Combines In need of advice

Why do you want to own a combineIJ We have a few more acres than you, but our combine is a disproportionate consumer of repair and ownership dollars. It just seems to me a good (under 1000 hours),class 5 combine needs over 1500, and preferably 2000 acres to make the $$ work. My guess is your ownership and repair costs will exceed custom harvest costs. But, then there is the fun factor. look for an F3. No idea of $$.

I think the proper combine for you would be a K or K2, They are easy to repair easy to understand and very reliable, plus lots of used parts sitting around. Get a black corn head and twelve foot cutting table. Put in the wide spaced cylinder bars and I think you would have a great machine for your acres.

The best combine for you is the one owned by your friend across the road who has the capacity to cut the acres. Keep the money in the bank. Exchange labor or that green stuff for the cutting and you and your friend will both be ahead.

Have to agree, an F_F2_F3 is as large as you will need, should be able to find a complete combine with heads to fit your needs for about $5000 or less. You will be able to double to triple your acres with this machine as well and it won't be overworked, and very timely work done. Parts are very available for these machines and mine needed only good maintenance in the years I had it until I went to an M2. Very simple and easy to maintain machines. New and used parts for the K series are harder to find than the F. The K is a 2 to 3 row machine and the F is a solid 4 to marginal 6 row machine. The K will also have more problems with the higher yielding hybrids of today. I had an M2 w_6-30 and 200+ bu corn and out grew it to the N series.

YOU HAVE HAD SOME GREAT INPUTS, BUT HERE IS MINE. IF WE WERE IN IT FOR THE MONEY WE WOUlD All GET OUT OF FARMING, SO IT IS FOR THE SATIFACTION OF DOING IT YOUSElF. THIS IS NOT AlWAYS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY, BUT THE FARMERS WAY.. THE F MODElS WERE ONE OF THE BEST MADE. THEY WERE SOIlD AND RElIABlE 4 ROW MACHINES.. THERE IS JUST THAT SOMETHING ABOUT SETTING ON YOUR OWN MACHINE AND HARVESTING YOUR CROP.. HEY THIS IS MY TWO CENTS WORTH ..... JUST DO IT...

Gleaner F is the best for your situation. Good machines if taken care of and properly maintained. We run many different crops with them and they are awesome machines, you can do the job that anyone can, and they harvest at a decent pace so you can watch what is going in and coming out. Price range varies on what area you are in. I would estimate with all the heads should be less then 5,000 and more than 3,000 (good shape w_heads)