Combines 9660 sts 30 or 36ft draperIJIJ

The advantage of a draper over an auger header is that you don't get that "dead triangle" effect between the knife and the table auger, also the crop is fed in nicely head first. But the down side is the higher maintainence that is associated with them (roller bearings and canvases mainly). But as long as the canvas is running straight and true, they last pretty good. We run a 30' and a 24' rigid platforms on our combines (9600, 9500). But we run a 30' HoneyBee on a 4890 JD windrower. Works good. But if I were to get a draper platform for a JD combine, I'd probably get a Deere platform. The others, (Macdon and HoneyBee),work well but you need an adapter to put them on. The JDs fit right on a JD combine. Have you ever considered installing a full fingered table auger on a rigid platform. I think that would work quite well and be very cost effective compared to a draper. Just my 2 cents worth.

Mondo I'm curious how you like your honeybee on your 4890. I was thinking about buying one, but no one around here runs drapers or knows anything about them. Do you still have your auger platform, and if so how hard is it to switch. Also are they hard to get moved around it seems like they would be a pain because the lack of being able to lift over stuff like a combine. Thanks in advance feel free to email me if you would rather do that.