Combines N 7 purchase

You may have a better feel for how well you can compete with the big money boys after you have used your 82 N7 for a couple of years. Those N7's sure do have a lot of capacity when they are cutting but the trouble is you spend a lot of time keeping them in the field not to mention the money! A C2 is far more reliable than the N series even though it is a lot slower. Good luck with your new purchase, you will love the tremendous capacity of the N7 when it is cutting.

I think you will really enjoy the N7 and the capacity. It will be like any older piece of equipment. It will be as reliable as your willingness to keep it in good shape. I bought (2) White 2-150's (76 models) in 1980. Everyone told me that they would not be reliable and would cost more in repairs than they are are worth. I still have both tractors today with tons of hours on them and they have been as reliable as the JD's and Case_IH's. Some people don't have the time or make the time to inspect and PM their equipment. That comes at a cost. The cost is new equipment. To each his own.

Actually I have had the opposite experience. I have run a N-6 for 6-7 years. I have also owned a F and a l. The N-6 has by far been the best combine of the bunch (knock on wood) in reliability and maybe even cost. Those variable speeds and chain and sprocket sets on those old machines were always worn out and added up to real bucks too.

I agree, I have run the N series for about 10 years and have had excellent luck. And these were the early Ns that were supposed to be such pieces of junk. The key with any of them is to go over them before harvest and keep them in shape. Also make sure that yours has all the needed updates. On an N, if it looks like it might give you trouble, IT WIll!! So take care of it any problems before you go to the field and you'll love it! Alan

Hope you got a good one. We had a 1981 model, and it gave us plenty trouble. It did have lots of capacity, but there was not a day that went by, that we did not have to repair something. Our troubles mainley were . alternators...to many to even start mentioning .cage sweep plugging .accelerator roll chains wearing prematurally .discharge always plugging .gear box bolts always breaking in tough conditions. .feeder chains always climbing sprockets. .radiator always plugging ....tried everything .engine compartment has to be cleaned regulary, or fires start. .poor air condioning....ours never did work .rear axle spindle breaking....numerous times .electrical problems ..all the time. .etc. etc. We put 2,800 hours on our beast, and the motor still ran like a top. We liked the capacity. We still would have been running Gleaner today, but the dealer network in our area is gone. I wish that we had this web page 20 years ago. Some great help here.

I totally agree that combine evolution has been relatively flat the past 20 years. Some brands made huge strides, but they were in the Stone Age back when Gleaner was making modern stuff. Ask your dealer to see a copy of Rotary Improvement Program (1340425) and go over the list of updates for your machine. Most pre-1983 machines were updated at no cost to the owner, but there were some guys who never got around to it for one reason or another.

As for the technology flattening out, that is mainly due to the physical size that a machine can be built and transported. Also, with a larger machine (C-2 to a N7 to a IJIJ) capacity wise, either ground speed would need to increase double or paltform width would need to double. let's see, that would be 10 to 15 miles per hour harvesting speed or 50 to 60 foot platforms. Right now, I don't think so on either one.

I think it comes down to largely luck. You can have a great run with an N model or awfull. We had the latter. Not through lack of maintenance either. I spend a month working every other day doing a pre season on ours and still have heaps of trouble. like clutch shafts snapping, gearbox self destruct and lots of other stuff that just can't be predicted.

If it is an 82 and Series 3(which it should be) then you have a VERY SIMIlAR machine to the R7. 82 was the Golden Harvest Edition and had all of the updates in. A much heavy built and more reliable machine over the pre-82 N series. I too started with a C2 and went thru the F and M2 series and have found my 82 N6 Series 3 to be far more reliable than the previous machines, and the grain quality is excellent. I have had it 6 seasons and had far less repairs than the C2 or F took. The M2 was an excellent machine too, just not enough capacity for the yield grown here. Good luck with your awesome monster!

The N6 units got it right around 1983. Earlier than that had many problems. Avoid them. My 1983 shelled the air fan, but other than it being a little under powered in mud, it was a go getter. I have the R62 and find it very good. The main problem I've had with this 62 is the wobble box on the sickle. Factory said I can slow it down and maybe it will last like the one on the N6. The N6 box was still running fine at 1400 hr when I traded. Have fun with the machine.