Combines New F2 Owner

Hi jj, You have bought the best combine made in its time. Take care of it and it will give you great service. If it is a hydrostat, change the filter and oil. Grease the nipple inside the unloading auger. Get a operator's book. It has some grease nipples that are easy to miss. I don't know your header. I still have the rigid header. The weak place in this machine is the rear axle. They break at the swivel and on each side near the wheels. Check for cracks and repair. lot easier now than during harvest in the field. I did that last fall. I recommend to those with this combine to reinforce with 1_2 X 2" straps at each end. You have to blow a hole out for the grease nipple. Not hard if you or a friend is a good welder.(over head and vertical) Get back to this board when you need help. There are some experts here and they like to help. I mostly read and learn.

I think you will be extremely happy with your new purchase. We made the same switch from the JD 55 (which was one of the best machines in its day) to the F and F2 (which I know was one of the best machines in its day as well) today we have a different machine, but we still keep the F's and F2 for backup. They are tough, dependable, and simple machines! I'm going to go off on a tangent though, I like the gas engine (I know them well) but I've heard many good things about the diesel, and also the standard shift is my favorite although the majority will go with hydro. Basically check the main things out first, belts, chains, adjustments, etc. Get a book and go through the check list and that should keep you busy for a while! The biggest thing on these machines I would say is bearings. Just keep an eye on them. The monitors and wiring were somewhat challenging to keep mice out of and everything working properly. Make sure the chopper blades have squared edges and not round, otherwise reverse them or replace them, believe me it will save you in the long run!!! Other then that I hope you have good luck with it. Sounds like you took good care of your 55' to get t this far and I think you'll be ok with this new combine. let me know if anything else arises or needs to be taken care of and I'll try to help!

If all guards and sections are bad, wholesale replace All guards and sections with std. AC_Gleaner hardware. Get rid of those countersunk rivets_bolts. I would use the Std. guards in lieu of the HD ones on your machine. If you have wheat-don't opt for narrow spaced sections as in down wheat they can be a problem when they get a little wear on them. The SCH is the best but a little pricy for your application unless $ is no object. Is your machine a Std w_clutch or hyroIJ If it is a std drive rev it up and move variable speed to fast. listen and watch for vibration which indicates brg problem or belt out of adjustment and running on pegs_studs. When I look at a F2 I look for std engine stuff - pull the blow by tube and look for antifreeze or excessive blowby, look at the sheet metal under the eng. look at walkers and blocks - watch the walker crank brgs and see if they wobble which indicated a chokeup and bent shaft (always due to worn chopper blades) raddle chain condition and front roller idlers, condition of cyl bars _ spikes and feeder beater finger brgs and guides. These are good machines but need watching due to age_hours of the past.

It's a standard transmission. It's also a "Corn Plus". I'm not sure what that means because only the options for a "Corn Soybean" are described in the manual. Anyone knowIJ