Combines Maintenace life of STS

[riceman]

Nickel and dime stuff on one over 1000 sep hours. I would say they are a short life machine. We sold ours. Glad to see it leave.

 

[dakota]

We traded off four of those with about 1100 hours on. They all had holes blown through the top rotor housing. They needed new concaves, tines, threshing elements, rotor housings, fountain augers, shoe auger bearings, feeder house floor, new supports for feeder lift cylinders, maybe final drive overhauls since one broke, pieces for the clean grain elevator, etc., maybe $20,000 worth of parts per machine, just for a rough guess.

 

[mit9750]

sounds as if your pretty hard on your combines. I know the harvest trail, been there. but stuff don't last like it used to, but also keep in mind these combines ar'ent like they used to be either. my 2 cents is maintenace. if ya don't maintain it, sooner or later it won't maintain you

 

[jd_tech]

So what combine did you buyIJ Also tell me what combine doesn't need maintenaceIJ Here at my dealership it is normal to spent $2500-6000 per year. It all depends on what crop was harvested. Before you buy the combine, i would get the combine inspected.

 

[J__D__Titan]

Good thinking, Mit. I don't mean to sound hard on Dakota, but I agree our combines too often take more of a beating than they deserve. Too many farmers and even professional combiners get so wrapped up in the heat of harvest, that their very combines often suffer loss of proper maintenance. I used to work for a Deere dealer, too and saw how crummy some farmers were with their new machines, simply because they were too darned lazy to take time out for proper service and maintenance. Then they brought in their leased combines or recent "purchases" knowing full well that their warranty covered the losses. Unfortunately, we can't prove total neglect, so the dealer has to take such losses. I know some of the newer combines are not built with the former integrity enjoyed by their predecessors, but that is even more the reason we need to take as good of care of them as possible. I also strongly feel that the people who take time to carefully go over their combines and other machines are more likely to take time to be safe.

 

[vern_in_ne_ks]

How in the world can you guys afford to own and maintain these machinesIJ I regularly read on here that you need to spend any where from $10,000 to $20,000 every 1,000 hours on these combines. Ever think about trying another brandIJ

 

[magnum_man]

Come on guys. Things are not always what they seem. Some combines run in abrasive conditions that you midwest corn and bean guys never dreamed of. Why do you think JD came out with specialy treated concaves and rotor parts. They had a problem in dry abrasive conditions. The problems dakota talked about have nothing to do with maintenace. Fast wearing parts just plain wear out. I do not see how any kind of maintenance will keep them from wearing out. I would also say that most custom outfits take better care of their combines than the 200 hour a year corn bean guy. Its just that they put on more hours in a year so problems show up sooner.

 

[J__D__Titan]

Well, you are right, Magnum. I was just addressing the maintenance [or lack thereof] due to the original title of the thread. yes, I tend to get on the box somewhat over the issue of abused_neglected machinery, but I don't overlook the normal wear_tear of harsh conditions and crops, which is really nobody's fault. I started as a John Deere mechanic back in the days of the 00 Series and stayed on through the Titans and early Maximizers. I know there's been some models of Deere combines that clearly can outlast the others. The Titans were [and still are] my favorites and I really wish the Maximizers and all the newer 50-60 Series models were built with not just the same, but even better integrity than their predecessors. I really think sometimes it's not either the lack of good maintenance or the crop. The problem can be a weaker combine.

 

[SODBUSTER]

HAVE TWO 9650STS 1000 HRS. IF ANYTHING AT THIS POINT WEAR IS lESS THAN ANY OTHER COMBINE WE HAVE HAD,10 YRS. OF CASE IH AND DEERE CONVENTIONAlS BEFORE THAT.