Combines repairs per acre

Guys, I ask again, what crops do you cutIJ My (totally un-scientific) thought is that Wheat somehow, someway, puts much more of a load on the walkers. I don't for a minute doubt you and what you say, but I also know of at least 7 walkers broken in 9500's before those machines were traded off. The three that I mentioned above and 4 others with other neighbors. Again, I believe you. But I also can't ignore that there were issues here, in my area, under our conditions, cutting wheat, with 9500's and broken walkers. Just making some guesses, no accusations or color wars.

Just corn and beans here. Used to have small amt of oats for the straw.

Types of crops you ask. We grow wheat, canola, peas, barley. This past year was the real test. Picked up the last 700 acres of canola in the snow. 30' canola swathes and the absolute worst conditions imaginable, had mud, snow, and ice going though the combine. Had to stop sometimes to remove the chaffer to "de-ice" the sieves with a disel burner. But we got our crop off where lots didn't. That kind of punishment and still no walker damage. The worst year ever, (NE Sask. Canada).

"Combinejockey", nice to see you again. Where are you atIJ

Chuck: We farm in western kansas...lots of irrigated wheat, corn and milo...never replaced a walker. Not bragging on JD just saying we never had trouble with them. Now as I said before we replaced blocks, wear strips, and the actual cams, but a physical walker no. Do know that someguys had problems with continously overloading them and causing probelms with the extensions. Thats all. Walker combines just are not a high wear machine...unlike any make of rotor.

Here in the PNW mostly grass, wheat, clovers. The area has very diverse topography. The farmers that run on level ground that is farmed well and smooth, have no walker problems. The farmers that use a level land machine on fairly steep hills a high percentage of the time, do have walkers breaking. Even on level land if it is not farmed well and is quite rough, the machine will bounce badly and break walkers. The grass seed is usually planted on 18" to 21" spacings and the plant crown is quite solid. If you travel accross the rows for any length of time, it will tear the walkers to pieces. Most of the time it seems to be the big machines that have the breakage. If you put an operator in that runs the swath to one side of the feederhouse, it can effect the longevity of the walkers.

Hey Mondo, SE South Dakota here.

My mom grew up on a farm near the town of Timber lake, SD.

We are in SC Kansas. It is always so interesting to me to see how different of an experience people can have with the same machines.

You know, I never even though of rough ground doing that.