Combines 480 cat thread

[T__langan]

You make a very valid point, Tim. All the capacity in the world is useless if you can't get grain away from the combine. In fact, that is the main reason we still run a class V - we have been tempted to get an R62 but it would have to include more and bigger trucks, and a much bigger grain cart than our current 425 bu. There are many times when the R52 has to wait on the cart in our situation. last fall, we cut for a guy who insisted on using gravity wagons instead of trucks to haul his corn three miles from another farm to his home place. He rounded up 12 wagons, pulled them with two pick-ups and a tractor. We unloaded on the go and used the grain cart to fill his wagons. We usually overran him at about 2 pm after starting at 10 - 11 am after it dried off a bit. Poor guy took the tranny out of his pick-up the last day too. He was blowing the high moisture corn into a silo as whole shell corn so it only took a matter of a few minutes to unload each wagon. There are very few situations where we can keep our machine rolling steady all day long around here. It just wouldn't make sense to buy a bigger combine, burn through the field faster, and sit and wait longer. But wouldn't it be fun to see how many acres you could clear off in a day at 4000 bph, enough semis to keep up with you, large enough grain cart(s),and a grain handling system to keep up!

 

[Tom_Russell]

I agree with you guys. Around here, an 8 auger running continuously into a wet bin cant keep up with a Hyperized R60 and a 6-row head. We dont have 3-phase power so a bigger auger is out of the question and I refuse to go back to a PTO auger. Tom in MN

 

[Ed_Boysun]

Tom

 

[Tom_Russell]

Ed, I hear you loud and clear. When I bought this farm all of my neighbors were small family type dairy farmers who didnt even believe in 220 single phase and they wondered why their cows didnt do well. The ground on my farm was carrying so much voltage I could measure it with a hand held meter. As the older generation dies off there is a better chance of getting 3 phase close enough to where it is cost effective to run a line to my place. Meanwhile I am stuck with 10 hp as the largest practical motor at a cost of $500 instead of about $100 for a used 3 phase 10 hp. When I came here I sold my 3 phase motors for under $100 including a 1-year old 15 hp for $65. We do have our grain handling automated to where we back the truck to the dump, raise the box and the auger starts by itself. We can then drive an empty truck to the field with full confidence the auger will shut off by itself 10 seconds after it runs out of corn. Try that with a PTO setup. Tom in MN

 

[Ohio_Orange]

Have you considered installing a Roto-Phase unit to make your own 3 phase. We built one ourselves to run our machine shop but they are available commercialy though rather expensive.

 

[Tom_Russell]

My electrical engineer son has advised against using any kind of phase converter and as you may be aware, you never argue with sons or fathers or wives or anyone else for that matter. The guy in the middle doesnt know anything about anything except how to write a check when things turn sour. I know there are guys who run 3-phase motors on single phase plus the new stuff like Ed mentioned, but the advice I get is none of it is cost effective for my operation. Or maybe Junior is politely saying high tech stuff is too far over Dads head. Tom in MN