Re: 70 series combines
Quote:The email from Deere made note that "Significant changes on the larger two combine models will increase total harvesting system performance, with major improvements to grain handling, cleaning systems, feederhouse drives and higher horsepower levels. New residue management enhancements will be seen on all new STS combines. The new corn head line delivers revolutionary changes to material handling, grain savings, serviceability and overall corn head capacity and throughput, providing a truly balanced harvesting solution."
Nice wording! The first thing I did when the 70 series parts book was announced online on here, I went to see what the differences were in the shoe. Just as I suspected, nothing! They do have some sort of a bolt in precleaner extension that I just bet is going to be promoted as "increasing cleaning area" but it's certainly not a significant change, heck, it's not even adjustable.
Until they decide to come out with a much larger cleaning system to balance out that combine, the STS is not good value, especially when you consider its annual price increases without any "significant" improvements to justify it because all those horsepower increases are costing you about $500/pony and doing you no good. Also, I can almost bet that since all of the STS's are the same, their rotor drives are the same too and likely torque limited to a common spec. for protection. So, all of those pony's in the 9870 are there for the chopper and ground drive and not to make the rotor do any more work. At least the 8010 can keep its rotor spinning proportionally to its power. It does have a large enough cleaning hsoe to support it though.
