Combines F G comparison

[John]

The G had a GM 350 V8 for power and it liked gas and was a little larger than the C2 and the ones in my area were prone to alot of bearing problems from doing soybeans and I was not too impressed when I went to trade off my C2 with there record so I went with the F. The F is just smaller than the C2 in capacity and powered by the 292 GM l6 gas or mine had the AC2800 diesel engine, I did miss the extra capacity internally of the C2 that the G would of had, but I never had a problem with the F. The G was soon replaced by the M and they had a much better record for staying out of the shop and even a little more capacity. I traded my F for an M2 and was happier again to get the capacity back. To end this all the errors in the G were fixed in the M with added capacity and an F is an undersized C2 and the G was an oversized one.

 

[Dairyman]

We owned a diesel_gear FKS for many years. My dad traded a C2 for it and said the F had a lot more capacity -- probably due to the newer style cornhead. His C2 started out with a D-19 diesel engine, when that blew up they put in a GM 350. He said it was VERY thirsty and everyone in the neighborhood knew when you were combining! With the outlook for (even)higher fuel prices this year, I would hesitate before buying a gas. Diesels of that age are not much more expensive and over a number of years will be the better investment. A G was 44" wide at the cylinder. C2 was 40" and F was 38" G production quit when the l and M came out, about 1973. F's were made many years after the G's, and were then continued as F2 and F3. New parts might be easier to source for an F. Also, you might stand a better chance of finding a corn or sickle header ready to fit the F. Most heads were convertable, but the newer ones were probably sold with_for F_F2_F3 combines. If you are set on a gas burner, find a gear drive gas M or M2. It will have more capacity than the G, more convenience features and just more modern and reliable. An early M_M2 gas can sell for less than $2500 on a sale. M_M2's work well with 13' headers and 4 row corn heads. Our FKS diesel is sitting on the dealers lot in Ft.Atkinson, Iowa right now. We traded for a M2 three years ago and he's been renting the F out the last couple of years. It is a 1976 model, diesel, gear drive, big tires (23.1x26),long unloading tube, has air conditioning.

 

[Farmer_Ed]

Personally I would go with an F series combine. They are easy to set, do as good as any machine on the market, and have a good capacity. The G I think has an extra walker, is wider throughout the machine, has the 350 engine, and not many were popular. I think when Gleaner went with those machines, the span across the machine from one bearing to the other placed to much stress and they had a lot of problems. The F is a very good machine for getting parts and fixing most thing easily. I would try to look for a late model F or an F2 though if given a choice because the cab and options are very nice. There are probably 30 - 40 mods we made to our Gleaner F's and F2 and they keep us happy. That's my $.02