Combines Who all here still runs Model 760 sIJ

Rockpicker

Guest
A local around here still runs a red cab 760 over a 100 acres. He put his land into CRP a long time ago so it doesn't get used much. We bought a brand new 760 back in the late 70s and ran it for for 3 years. Here are a few pluses. The cabs were great on them especially when used to a 510. They had great capacity. We traded two 510 gassers for the 760. It would out cut the 510s and use less fuel. It had the vary belt drive system, 24ft header, and a 354 perkins. Power was never a problem. Some negatives. Every year we always inspect our combines, service them, replace worn parts, and do other routine maintenance. But after all that we still had bearings go out. Granted, they were cheap and easy to replace but it got old after awhile. We had to start checking them every 4-5 hrs. Never had to do that on the 510s or later combines we owned. Also, the electric variable speed drive for the reel was a joke. For a top of the line combine in the 70s, Massey could have done better. In fact the whole header was sort of a joke compared to the JD 200 series at the time. Finally, the metal work seemed to be of lesser quality then competitive combines. Don't know if Massey had a bad run in the foundry or not but on our 760 the auger flighting wore paper thin and the bottom of the feederhouse was almost wore through by the time we traded it. The combine we traded for had almost the same amount of hrs but the metal was hardly worn. Overall, we had less problems with ours then some of other other farmers who had them. When I could go all day I could get some serious acres cut. I think the 760 design was great design but poorly executed. I still have a 510 diesel that I use for our oats and it works good. Sorry about the picture but its the only one I have on the computer right now. I do have some of the 760 in the field but don't have them scanned.
 

Silver_Shoes

Guest
Nope very good photo, I kinda like those old fat axx Massey's
 

hv_user

Guest
I had a silver 760 for almost 12 years and it cut more wheat for less money than any combine I have ever owned.I built my own leveling system and it leveled to 22%.I ran it with 453 IH and 6602 Deere and the Massey was cheeper to keep in the field than a Deere. The 760 was an awsome small seed combine, in alfalfa or grass seed nothing at the time could come close.It is still going around the hills in Idaho.
 

hv_user

Guest
I traded it in to Diesel and machine the Massey dealer in lewiston Id when I got my first 8780. He sold it to a guy in the area not to far out of lewiston. I have heard the guys name but can't think of it now.I always ask about it and its still going with no problems with the leveling.
 

boetboer

Guest
I don't run one personally, but the guy who's helping us out after the Claas's hydro pump ate itself runs 3 760's. Neighbour runs an 860 and a 550 and another guy closeby runs 550. The guys tamed the hills here with the Masseys 20_30 years ago, at one time there were 9 or 10 860's I know of running within a 10 mile radius. But you can't get parts anymore.
 

760diehard

Guest
I am stil running a 1978 760 red cab V8 Hydro that my Dad and I bought used together many years ago after our 510 burnt up. We already had the 63 head and needed something to fit it. It was sitting at at a local Ford dealer on consignment with the splined shafts worn away on one side, I'm sure it had a ton of hours on it then, but with no hour meter, we could not tell how many. We got a 18 ft 1859 with it using a JD header control that Dad never hooked up. We ran it up the road to the MF dealer and they fixed the shafts and I drove it home. We used to harvest about 350 acres of wheat, corn, and beans, and it cut it all each year, but did we ever have bugs to work out of it. I read Dave Peppers tips on this site and it did all of those at one time. We put that gear on the bottom of the unload auger, almost did not survive that one, just replaced the top gears in the unload a couple years ago and the throat tin wore out last year. Dad ran the bearing out of the cyc drive pulley until it fell off so hot it caught the corn on fire, and then I discovered there was a zerk on it he had never touched. The bottom of the tank next to the unload is pop rivited in and takes new tape each year. Aslo had quite a bit of trouble with the head drive shaft anf the nuts on each end, and the straw walker shaft pulley has given me fits. Dad and I had a disagreement and I ended up buying him out and moving it to my place. Dad always kept it at his place in a lean-to type enclosure and he was not the best at greasing it. Once I moved it to my place, started to grease it religously after each day of running, it has been much better on repairs than before, do not know if the smaller acres (150)or the storage under roof, or extra grease has made the differecne or if Dad is watching over me (he passed away last year),but that big v8 still runs well. I have a salvage yard near me that I have been frequenting and robbing parts off a burnt 760 there. I try to replace something worn each year, but it is a never ending job. We swithed to a 1163 several years ago and I am still running the 1859 with the woodbat reel, but had a local mechanic get the header control to work and that made running it much less stressful, not waiting for those big wads of green beans to slug the cycl. I would like a newer U2 reel or advice on a new number head that will work with the 760 if anyone has an opinion. Cleaned that slug out a couple times and learned that your ground speed needs to stay up even in green beans. It is a hog in corn and will eat as fast as the head will take it in. I am not sure what I will do when it finially gives up, hard to justify many dollars for a combine on my small acres, but hard to shell out those custom $ each year.
 

Combine_Wizard

Guest
Thank you for sharing the story. It sounds like the old 760 had had a fairly rough life until you and your dad got it. I can tell you, proper lubrication is a MUST, period. Good sheeding also helps greatly. leaky roofs don't really count. I think a lot of the Massey-Ferguson 760, but am still sorry to hear about the loss of your 510. The 510's are also becoming increasingly rare, too. Yes, your 760 is certainly a die-hard. I hope you will have her for a long time to come. I am very sorry to hear that your dad has passed away. It's hard to lose a parent and farming partner, even if the combine entity ws all your's by then. Good luck with farming!
 

Shaft

Guest
Onion Farmer Do you have any information or pictures on the levelling system that you built. We run an 860 and would appreciate any assistance in that area. Email if you wish to cam.kath@bigpond.net.au All advice gratefully received, thanks.
 

strawboss760

Guest
My dad and I run an 860 and a 760 with 24' heads, 354 cid perkins, and hydro's in Western KS (mostly wheat and some milo). My dad actually ran the 760 when it was new for the guy who bought it in 1974 and later purchased it from him. He said they cut 100 acres of 64 bu. per acre wheat in a day once. (6400 bushels of wheat through 1 machine, much less 2, in 1974-1975 was unheard of in western KS). They had a grain cart and 3 chevy c-60 trucks to keep the grain away. They also cut a 154 acre field in a day one time. (a short 1_4 section) made around 40 bushels_acre. Field was square and flat with no terraces. Pretty good numbers in those days. As recently as last year, we cut a 75 acre patch of 40 bushel wheat in 3 hours using both machines, a grain cart, and a 650 bu. tandem truck. We ran the machines over approximately 1000 acres last year and the biggest breakdown we had was a broken chain on the auger in the grain bin on the 860. Although these machines are getting older and parts are harder to find, they are still a very respectable machine in 40-60 bushel wheat.
 
 
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