Combines HoneyBee Headers Any GoodIJIJIJ

Ran a brand new 30ft honeybee for this season.2001_2002. My advice is to stop looking at them now. They are over priced and over rated. Hyd knife drive is a waste of time. Canvas tracking is a constant problem to be watched. Bearings for rollers are non greasable you only realistically get one season per set (if that) if you are a contractor. Gearbox_hyd pump mounting system is weak (mine nearly fell off)Reel support arms are flimsy and have never sat square. Not well sealed around the adaptor frame and are prone to leak a lot of grain in some crops. I could go on. I am now looking at a Macdon 972 that has a lot more going for it.

We ran a McDon and Honeybee side by side, and although both worked well, I would go with the McDon. The Honeybee was heavier, and also a bit harder to transport.

To skippy, Well, here are a few questions. What was wrong with the hdy knife driveIJ Seems like it would work good. About the canvas tracking, can 't you square the rollers to line it up. I have heard several other people say the same thing as you about the canvas. They claim as long as tension is equal and the rollers are square their is no problem. Why did your gearbox about fall offIJ On the bearings, I figure all drapers had sealed bearings. Given your opinion, what does the MD have over the HBIJIJ What you've told me has given me great info, but I would like to learn more since you 've run them.

To bigsky, You said both work well, but what sets the MD apart from the HBIJ Tell me more about the transport.

The hyd knife stalls in tough_weedy conditions, unless all the sections are new or near new. Even then you can't push it. The tracking needs constant checking, my dealer had to set one of the rollers at a noticable angle to achieve this. The gearbox support is a length of pipe butt welded to a piece of flat, this is then U bolted to the main adaptor frame. On my HB this weld cracked and the whole lot nearly went under the drive tyre. Have a close look, it needs bracing to take the wt and vibration. I did three bearings this year (new front) with considerable downtime cost. MD rollers are greasable one shot every 100 hrs or so would be good. MD 972 can get very close to the ground, the fingers on the reel can go as close as you like to the cutterbar unlike JD. The knife head is simple and belt driven. Hope this helps.