpolar]

When we where looking we demoed a new 2388, a 9860, and 2 yrs ago a 480r. We had each machine for atleast a 10hr day. I think it comes down to dealer trust and ability and your ability to make each machine work to its potential. I didn't see much difference between the actual machines on their own. Personally I liked the Lexion the best however nearest Cat store is 2.5 hrs away. We went with an 8010 because of familiarity to the machine.

 

[barhgt]

an aussie farming group did some trials comparing combines, jd came very last.to access the full report you may have to join www.kondinin.com.au