Combines draper preference JD MacDon or HoneybeeIJ

I run a honeybee and it works well, I really like the fact that if I ever change models or brands it is easy to adapt or only change an adapter plate and possibly hydraulic pump depending on feeder speed. My only complaint is we have a problem keeping the self aligning canvases aligned we just keep an eye on them.

Panhandler, good man!! That Honey Bee will do a very good job feeding your Gleaner. The center deck and drum are very aggressive, plus if you have pulse crops it is a very versitile unit. Email for more info.

just stay away from the jd, never heard anything bad about honeybees, been around macdons they are fine.

I would buy the JD if you had a JD combine. Otherwise, its a toss up between Honeybee and Macdon.

I will vote for McDon. We have old 960 on its second 72, front has done over 4500 hours and given very good service. Would not touch an Agco draper. We have had two of them ( 600 and 5000 ) and they are trouble, break knife every 100 hour, dont follow ground very well, gauge wheel springs are rubbish and chains everywhere to replace every season.

Geoff: We had a 960 Macdon that ran good for 2 years then the bearings in the chain case started going. replaced all the bearings, then the canvas tightener cables broke, replaced all of them. You must always start cutting staight, can't have the crop feeding from one side only or you'll plug the opposite sides canvas,"a real pain". Bought an Agco 5000 now we can really feed the combine smoothly, feeds oats, 2 row barley and flax that the Macdon couldn't. Did have trouble with yellow mustard bunching up above the feed drum.