Combines 16 row head

No combine manufacturer currently makes a combine feederhouse strong enough to withstand the stress that a 40' head, weighing over 11,000lbs will exert on it. The Gleaner feederhouse is probalby the smallest in the industry. The AGCO feederhouses do not have the structure to support 3+ lift cylinders or the capacity, or potential drive capacity, to drive a head that requires 160+ hp. Deere certainly doesn't have the drive capacity (they need to be able to drive what they've got now, better, before going bigger). No use even considering a 2388, a 1230 is too much for it to handle. The CR NH, possibly, only because of its sheer size, but the feederhouse will have trouble consuming that much material efficiently. lexion combines have the potential to drive a 1630, as well as lift them. A fourth cylinder would be needed. So many variables would have to be considered before a combine could be ready to lift and operate with a 1630: working hydraulic pressure would need to be redesigned for lift and carry capacity and for auto-contour response too (you can't just turn up the pressure and expect all to be well - a give and take thing..."Turn a valve here, blow a seal there! It's just that simple"); physical machine structure would need to be updated to support added weight and other hardware associated with the lift and carry of an 11,000lb head; also, the one that everyone forgets, "what about the unloading system," a Gleaner sure isn't going to be able to reach out over 22' to unload. And, you just can't lengthen an unloading tube to reach out more. The longer it is the more power it takes, the more power it takes means a heavier drive system will be required, especially if you want to maintain original unload rate, which is going to use more power, then you will want your engine turned up (not legal on today's electronic engines),which many will think they need to have with the added size of a 1630 head. Heck, if you're going to do all of this, you might as well build a new combine to fit a 1630. Just wait for the manufacturers to come out with combines to fit 1630's, your current combine will thank you for it and last a little while longer.

Gerhoff or how ever you spell it had a 16 30 at the farm progress show this fall. There was a pic of it in the Farm Industry News about a month ago. So if that other guy knows what he is talking about I guess they just built them for shows. I think the price tag was either 70 or 80 thousand.They are surley running it somewhere. And if it weighs 11000 I think my 12-30 weighs almost 9000 that isnt a whole lot more. And dont forget on that unloading , a Gleaner doesnt take near the power to unload as does the turrent unloading auger does. But how would you ever keep it hauled awayIJIJ Illinois Gleaner

In reply to your last posting, the head we put together is a 12 row, not a 16. You are correct, we do run red,a 03 AFX 2388. The changes we made to the combine were; added a 3rd lift cyl.,900-60-32 Trelleborg tires,(replaced the 30.5-32) filled the 16.9-26 rear tires with fluid, we were carrying 800n of cast iron on the rear anyway and added the Mauer unloading auger ext., looks like a Cat lexion or 60 series Deere(gained 30to36"),an easy reach to the grain cart, were already running a Crary Big Top on the grain bin. Harvested 1400+ acres of corn yielding 140 to 220 bph moving at 3.5 to 4.3 mph. No problems at all, the combine and head are a good fit, worked well, would never go back to an 8 row. Another thing, we plant with a 16 row, only ones that didn't work, contour or curves then it was 8 or 4. It is interesting on some of the comments of the 16row heads. Clarke Machine Shop built one for Mrs. Altendorfer 3 yrs ago,(custom harvester in S.D.),mounted on a 9750 JD-harvesting 200+bph corn, a grain cart along side all the time, every 3rd round had to stop and completly empty the grain tank, don't know how many carts or hopper bottom trailers. I got my info from the man that built the hd. There is a pic of the head and combine on redpowermagazine.com, the unloading auger has a truss on it, must be kinda long. Sorry that this took so long.

Two things I just want to put out there. One what the hell is the diffrence between a 16r30 head other than width and the narrow row(I.E 18 row 22' or 16 row 15') than a 16 row 30.If you want to see a 16 row 30 go to Kinze Mfg and find Jon Kinezenbaugh. he has had one for years on 9750 JD's and 21_2388's its a monster but it's cool. Two. for the record Kinze is coming out with a 36 row 30 five section flex planter in about a year or so it would be well over $95,000 I would guess. later Will

could you post the link were you saw the pic. thanks

Grimreaper--Go to clarkemachine.com, the 16 row hd is pictured, even priced. Several other custom made hds.with pictures. Good luck.

we're running a 12 row on a 98 72 and we had trouble this year with corn being better than avg. getting corn away from the shoe fast enough. had to put a different pulley on the clean grain elevator to speed it up.ground speed was 4.5 max. in 200+bpa and that is with both screens wide open to keep it from running out the back. you are not going to be able to keep it away from the shoe with a 16 row much less carry it.