Combines TR98 TR99

Refering to the 973 platform not feeding right. My experience is that you are running the platform auger faster than the feederhouse chain. This is the biggest problem. Secondly, I broke my platform auger last year on the "30 platform. It took me a year, but NH finally assembled an auger with the full length fingers for me. It was worth the cost. It put an end to the uneven feeding. NH was replacing the augers on 973 heads for original owners. This past summer I had a new 971-30 rigid head (rented from a friend) that was a mess too. Nh made some modifications on it. I finally put the chain on the slow sprocket to correct the situation. Full fingered augers must help judging from the piles of used ones in dealers of all makes junk piles. We have found that tipping the feadrhouse forward a hole or two helps the feeding and it won't as easily ride up on a ridge and cut off the reel fingers.By the way there is a short line mfg putting fingers in original augers.

JD are there any custom work oportunities in your areaIJ We are still looking to make up for some of our losses this summer. We have oporunities in Wisc. and Minn. but not going to go there.

Not that I'm aware of Don. Most everyone have their own machines. Back in the '80's there was a little but that has vanished with all the "used" combines on the market nowadays. A guy down the road who was running old IH's bought a '86 1660 4wd, 5 row corn head, 20ft platform, 2 brand new headers wagons with less than 1500hrs on engine for $12000.00. Seller's father died and the boy did not know enough to keep on going, he was only 21. Much more of a used market today than ever before with the new machines up at the 200 grand markIJ Back to the topic of poor feeding, I would like to try one of these "draper headers" in soybeans and wheat. I bet they feed well under any caseIJ Just wonder how much flex they haveIJ Also, how much more does one cost(if so) than a like size flex-platformIJ I asked you some times ago about them Don, I can't recall now if you had used one or notIJ Hey, on those header augers that have the fingers all the way down the auger, do they still use that "plastic tee" that attaches the finger to the eccentric rodIJ I've got to replace all mine as one wore through Sunday, we got to run for a few hrs, beans ran 18% but I can dry 'em. You just loose so many more when the stalks and pods are wet like that. Thanks Don, JD

Yes I am running a 12 30 hugger on a 72 , as for weight the head weighs 8500 to 9000 pounds. And the flex head is a 800 series. I like them well. But a neighbor tells me that new hollands have a better flex head, I dont know because I havent run one.I am sure that the double wobble box would help alot on the bigger heads. I think the Gleaner heads are the only option on the New Massies. Illinois Gleaner

JD how do you like your massey, do you have an xp or just an 8780. Colin

I don't have a Massey....yetIJ Just giving a lot of consideration in trying one next time. JD

Just read on the massey site. There is one xp that runs buy me, we help a neighbor out every yr and he likes his. He is very happy with the capasity from his, i p*** him off(kidding around a bit) with my two R72's

JD, yes my 973 has stainless steel floor and that does help. I think maybe poly on skid plates would also be good but I have never gotten around to put it on. The hose thing on the head works good as the beans would feed in even and I could cut later at nite with the same speed as daytime. I used 3" suction hose(yellow of course) and a single hole clamp to hold it on. Cost was about $115 for my 25' head. Wheather sounds like here. Only two days to combine in last two weeks. Have two days of D'crop beans and 300 acres of corn to go. I was about 2_3 done planting wheat when the rains started so I may be done if it rains a few more days. They say we will have a few nice days now. I wish this year to be over soon, but I will be just another year older. Ilnewholland

Boone, my first 973 had 1.5" sections and I used them for 3 years and I did not like them. They would push the cornstalks over in no-till beans and leave a bean stalk with it. The fastest I could cut was 4mph and in grass I could not cut at all. So we changed to 3" section and guards and I could cut clean and go over 5mph. My new 973 came with 3" sections. I think maybe if you adjust the 1.5" sections alot they do ok, but why do more work if the 3" ones are trouble free. Ilnewholland

I weighed my TR99 (2WD) with 8*30" cornhead. Front 24950lbs Back 8000lbs Total 32950lbs If you estimate the cornhead at 5500lbs it would make the Base unit 27450lbs Peter