Combines one bolt cylinder bar designIJ

The help is not all bad. Mostly it's only one or two, you can't leave by themselves. last year we had all good guys, the best crew ever. It was a big joy working with them. This year they're still good with exemptions. As long as I am doing it, we haven't had any south africans. I met a crew this summer with all south africans and the boss told me his troubles with the guys. I think it is never good to have a bunch from the same country. Yeah, what ever happened to the American farm kids. I haven't been doing it long enough to meet many of them. But I can sure see the results of our education system, that teaches the kids about all their rights and entitlements but forgets to teach a work ethic, honesty, responsibility, persistance, ... The parents are out of the picture many times because they're too busy working. While the youngsters are getting dummer, the equipment is getting more complicate. Everybody running a small business is experiencing it.

I went on harvest in 2000. Dakota, I might have even met you in the Plains Tavern during that years fall harvest. There were 8 Americans including me, 5 Guys from England, 1 from Ireland. And 2 from Australia in the fall corn harvest. We worked together great and never fought. I loved it and wish I could do it again. I made freindships that will last forever. We did a lot of fabrication on trailers and work on combines before we left for Oklahoma. Most of us were farm boys but a few had never been near farm machinery. But if guys are having fun together they learn the abilities of the others and learn to help them out. I did anyway. And that year nobody had ran an STS Deere so we were flying blind. But we made it. I agree about the South Africans. Cheap help. Hard drinkers.

Yes, I still get to go to the Plains Tavern. You must have worked for Frederick. We got some of their STS's the following year, what an experience. We built two combine trailers in 2000 and hopefully going to built another one this spring. Where are you located and what are you doing nowIJ

Yes I worked for Fredericks. I drove the n2 STS. I hope you had good luck out of her. Well as good as can be anyway. I live in N.E. Arkansas and farm with my family. We have about 4500 acres right now. I'm about 20 miles west of Memphis, TN. If you are in the area look us up. like I said I loved the lifestyle, but the reality was that I couldn't make a living on a harvesting crew. When I got home I went to work for a neighbor and the next year I was offered a chance to farm with the family. So I took it. I would still like to go to Australia for a wheat harvest.

What was the torque originally, and what is it nowIJ Why did the torque changeIJ Did fastener size changeIJ

You can still get the two row from aftermarket no problem. Funny, Cat went from one row to two row, and JD went from two row to one row.

I might do some traveling in February. How do I look you upIJ

Yeah, I didn't even remember the CAT change until you mentioned it. Dealer personel told me, that even JD still offers the two bolt style.

I sent you an email

Dakota, In our area we have had the same problems with one bolt bars coming loose but only on 95xx's, haven't heard of any 96xx series troubles. Make sure that the offset square washer is installed properly and the torque the bolt setup from the NUT side as tightening from the bolt head side will give you and untrue reading since you are dealing with a lock nut. As for lowering the torque JD started at 96 ft. lb and had trouble with bolts breaking so the are now at 85 ft. lb.. Personally I have a set of 1 bolts in my 9600 and have had no trouble but after 1 and 1_2 of a season they are showing quite a bit of wear and I'm thinking of trying loewen bars the next go around. Gg