Combines The best conventionals

If AGCO won't spend the money to refit the R-52 with a SISU engine do you really think they will spend money on refitting the old conventionalsIJIJ but to answer the original Question the l-2 we had was by far the BEST conventional we ever ran.with the modified concave and a set of reworked cyl. bars that machine would eat anything!!

I'm in west central MI, an hour straight north of Grand Rapids.

I still run an f3, wouldnt hesitate to buy a new one if they were available, Problem is they could not manufacture them where a small scale farmer could afford it.

Maybe AGCO should have a look at getting a batch of these older convential models built in China through their tie-up with one of the big chinese companies. The blue prints and and the guys who built these machines are still around and their expertise would be invaluable to give the small conventials another try and maybe satisfy what appears to be quite a large market for new small machines. China build may be able to keep the price down to an affordable level.

They tell us there is no market for a small combine anymore but, the old ones that are still in good shape sell like hot cakes. Around here I think there are quite a few guys who would jump at the chance to own a new machine if they could afford one and it wasn't way to big for there operation.

I would prefer to see the machine built in the good old USA.

I realize it isn't a Gleaner but, for what it's worth, this is the latest entry in the Conventional Combine market. Built is Russia, sold and supported by a reputable Canadian company, this combine features a Cummins engine, 47" wide X 32" 10 bar 130 degree wrap cylinder, an awesome warranty and reasonable price tag! I saw one up close, and the cab, controls and workmanship meet or exceed anything available on the North American market.

From the 1920's to the 1960's Australia had a thriving and very innovative combine manufacturing industry. The americans moved in, bought the industry out and promptly shut it down. We have not forgotten this act nor are we likely to! If you want others to buy your products and to trade with you then you have to accept give and take. All of us are proud citizens of our own countries and it is easy to become very chauvanistic. Sometimes it is better to just hold your peace.

Thank you everyone for your comments.I thought my original post would give us some good food for thought. The l 3 seems to be the one most think is the best conventional Gleaner put out.And I think Gleaner lead the field in that market. (That's why IH bailed and went to somthing different 'cause they couldn't compete with their 15 series conventionals.) I agree that there is a demand for a machine for the under 1000 acre guys and there is still a lot of us that won't quit. And some of us still want to bail the straw. But ,Mostly Green,I will never buy an Eastern European machine again. The price is 1_2 of western built and from my painfull experience so is the machine. R.O.M. corporations are no longer American,German, or whatever. They are only loyal to the shareholders who in a lot of cases are international investment firms.The bottom line is what counts. I don't like that but that's the way it is. And they not only don't care, they are totally ignorant of things like after 6 years of drought, on average,there is an Aussie farmer suicide every four days. And boys it can happen to any of us anywhere at anytime. And lets be honest. We are all brothers in agriculture but we are All competitors.Wether we farm in Oaklahoma,Michigan or China.(China is now the largest Tobacco,Wheat and fruit producer in the world)Tobacco by the way,funded the American revolution. Government (society) support is critical to the survival of western (developed nation) farmers facing competition from slave labour, corporate controlled countries. I don't like that but that's the way it is. I have been a member of United Steel Workers of America and worker Unions have got to go international and get the same standards for all workers no matter where they are. And Jake, if after that, "Made in America" means the best product for the best price we will buy it.

A very fair and reasonable comment, Harmony Road. Thank you.