Combines Next QuestionIJ

MostlyGreen

Guest
You're in luck, Tom! For what it's worth, my local Massey dealer tells me the accelerator rolls are already in prototype stage on the Massey design; - though he "stopped short" of telling me whether they'd be available on the new Class VIII model coming up.
 

R_O_M

Guest
As I started this and will be off site for the next couple of weeks, so I had better put in my humble contribution. I have let my head go here! 1 _ Header; The draper type header obviously feeds much better than the auger type header in most conditions so; a redesign to eliminate the high wear and high fire risk [ in Oz ] belt system. Maybe a counterbalanced shaker tray system and _ or air assist to rapidly move material to the feeder house. 2 _ Cab; ergonomics are generally poor for an operator spending up to 12 to 16 hours in the cab, particularly if there is no break when unloading on the run and having to concentrate on a poor feeding crop in front. Aching shoulders and neck are my problems after a few hours due to concentration and leaning forward. Much improved ergonomics for the operator are badly needed. Is the steering wheel neccessary in a combine or is it a hold out because we are conditioned to it. Maybe a joy stick type steering system instead and a very easy to operate, electric powered ground speed control [ already suggested above. Take note AGCO. ] 3 _ All status indicators and controls to take account of possible minor mobility and sight problems experienced by [ older ] operators. 4 _ Engines to be of a multi fuel type that can handle fuels from a number of non hydro carbon sources. European engines are already well along this track, including Sisu. Essential requirement as many of these engines will still be operating in 20 years time when the alternate fuels may often be the only option. 5 _ Rethink on radiator design and placement; most radiators are just hung in front of the engine like the automotive systems. There are locations that are better and more dust free on most combines. Radiator design is the similar, unsuitable truck and automotive type and fails to take account of the extreme dirt and dust that gets through the best screening system. 20 years ago the Russians had dealt with this problem by developing a radiator for their combines that you could drive a truck through the core of. 6 _ CVT ground drive transmissions [ already suggested ] 7 _ CVT between engine and machine to maintain combine revs in a very tight band regardless of engine speed. 8 _ Vari speed to vary the sieve shaker speeds for different crops and conditions. 9 _ Standardised module design on major components for a specific series of combine so that they can be rapidly removed with only a few tools and repaired, replaced or updated with a new module. The AGCO rotor is an example taking less than an hour to remove and replace with a different configuration if required. Why stop at the rotorIJ. Cage and concave should also come out as a quick remove standardised module. Sieve box, accelerator rolls, fan system, transmissions, engine and other components also. This would also allow replacement of a component module with an updated version of the module. It would also allow updating a combine module where there are significant problems or improvements without having to purchase a new machine. It would also allow a regular update program to be followed each season, again with out a huge one off expenditure on a new machine A trade in the standardised used component modules for a specific combine series and make would also develop to update older machines. 9 _ Bar axles on the wheel drives to allow duals and rapid adjustment to vary wheel widths to suit conditions and _ or for row crop and tram lining operations. 10 _ Already available is the Auto steer systems. A big help but should also be available as a manufacturer update and retrofit for older combines. [ Module type replacement again! ] Some but not all of my ideas. There are other excellent suggestions already on here by other contributors. Cheers.
 

tbran

Guest
I like the component idea. Component that are an assembly that bolt in in and hour or two. 1. Feed house 2. Processor complete 3. Cleaning system 4. Engine assy 5. Bin and unloader assembly 6. Tranny - very low demand pobably NOW have all these on an EXCHANGE basis with factory or third party reman "Hey Mr dealer, bring out a new processor tomorrow, I just ran my MIl through mine and it made a mess. She is doing fine however... what about exchange MIlSIJIJIJIJ
 

tbran

Guest
wait 24months, rome was not built in a day, uh year, uh decade.....
 

MostlyGreen

Guest
I (jokingly) confronted my Massey dealer with your reply; - he concurred with your opinion, especially when I told him "the source". Seems he remembers you from some "Road Show" that Allis Chalmers promoted years ago. Do you have some "hollywood celeb" status in your pastIJ ;-)
 

hunter

Guest
A clean out door on the bin on the opp. side of the auger would be nice for washing out. They could also put in a replacable bar or plate on the first row or two on the concave were you put the cover plates on. Most of the wear starts on the first bar and then works up. Cleanning the radiator is always a job. Give it more room to work around or have it slide out on a hing. Maybe on engine side have removable cleaning doors. While your making things easy to clean the pan on the shoe could use larger doors or a lift up floor to get it clean. Have the condenser on the air conditioner drop out of the frame so you can wash out the heater core and condenser. I know you can do this already but if it was made so the hoses would move easyer it would get done more often.
 

Rolf

Guest
That dam Processor door to be open right to the right hand side of the processor so you can work on the the concave and not have a six jointed hip to get to the gearbox side of the concave. Rolf
 

tbran

Guest
sure do, spent many a nite with Miss Iowa, Tennessee, Wisc, ad nausium.... I was a 'tech man'. Before it gets too our of hand, I must confess I biblically did not know these gals as they were mostly betroughed (sic) to be married - most to some unlucky unsuspecting fellows who found beauty was only.... I think I posted a story of Ms Tn, a Moose lodge in Buford Pusser country, a AC multimedia presentation , a drunk front line of the MSU Tigers one of which was the hubby to be of the little lass and well, you might ask again for the rest of the story if you didn't hear it.