[hibred]

We are looking at a new R66 and flexhead, i am just wondering if you have heard of any problems or things to know about, we currently run a 2006 R65 and a modified 25' 8000 flexhead, we have changed the skid shoes and intend to do the new flexhead too, it makes such a difference cutting beans, so much more flex in the head and shaves the ground. I have heard there are problems with the full finger augers and would like to know your thoughts and what you have done to correct this and also if any others are running a R66 please let me know your thoughts and are you happy with it, thanks for any replies and thoughts.

 

[jonnd]

When you say you have changed the skid shoes what have you done???

My agco dealer told me the 35' heads no longer have the full finger augers in them, too many breaking so went back one step on new production. Don't know about the the 30' and 25' if they also made the step back or not. I do know they had a lot of fingers breaking in the new design but saw somewhere that they have an update to installation or the fingers themselves that helps with this problem.

 

[knagel]

I have the 8200 35' flex head with the full finger auger. It was new last year. The fingers worked great when they stayed in the auger. I can't begin to count the # of fingers I broke. Let me tell you my dealer never heard the end of it. Then I got a letter from AGCO saying there is an update for all full finger augers. I had it done (no charge) and no problems so far this season. This header is by far a better header than the 8000. Never ran a draper but would be interested on how they compare for performance. The 35' has nice flex. I run a 2003 R65 chipped. Went to the farm progress show and looked like the only updates for the R66 was bigger fountain auger and unload auger. I am checking in on updating the R65 with these options. Probably would be cheaper to update than trade if you know the machine and are happy with it.

 

[stonypharmer]

Ya what did you do with the skid shoes? I don't know on the new head when harvesting dry soybeans if the full fingered auger would be good or not. Seems that it would pound them up some more. Might get a new head next year but would have love to have seen a Macdon work in the field.

 

[hibred]

We have been running a modified set of skid shoes on our 25' 8000 series now for 3 years, we have never been happier when cutting beans, we can scalp cut beans, very seldom drag in our sand ground and have far more flex across, i am going to try and post a picture of one, hope it works. `

 

[mailman13]

What exactly do you do to the skid plates or how are they different from the original? Does someone fabricate them for you and are they available to others. Thanks.

 

[swartz]

I have an 8200 25' flex and it has the full fingered auger in it and i have never had any trouble with it. It works great in downed soybeans, really pulls them into the head.

I also know that the R-66 has a dropped feeding floor in it that used to be only put on by farmers. I really want to try out one of those.

Where do you get those skid shoes? Would they work on a 8200 head?

Thanks in advance.

 

[hibred]

We weren't the ones that made or designed them, we only got lucky enough to be able to use them, been running them for 3 years and they work excellent, you remove all your old skid shoes and put these on in place, the fellow that designed them does sell them as a kit now and they will work on a 800, 8000 and 8200 series heads, should even work on previous model heads too. If your interested in them contact John, he works at an Agco dealer in Ontario Canada, the number to call is 519-469-3883 and ask for John in service, he will be able to tell you more and answer any other questions.

 

[agcohesstongleaner]

i sure hope that agco does not decide to can the R series, they are simple and massive combines for their size

 

[minnr65]

What does a kit cost ?

 

[stonypharmer]

Have about almost 200 hours on our new R66. Has worked really well. No problems at all (knock on wood). Ususally have some mickey mouse stuff go wrong, but not on this new one. The unload auger is AWESOME. That thing can really pour out the grain. Didn't need to have a grain cart operator as much. The only problem I have with it, and the other new ones we get is the stone trap door. It never swings all the way open and sensor is never adjusted to let you know the door is open. Radiator stays alot cleaner than our R65 did. I really like the leather seat they finally put as an option. We also run a 8200 25' flex head and air reel. Haven't been all that satisfied..when a lil damp the sch guards push and bunch up old corn stalk residue and the branches off the soybeans. Lookin at either gettin a Macdon or see if the new Agco draper is really 'all that'.

 

[nddan]

Hibred, 66 and 76s have been almost flawless for us. During predelivery this fall we installed latest engine software which is good for all Sisu powered machines. For our area we pull cylinder at predelivery to trim triangle over feeder, install economy steep helicals, replace reverse fars with forward, remove bottom pads from rear feed to let chain down closer to floor, adjust radiator rotary screen in as far as posible then tweak all blades to run flat and true to wall, and remove knives on CDF. Predelivery found little to nothing wrong and post delivery found nothing other than bin fill auger shaking more than we like. We took out to check balance and found good. We cut off the weight they had on for balance and moved it from one end to the middle (half way between suction and discharge) and it's nice and smooth. They brag about unload rate and have to get used to the auger reaching way out there (actually reaches to high and far for the liking of some guys). The bin fill should eliminate any complaints of clean grain capacity in corn. All our 8200s get air reels. We had wheat straw going over back of auger so we installed extra channel iron stripper in front of existing strippers as well as removed full fingers. We also remove filler between header and feeder to tuck it under the floor. With it mounted on top it restricts straw flow between header and feeder in a dead area (this is a no no). We didn't break any of the full fingers before we removed them all and do so on all machines (all have Crary air reels). We did break some of the hollow fingers ahead of feeder (a foriegn object likely broke the first one and if it ended up inside the drum it could wedge between the bolts that hold guides in which would bind and break a bunch more). Gleaner put out bulliton to shorten these bolts and install solid fingers ahead of feeder. We have broke a couple solid fingers in the threads just beyond the nut (don't know if threads were cut to deap, overhardened, or foiegn object). Doesn't look like a widespread problem. '08 65 and 75s and the 6 series have factory tilted feeder floors.

Stoneypharmer, We disable the top switch. We do this by locking the easy close linkage with 1/2" hole provided, remove sensing collar from bottom switch to grind large flat area when setscrew is aimed up, reposition wire on bottom switch to oppisite of what it is (normally open or normally closed), ground the wire that used to go to top switch, bend anchor for spring that keeps play out of linkage forward so spring is never loose, then set lever from switch to sit down in ground down flat area of collar when lever is in a middle position. You will have three positions for easy close lever. One will be when door is swung open (light on), another is in middle (operation position light off), and last is locked up or latching position (light on). We had to much trouble with dual switch system in keeping clean and adjusting properly and single switch system working great. The newer rock sump systems with light door and just overcenter linkage to keep it shut use just one switch on the linkage similar to how we convert door system.