Combines JD 55 combine

[Ol__green_guy]

Hey, my kind of machine. They're about as simple as a combine can be. Is it a round back or a square backIJ The square back is newer (mid 60's). I've used them for quite some time. They're durable, well built and use a lot of the same parts from the 95 and 105 (same JD machines only larger). It also was made in a pull type version (65) so finding parts shouldn't be that hard. A lot of the parts are still available from JD but they're usually high priced. What to look forIJ Check the conveyor chain (sometimes referred to as the raddle chain) below and behind the cylinder. They're usually a terror to fix if they break. The sieves are wooden and can warp of rot if it's been outside. The grain tank floor under the unloading auger can rust thru from moisture but it's not that hard to fix. If it's in any kind of shape, I don't think you can go wrong. He's asking about 1_300ths of the price of a new STS!

 

[Green_Envy]

In my opinion, the seller is asking about $600 too much. I bought a 1967 95 with a 303 engine for $700 but it was always sheded even for the night during harvest. looks like it was rolled out of the factory a week ago. I got all of the service and maintenance records for it and it had less than 2,000 hrs. It came with a 16ft header and a pickup header. For all of these reasons, I felt good about paying $700 for it. I bought another 95. This is a 1966 model with the 217 engine. It wasn't taken care of as good as my other one but it was still in good shape. There was a little surface rust. The engine runs but needs a tune-up. I paid $325 for it and I don't think I would have gone past $500. Combines deteriorate pretty fast if left outside for along time. They deteriorate somewhat if not run each year even if you have them inside. Open the elevator doors if they haven't been open already and see how much stuff falls out. Check underneath the augers for rust is also a good idea. See if the guy will let you get the engine running and if he lets you, run the separator and drive it around. This will tell you a lot on what condition the combine is in. If the guy won't let you start it up to run it and if he doesn't back down on his price then I wouldn't buy it. There should be other combines around that have been shedded and for less money. I went to an auction a month ago where a JD 7700 gas went for $675. It was in great shape but nobody wants to fool around with gas engines. What header does it haveIJ

 

[Ol__green_guy]

Well, did you make him an offerIJ - just curious. I sort of collect these machines. They were one of the combines of choice around here and there's lots of them in farm yards still although they're now too small for most operations. I've gotten one for free and most of them for a few hundred bucks. I bought my first one (65 Pull Type) from the JD dealer twenty something years ago for $1200.00. My latest one is a mint, one owner, always shedded 55 Square Back that I doubt has more than a few hundred hours on it. It's likely to be still running after I'm planted in the ground!

 

[hank]

I would love to find a low hr 55 to play with. My step-dad and grandpa had one and I remember riding on it when I was a kid. helped a guy get a 33 jd pull machine to go again and it's a blast to play with. we get it out every yr and harvest with it

 

[Kornkurt]

There will be a couple of 45 combines coming up on a retirement sale in central Iowa in mid Sept. They are both shedded and have not been used for years. I will post more info when I find out about it.