Combines trade for 1666 or 2166

[duke]

The 1666 would be a very bullerproof machine. IH did not change much from the 1460 clear to the 1666. Gave it more hp and you would see a big difference from that. The cab would be similar to yours just 10 years newer. The 2166 would have a lot of changes on the cab and electronics. The cabs are better to spend a long day in thats for sure but with all changes there are some growing pains. I would not by the fist year, I believe it would be a 95, the 21's came out. Both are good machines, for the money difference I would go with the 1666 but that is just my 2cents.

 

[Pa__harvester]

I have owned both machines. My experience was that the 1666 was an extremely reliable machine. The 1666 will give you the important updates; the cross flow fan and longer seives and a bit more hp. The 2166 will just be a nicer cab and controls. like Duke said, avoid the first year 2166, that was some of my problem with my 21. I would think that all updates would be done on most of the 2100s out there. Included things like cab air filter was moved and enlarged, horizontal unloading auger connecting shaft was welded into inner auger from factory, changed to floating shaft(you'll snap shear bolts in a hurrry when that shaft snaps!),I think maybe I heard something about some hydraulic noise in the cab on the first ones, others could probably tell you more. For the acres your doing a 1666 will do just fine. As much as anything it might depend on what you can find hour wise for what price. Good luck!

 

[dave_morgan]

1. Probably already know but, shoe sieves are much longer in 66 series, the squirrel cage fan was needed to supply enough air in comparison to larger cleaning surface...longer sieves give much more capacity, very noticeable on hillsides. 2. Also probably already know that they had trouble with the extra weight the longer cleaning shoe as they didn't change the machine sides to carry the weight...Marvin has a kit to stiffen the machine sides where the bellcrank is...We mentioned that to IH service manager in 1999 and he replyed, 'Where did you hear about the sheet metal problemIJ'...Harvester came out with a stiffener also in later models. 3. Specialty rotor is also a move up from the 60 series, especially if you tweak the spec rotor with Marvin's bars...Almost a necessity if running beans...Concaves have extention on the left side, different than 60 and 80 series, and more open area in the rotor cage...Flip a lever to swing unloading auger, better than having to hold a lever. I think the biggest change the CaseIH combine came when they went from the 60 to 66, and from 80 to 88 series, as far as practical use of a combine is concerned. From what I have seen 'here' the 16 series is a more working man's type machine that can be kept going by us fix it yourself type farmers, very important to me to keep things as simple as possible and still be able to get a good job, harvest with little loss and in a timely manner...That is why we went to a 1460 in the first place, fewer moving parts, hardly any roller chains, easy to set combine so it would harvest the crop with little damage. I found in 1999 that 1688s were much more plentiful than 66s due to the rollover program the larger BTOs used, 66 we felt was plenty of combine but we went with 88 because it was same price and had more machines to pick from...I have never regretted that decision...more room between the front tires and side of machine makes it much easier to service...We have Gorden's bars on three front rows of the spec rotor, air jet chaffer which is the most improvement I have ever seen in tweaking a combine = more than well worth the cost, no green stripe on the hillsides any more. so I prefer the 16 series over the 21 or 23 unless a guy likes fancy chrome and push buttons...The 16 series made the few faults that the 60 and 80 series had, disappear, but is still a machine without what some would say uneccessary frills. I prefer the 88 series because of the added width of the rotor and cleaning shoe, more power, more combines to pick from as most 66s find their permanent home by when they are sold the second time...Price for all practical purposes is the same for either 1688 or 1666.

 

[Deadduck]

I would agree with most of what Dave said, other than Gordon bars being almost a necessity for beans, never heard that. I thought they were for cornIJ Either combine will be fine for your acreage. The main differences in the 2166 and the 1666 is nicer cab, better HVAC system, vastly superior hydraulic system (no more reving up the engine to pick up the header),hydraulic brakes that actually work, the ability to set the concaves from the cab, and the multifunctional hydro stick, which allows the operator to have control over the header. In my opinion, the brakes are the most important change, they cut down on turning time. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dave_morgan]

As we have mentioned before, different areas, climates crop rotations can change how combines are set up to operate at max efficiency...In Huntingburg, the combine mechanics almost demand either Rochelle or Gorden bars to smooth out feeding - more even flow - longer rotor belt life...Short rotor belt life comes from something being wrong, usually in the feeding area, and may be as far back in the machine as the second concave...Smooth feeding is the single most important part of effecient harvesting that we are in total control of.