Combines Replacing 9650 STS

I cant answer your question, but is it safe to assume you are an unhappy STS owner.. IJ Can you elaborate on your displeasure..IJ

Just saw a 2002 2388 with AFX rotor upgrade easily outperforming a 9650 STS by 10-15% in wheat and canola. The AFX was the difference stated the STS owner, who traded out of 2388's with specialty rotors only 2 years ago because he felt then that the Deere STS had 20% more capacity. Funny how the numbers add up, we should have a combine by now that is at least 300% bigger than what we were running only 5 years ago!

Ham, I was very please with the machine the first two years when the sep hrs were low but now with it getting up in hrs the machine is about wore out all over.I understand at over 2000 sep things wear out but the stuff I'am dealing with should have plenty of life left and none of these things have been addressed in the 60 series and nobody at Deere cares about the troubles if the machine is a year old or if your not buying new machines every year because when I bought these machines new Ron and the Harvest van were very supportive but now that there a few years old and I don't have at least one new machine every year they can care less about my problems when I call or walk in the harvest van door and this is why I will change colors!

The wear thing is the reason I think the JD combines are going to have to really improve or they will be replaced by other makes. I don't see how anyone can afford to replace a $300,000 dollar machine every 2000 hrs. An Axial flow with 2000 hrs is just broke in good. Currently running a 1480 with over 5000 hrs and it is a very dependable machine. Granted, we have replaced parts, however, the rotor and cage are still original and we just put in our first set of transition cone vanes. Economy is a very good reason to own these machines. P.S. we are looking to upgrade to a "new" 1688 with 3000 hrs or so. Chads