Combines A430 black

I have an A438 with spirals behind points, and an A438 with the tapers. The spirals head is by far the better of the 2 in "trashy" conditions. My "gut feeling" is buck up, fix it and go on. In all probability any other head will not really be any better.

Russ I think you are probably right.I've looked at some used ones and see that they are needing some attention also.The price of used added to what they need to fix correctly probably as much or more than total rebuild of mine and at least mine would be like "new" throughout.Thanks for your input.

I have been trying to find a good A430 for the last three years. I found a A430 with the black, white and orange stripe. From this site and other info I have been told serial number 10,000 and up is like mine and under 10,000 has the AC logo only. The one I found is not a prize but as far as I can tell everything on the underside is good. I need new gathering chains and drive sprockets plus the four 17 tooth sprockets that drive the gathering chain slip clutches. How is your galvanized metalIJ I have quite a few cracks above the top gathering chain sprockets in the center gather sheets. This sheet metal seems to be thinner than what was used on the orange heads. My 28 year old FG430 looks a lot better but looks doesn't make it work better. The four A430 heads I have found within 300 miles of me have ranged in price from $2500 to $5000 depending on shape. If you plan on keeping the head for quite a few years rebuilding is the way to go.

Just for comparisions sake I picked up an A330 last spring for $600, real good, rightIJ Wrong, parts bill to go under it was all but $2500. The last A438 I bought came from Mayer's Jeffersonville store, $3000 for the head and $2500 to rebuild it to suit me. In the last 6 years I have replaced the cross auger drive chain.

Those prices seem a bit high, if they are US dollars. To rebuild just the roll drive shafts and bevel gears for a 4 row will run over 2 grand CAN., not to mention any other parts. low acre units for $3000 or less are out there, usually a privately sold one can be had for a decent price. Sometimes a 'non AC' dealer will have just a header for sale, a little dickering will remove the 'orphan' from his yard. The double bevel roll drive gear should have less than 1_8 inch lateral play; if there are some shims left behind the bearing housing, remove some to get this clearance and it should be good for many acres. Splined couplers and shafts should be checked for looseness, they cannot be adjusted and are expensive to replace.

Found a A430 on jocky lot that is a little nicer as far as cracks in tin and only one loose brg block that I could see.Missing a couple of lock collars that I could see on cross shafts but didn't look like they were floating yet like mine.A better head over all but need a closer inspection to be sure.looked at it on a Sunday afternoon with no one home and haven't called them to see what they think it's worth.Need to make time to price fix up for mine.Ain't gonna be cheap!I don't mind fixing cracked tin compared to replacing major hard parts.

Keep looking, I purchased a 1987 green stripe 4 row narrow last fall from a dealer. the corn head was still at the farm when I picked it up. The original owners said it had 750 acres on it and It did not even show that. I paid $4000.00 with no regrets.

On the A330 we got into splined shafts and couplers deal.

sidekick, don't know where your located, you could call bill at roholds farm equip in mayville, nd, 701-786-3113, scott