Combines converting hugger to 20

since no one else has weighed in,,, I remember a few years back hearing that 22" was not too bad, but 20" is really tough.

We ran a 4-20 orange head on an E and later an 8-20 head on a G. As we all know the orange heads left a lot to be desired. Since then, we have been running JD 40 series row units which easily go down to 20". Our current "stealth" head is configured as a 12-20 for our R-62. The John Deere row units hide under a nice set of GVl poly to replace the old JD tin. GVl gladly made them up in Gleaner Gray. We have been happy with the results. Green only shows through now and then where the black paint wears a bit thin.

Could you tell us a little more about your 20 in. headerIJ Are your JD units on a gleaner bar or are you using an adapterIJ We also have a 62 and would like to try 19 in. rows. We have a 38 in. planter for cotton with interplant rows on 19 in. for beans. Thought it might work for corn. Any advice appreciated. thanks.

We have a 12-20 factory built from agco. Only modification on the units are the thumbs on the gathering chains are shorter so they don't hit between rows under the snouts. Ran it for 10 years now.

Our head is a JD head. We made the head fit our R62 without actually buying the adapter. That isn't that difficult a job. More recently we converted the original 8-20 JD to 12-20. We bought an old 4-40 JD head and used the parts to extend the original 8-20 on each end with some bracing to stiffen things up. We had to splice the auger and buy new hex drive shafts, but that was about it. Off the shelf drive shafts couple the JD head to the Gleaner feeder house drive. What I don't know is how difficult it would be to go down to 19". We are on 20", but I think a little trimming could get the JD down to 19". I know 15" gets more complicated. The advantage of the JD 40 series units is the availability and pricing of wear parts. I like the hugger head, but have no complaints about the JD either.