Combines 79 N5 or 84 M3 or keep looking

Jason, Your right about both combines...the early N's had some bugs and the M3 sounds a little expensive. If I were you, I'd keep looking.

Keep looking. The M3 with both heads migh be worth $15,000. The N5 is priced about right but I would not buy one. To me the best bet would be a l3. If you look at the specks the M3 is about the same cylinder wise as a F3 just more seperator area and a bigger motor.

I have a l- 3 with 1860 sep hrs in good condition. Heads include 6-30 corn head,315 flex_stainless steel and polyalso grain melrose windrow head. located in SE MN 507-259-8921

I found a 1978 F2 Diesel with a 4RN corn head for $6900. It has 2096 engine hours. It is 5 hours away though but should be worth the trip. Dealer has it on consignment from a local farmer. Said it is a 7 to 8 out of a scale of 10. What size_model number bean head would match up with an F2IJ Jason

If it was my choice I'd go for the l3..an F is a good combine but there is no comparison in capacity between and F and an l and you will get an l for almost the same price as the F.

We got an F2 that has a 13ft, 4r-30in corn head. we are trying to sell it. We have a 13ft ridge head on it. not sure on the model n. justin

I agree with Stawwalker,if you are staying with a non rotor machine I would stick with M or l series combine they have a lot more capacity and you will be able to go with bigger heads if you want and they will do a better job in corn with less kernel damage because of the open grate concave. I have owned an E,F,G,M and M2,the M and M2 have been the best combines.

One additional consideration is that the l_M series besides having larger capacity have a lot larger grain tanks and are alot more time efficient because of it.