Combines Upgrading from F3 to R series

One question, what makes it impossible to run a head wider than 16'IJ The old timers used to say we couldn't run any thing wider around here but now there are more 30' heads than 15'. If your going with a 15 or 16 footer you better stay with a R 42 or R 52. you won't be able to keep a 62 or 72 full with a small head.

Going to a late N5-6 and to stay within your price range will keep it to as new as an R40-60. The 5 and 6 series will carry an 8 row head and a 20 ft table quite well and I have nasty ground and run a 20 foot but no larger due to terrain. The series 3 N's (1982 and newer)are identical to the straight R's. Older N's were problem prone! All can be hyperized and have excellent efficiency and tops grain quailty. I run an N6 S3 and think it is the greatest. The R42_52 are still in the size range but a little pricey! I have run F's and M2's before the N6 and understand the loss problem.

In 96 I went from a F3 w 315 head to a new R42 w 520 head and a 630 hugger, what a jump in size, this fall I harvested 400 acres of corn with no problem. This machine has been virtually trouble free, and a joy to run. On hillsides a gleaner should be avery good choice, I would not know this personal because the only hills we have are Hwy overpasses.A 15' head in wheat should be OK but in soybeans a 20 is best.As for rock protection there is a trap door something like your F3. I installed the easy close door kit and the hump kit to the door.If you like to install kits there is a shock kit that you can install for the feeder chains.Just yesterday there was a R 42 w 318 head sold for $38500 and 630 hugger for $11000, so there may be a dealer out there that would trade for $45000 if one could be found on a lot.

Planned on finding an R40 or R50 series machine. It would be plenty of capacity for our size operation. The reason for the small head was that our average field size ranges from 6 to 12 acres of which the fields were some distance apart. We didn't want to always take the head off every time to travel on one mile of highway for few acres. We also thought that head was plenty wide to deal with rock in our area. Would this be an accurate assumption or am I off baseIJ

Thanks for the info. You've been most helpful. Now the trick is finding that R42 within a two days drive to make a trade and getting it home. Finding one in our area within a 300 mile drive is like finding a needle in a hay stack.

Thanks for the advice. I'd heard about the reputation of the old N's and plan to steer clear of them. Everyone says the R40 to R50 were greatly simplified. Glad to know I'm on the right track with the grain loss problem.

Beware of the Deutz engine! Keep it more than just clean and blown out daily and "ABSOlUTElY NO" Fuel or Oil leaks. That is the fastest way to kill a Deutz, dirty or plugged fins or a fan that is wearing thin on the blades. Both Air Cooled and water cooled have their positives and negatives. Both run fans and belts, so the only thing different is the hoses and radiator which actually equals out to the cooling fins. Had 3 Deutz engined in my neighborhood and all had problems with overheating the "back" cylinders while doing soybeans(fuzz sticks easy and plugs the fins quickly),one actually caught on fire. One of the reasons I stay with water cooled, I have yet to see a burned N_R water cooled unless lOTS of trash_oil leakage was allowed to build up around the engine. Deutz did little to simplify the R, Agco has made the major changes since introduced in 1978 after AC got to the Series 3 N's. AC made many changes from 78-82 then Agco has made the most since. 40-70 are just Deutz engined R5-7's.

Thanks for the insight on the air-cooled Deutz engines. I wondered why I would see R's advertised with rebuilt engines. Now I know. No one in our area has much experience with air cooled diesels. That also makes me somewhat hesitant about one of these engines. In your opinion would I be better off looking for a R40 or R50 with a blown engine and installing a Cummins conversionIJ If so have you had any experience with changing an engine over and the costs involvedIJ

I can see where you wouldn't want to take the head off if your moving alot, and you will be if you have a lot of small fields. Most guys around here don't take off a 20' to move but it depends on your roads, as for rocks it might be a little easier to watch a 16 than a 20. Might have to run a little faster to keep it full is the only problem.