Combines designers listening IJ

If we are talking about combines, I would trade all of the above to be able to look out the window of a natural flow rotary and see what is going through the return. Better yet I would like to reach out the window, like I did on my old l2 and grab a sample to see what is in there.

Well said to many gadgets more problems. Build an l2 again with some improvements and they would sell like hotcakes. But I guess most farmers anymore want to make payments on combines.

I too have said this to the powers that be, however when explained this fact; it takes the same amount of time to build an l3-4-5 as it does a R75 or R72. The difference in engine, transmission, tires, freights and metal is less than $35,000. We find it almost impossible to sell a new R52. Anyone that can afford a new 52 can pop for the bucks to go 62. It just won't happen - a l5 for $66,000. Price it at $100,000 and it is a fossel before birth. Remember, I have to keep reminding myself this, there is more to a machine than the cost of the components. You have to pay taxes, plant cost such as electricity, engineering costs (a prototype can cost a million bucks hand built) INSURANCE, you have to pay salesmen, servicemen, accountants, auditors, tours through the the plants, security, obselecence, boo-boo's ( fork truck brakes failed and the old fork through the 30.5-32 5 star radial trick),glass breakage, retirement and other worker and sales benefits, dealer and customer defaults (bankruptcies),lawsuits because Freddy didn't adjust the radio buttons correctly, interest waivers, warranties (most warranties aren't really warranties) , operators manuals, dealer floor plan interest, EPA fines, Vandalism, screwups (big tires shipped wrong ) used sales incentives, and you also have to leave a few bucks profit for the old stockholder as well so farmers won't go on the 'net and tell everyone his company is goin to hades in a handbasket 'cause his stock price sucks dirt. There are many other costs so numerous you would get even more bored than you are now reading this long post. (Every mfg of farm machinery has almost the same cost of production ) Sooooo, when you look at a part or a finished product - it ain't all that meets the eye!

Maybe they could just add a monitor the the return like Case-IH did. Does anyone know it the IH monitor could be put on to a Gleaner combine I have not seen one after market and I have been looking

Tbran, I remember reading about a company that was "setting up shop" to build the l4, which was basically similar to an l3 except for a cummins engine. I think this plant was located in Mexico, and it showed the "masterminds" standing in front of a finished l4 with Duetz-green stripes and an Allis-Chalmers logo. Whatever became of this ventureIJ

I reckon you just about summed it up tbran. And with headers (sorry combines) being so big now theres a lot less sold to defray all those fixed costs.

An "R75"IJ Are you providing us a small glimpse into next month, tbranIJ If so, why wouldn't they follow tradition and call the new machines "Series Three"IJ

I have a piece of literature around here someplace on the l4. I had scanned it and posted the scans on the web a couple of years ago. It was pretty much the same as the l3's except for a Cummins motor and some heavier built components like a 100% heavier main clutch shaft. It had the gray wheels, blue frame_cabs, and green stripes like the Deutz era Gleaners, but had a decal on the cab that said "Allis Chalmers". They never really took off due to the fact that the customer had to "front" some cash to them to build their combine. I also had heard that they wouldn't gear up and built combines until they had a certain number of orders. I haver also heard there were only about four of them ever made. My Uncle drove out to Nebraska to look at one - he was on his 2nd M3 and was looking to trade again but didn't want a rotary. He was quite impressed with the machine - said it looked well built and was impressed by how smooth the Cummins ran compared to the Allis diesel.

It wouldn't cost much to have loss sensor pad go all the way across the rear of the shoe, like lexion does. Also, if they go to an axial rotor, they will have alot of unhappy Gleaner owners, as the grain tank gets higher and higher to get size we are used to. A very poorly balanced machine, and harder on axles on sidehills, etc. I want to see the returns also, or have some way to know what's in there.

There is one running some where in Texas. I got a call a few years back from the guy looking for some part for it. He asked if I thought the part was an the same as an l3.. I had no Idea if it was or wasn't.. I never heard from him again