Combines updates on sts machines

We've hardfaced several sets. They were done too recently to absolutely compare wear, but it appears that we'll see about 3 times the life of original.

If you want to run STS combines past 800 hours, you need to be aware that it's up to you to make them last. We had fountain auger tubes wear through at 750 hours. We had a machine shop roll 14 guage steel to fit inside and lined the others before they went. The piece costa about $300. You also need to hardface all augers, intake impelllers, threshing elements, and seperator tines to run past these hours. We ran ours to about 1400 sep. hours- had unbelievable wear. They will certainly do more in an hour than a 9610, but your per hour cost of maintenance on the STS will be higher than the 96's, even if you factor in the extra acres they will cut.

I would take exception to your thought that it is up to the owner to make the combine last. Why would I pay the John Deere premium for thatIJ When the STS is priced $50G below the competition, then maybe. But until that happens I will keep using something that lasts a little longer.