A few pics of the 931 plowing.

I have been plowing this week while the cousin is trying to finish combining beans. It wants to rain or snow every other day this month. Kevin came down yesterday to finish off a narrow strip, but beans tested 18% so he had to go back to the farm. I was hoping to finish plowing this field yesterday. Oh Well. It is nasty and snowing again here today.
Loren

Looks good. I have not removed a bean from the field in over a week now. Pods have been tough all except for the latest and greatest rotary machines which everybody around me seems to have. Still a lot of beans out overall.

More pics. This new system doesn't allow me to post a series of pics.

What's your combine?

John Deere 6620. Cylinder thrashing. Around 16-17 inches of concave in a linear sense to get the bean loose from the pod. Even on a fresh set of rasp bars/concave the rotary guys could always work certain days that I could not. I know what you are thinking. Just replace the 6620 and in a lot of ways you are correct. Due to the soil productivity and needing to put some money into the household budget things are slow to be replaced around here. I know I don't need fancy for the acreage (around 300) so I would be open to an IH 1460- 1020 flex as long as it was not a money pit. I just finished up paying on some equipment I bought a few years ago so probably an upgrade for the combine should be next. Depressing to think that my 6620- 915 Flex is probably only worth 5-6 thousand being in pretty good mechanical condition so I might better keep it as a backup to whatever comes next.

Most guys trying to do beans here are frustrated and way behind. I don't grow beans. Finished corn record early, yesterday. My late CaseIH 1660 loves corn. I believe the specialty rotor was installed by a prior owner, as I don't think it was available when this machine was new. I had trouble feeding oats the first year I had it. I went to work and did everything I could to alleviate the problem, and it has worked since. Except this strange year, when my wheat went flat early, and late planted oats didn't harvest normally at all. Having been around Gleaners for 40 years, I still miss the simplicity. I'm to the point of wishing I could find a decent M3 or L3 just for small grains.

Some good used ones up here in Ontario...20k CAN for base unit.
Ben

If you can wait they can be bought for around 5,000 dollars US in pretty good condition. There were few powerhouse AC dealers back in those days here in NY and I know they got sold around here. Just need to wait for the right retirement auction to happen. About five years ago there was a L3 at a dealer reduction sale that went for around 2,500. Did not look pretty but could not see a whole lot wrong mechanically. I would have rolled the dice on that versus the JD 9500 sitting next to it that only brought a maximum bid of 12,000 which looked like it went through a minefield.

A couple more pics.

Hey Loren.>> Some nice pictures I wonder if I got in a hurry ? I kinda like a couple of these Pictures also.At least the doors are closed. LOL Old Scovy.

Jack, I closed the door when I got out JUST for you. HeHe.
Loren

My brother-in-law still combines with two 6620's. One for corn, other for beans. So he has spare parts on weekends if needed. He's pretty well dried up all the spare parts in salvage yards close to home. Drive wheels have been a problem, the one he's had the longest he's broke several bolt circles out of the drive wheels, tore up a couple final drives too. He's only 20 miles from Deere's biggest parts depot, so either he can pick stuff up, or get it shipped ovef-night if from distant dealers.

He's bought land, not equipment. He's got EVERY tractor his Dad had when he quit farming.

Thanks Loren, I wondered if you thought about that. LOL

Don't get me wrong. My 6620 has been a good machine and I have had to buy very little in the way of major components for it. You guys get going a few weeks ahead of us when the weather tends to be clear, dry, and warm. Around here the second half of October on in the Great Lakes tends to have greater influence meaning cool and damp. A cylinder machine is at a disadvantage under these conditions versus a rotary. There is a parts yard about 35 miles away that has a good stock on 6620 and 7720 parts. K & J Surplus Lansing,NY. The old man is stepping back there and the son is taking over. 607-379-5185. When I took over there was a need for equipment as some did not exist. Which is to say dad shared equipment but about the time I got going a couple of the neighbors retired out so no more sharing. Most of the iron here is 1985 or older other than the JD 1750 planter and JD 980 Field Cultivator plus a couple small pieces. I don't think that we are overdone on equipment. Buying land locally is problematic unless you are an investor. Ground locally can vary production such as corn running 100-170 bushels most years and beans 20-45 bushels most years. Guys are paying like we have consistent 200 bushel corn and 65 bushel bean ground. Your BIL's mindset is right in that if you are reasonably set on equipment then a younger hungry farmer should concentrate on land. That is why I would rather buy a 1460 than 2166 so the difference can be used elsewhere.