Combines Orange vs Black

Black is newer. I think it might have replaced orange in the mid 70s.

There is nothing wrong with an orange head. But like all older pieces of equipment from cars to combines, the trick is to find one that is in decent condition. My preference would be to find a head that has been stored inside and looks like it was cleaned after harvest. If it has more rust than other colors you might be in for more repairs than it is worth. Tom in MN

I have an orange head and 2 black heads. Compared to the late model (stripe version) of the black head the orange is junk. And my orange head is in excellent condition. Just nowhere near aggressive enough.

For your acerage an orange head should be ok IF you find one in good condition. If you find one it would be a good idea to check the sprockets and chains that run the snapping rollers. They can be a job to replace if they are worn out.

It would also be a good idea to check the slip clutches on the