[dpilot83]

I am looking at some repairs on my 2012 S67. Looks like I need feederhouse chains and sprockets (will probably do bearings while I'm there, as well as drum bearings), and I need to replace the cylinder bars in the concave area.

I called Harvest Services about their feederhouse chains and talked to a receptionist type person. She said they had nothing listed for an S series machine, only the R series machines. I was kind of surprised about that. Are the R series feederhouse chains the same as the S series? I believe I understand that newer S series machines have wider spaces between the slats in the feederhouse chain to increase feeder capacity? Are aftermarket chains that are available that way as well? Are there other options for after market chains if Harvest Services truly does not have one available?

What about cylinder bars? What about belts? Can you just measure the belts and buy them from somewhere else? Just trying to figure out how to most economically work on a combine and still get good reliability. Thanks.

 

[khigerd]

I'm sure you can find aftermarket parts for your combine, but I find you usually get what you pay for when it come to reliability. There is a reason why they are cheaper. We tried some Shoup parts one time and decided they weren't worth it.

 

[Snipe]

Aftermarket parts like belts and feeder chain sprockets are not worth it. I tried it and won't do it again. Yes like above poster says you get what you pay for.

 

[dpilot83]

Thanks guys. I like you consider places like Shoup and Sloan to be places that sometimes make good parts but often make lower quality parts for a lower price.

I guess I'm talking more about places that specialize in trying to improve combines like PFP, Harvest Services, etc. Have you guys tried parts from places like that?

I thought I had read on here about how the Harvest Services feederhouse chains were second to none and actually lasted longer than OEM but I may be wrong as I cannot seem to find the thread (at least in the Gleaner section of the board). As I understand it, PFP makes split feed chain sprockets that some Gleaner guys really like because you can replace them without pulling the shaft (if your bearings don't need to be replaced of course).

I guess it's just been my experience that OEM parts are often marked up 200% or so and if a guy can get an upgraded part elsewhere for the same or less money that would be a good deal but I am in total agreement that I am not interested in putting lower quality parts on the machine.

 

[Snipe]

I haven't had anything bad come from PFP. If it's not up to standard Mike won't sell it to you so anything you can get through PFP will be good. I think Harvest services feeder chains are top quality and I hear the split sprockets are also good. I got some feeder and elevator sprockets from a after market supplier that is common in Canada and they were very crude and they went back. I have tried belts at different times and they never lasted like OEM plus they made the machine rumble. After market concaves and rotors are also as good or better than OEM.

 

[nddan]

We use OEM because it is as good as it gets in most any case. To many problems with fit or lifetime with many aftermarket parts (not all i'm sure). We can't take chance at saving a few bucks at the dealership level. We do use some aftermarket parts for perfomance reasons (sweeps,floor kits,triangle over feeder for R series, and helical shims). Order the chains for late 7 series or 8 series to fit the R series with 4 strand chains for they have better slat spacing. Every part of country is different but we find sprockets to wear twice as fast as chains. We will measure chain from slat to slat on both left and right side skipping a slat. New is 19.5" and shot is 20.5". The sprockets will wear on the diameter where chain is riding and as it wears the chain starts to climb and wear teeth thus thus the hook apearance. Of course all the chain links should be examined for breaks espesially if an improperly set up header has been causing feeder issues.