Combines amount of hours on axial flow combines

There is a fellow in this area that has a 1440 with over 13000 hrs. on it...it is still a very good machine because he keeps it in a high state of repair and replaces all worn parts..plans to spend about $5000.00 annually so worn parts get replaced...you can pretty much figure yearly hours from the total.. wondered if this might be a farmer to farmer tale so asked dealer who verified the hrs..

I have a 78 model 1480 serial number 1470. I believe this makes it about the 350th 1480 combine built. I bought it third hand from a local farmer who bought it from a custom harvester who claimed it had over 13000 hrs. I bought it very cheap as a used up, worn out basket case. I did a ground up rebuild of it and found most parts replaced with update parts or new parts with a part number still on them, and these parts were worn out so I can believe the 13000+ hrs. The total rebuild including most bearings,shafts,sprockets,chains pulleys,belts,bushings,augers,rotor,concaves, rotor drive pulleys cost me $12,000 For the first 5 years after the rebuild parts cost was near $0, for the last 5 years parts cost rarely exceeds $200 per year while putting on aprox 300 hrs per year.

I believe your story, and I have seen similar cases with other combines that still retained structural integrity, but needed every working part and component from header to straw spreader replaced or rebuilt, thus not only giving the combine a new lease on life, but quite possibly making it even better than it was initially put together at the factory. I would like to hear more about your combine. I hope a story like your will inspire others to think again before just turning their machines over to the salvages. I recently heard of a New Holland TR 96 who could be saved by such careful refurbishing.

Really there is no reason a combine couldn't run for 10,000 hrs. If you are prepared to replace worn parts, do yearly maintance and close inspection of the machine. New stuff breaks down too just the dealer tends to chase it around the field. 15-20 year old IH rotor combine is the same thing that is sold now just not as much HP or as refined. Other industries keep equipment in service a long time or at least more then a couple thousand hrs when most combines are concidered worn out.

we have a 1688 with 2400 hours on it, its now used as a back up, we traded the other 2188 for a 2388 last month.

We just upgraded to a 2388 from a 1480.(serial n 1370) We have had the combine since the late 80's and had around 5,900 hours on the machine. Spent nearly 3500-3600 dollars_year with around 2,000 acre harvested_year. The last year we even pulled the motor and went through completely. New hydro's, p.t.o., rotor, cage, elevators, feeder house floors, unload augers, cross augers, seives both top and bottom (several times) new shaker arm bushings (yearly) even new 30.5 drive tires. All in all a real field warrior when compared to the same year machines (regardless of color) We ran 25'-1020 and six row corn head and unloaded on the go 70 percent of the time. I would say with normal shop maintaince there is no reason that a machine could not last for 9,000-10,000 hours. I will tell you that I am awfully excited about running the 700 hour 2388 (30'-1020) and eight row corn head though!!!!