Re: trade 2388 for a 7010 or 9770??
When it comes to comparing combines, or anything for that matter, the specs in the brochure or sales manual mean nothing. The acid test is in the field.
Alot of guys are always saying the STS's won't do this or that, based solely on what they read and not what experience has demonstrated. While I agree that the STS should have more cleaning area, in our high yielding conditions it is not limiting on a 9760, so it a moot point.
We grow 100+ bu wheat and I am limited in speed by rotor loss, not shoe loss. I routinely have the best sample at the elevator where most of the machines that deliver there are red, including a 8010. My losses are as low as anybody else as well, with much higher harvest rates than most. Again opinions based on paper specs mean squat. The machine is very well balanced and can deliver ALOT of clean grain per hour with minimal loss.
Again the best way is to compare them in the field, not on paper.
One big advantage of the Deere is the unloading system, it is significanly faster than the IH and this makes a big difference to us in high yielding corn.
One poster on this forum measured his 8010 and 9860 in dry corn and got the following results:
4.88 bu/s for the Deere and 3.74bu/s for the 8010.
On paper the Deere is 3.3 and the IH is 3.2, but in the field where the rubber meets the road, things are very different.
In our corn, we have been getting 200+ dry bushels and harvesting it @ 25% moisture. We can make it to the end of the field and make the turn but the bin is full. At the speed we are going we are adding nearly 1 bu/s into the bin and in wet corn the unload rate is probably closer to 2.5 bu/s. If the unload rate was only 75% (as in the above test) the bin would not be empty when we get to the headland. This would seriously affect overall productivity and make the buggy operators job very difficult. The balance of the entire operation would be compromised because of this one bottle neck. Now THAT is something to consider.
With one buggy in high yielding wet corn, it would be very difficult to keep a 8010 running at capacity. What good is a bigger machine just to hurry up and wait. At the very least with a 8010, your buggy better have a huge unload auger (20 inches or bigger) and have a VERY sharp buggy operator. In the case of the 7010, it is not bigger than a 9770 yet I still see where the small auger would hamper field efficiency. There are many times doing headlands where I do not have far to travel while unloading yet I can still empty the bin.
Again, get these 2 machines in the field and give them a workout. I know I would not be afraid to go up against a 7010 all day long with our 9760.
At least you will have more room in the 7010 to stretch out and relax while you wait for you buggy operator.
It's all good.
Have a safe harvet.
