machinery and equipment

[chevyrules]

We are looking to buy a new 36 ft swather, and would like pro and cons on all brands,MACDON MASSEY OR CASE-NEW-HOLLAND. CUTTING ABILLITY swath laying in grain, how fast u cut and of coarse, reliabillity.THX for now.

[fjlip]

Have a 97 MacDon,replaced battery twice, guards and sections once, in 1100hrs. Most trouble I have is with the reel, header toggle switches failing. Must have gone through 6. It has been a good machine. Cuts great and lays perfect swaths to 7 mph. Masseys getting traded on Deere and MacDon. Neighbor likes CIH with Honey Bee.

[cchurch]

Get a John Deere with Honey Bee. I have a New Holland HW320 with Honey Bee. The only good thing about it is the Honey Bee.

If you don't need one this year wait until next year for the new 2010 John Deere A400 with Honey Bee header. The Cab is just like the 70 series STS combines.

Also has independent rear suspension.

Looks awesome. Google it.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=John Deere A400

[Jay-mo]

Don't buy anything but a Westward M150.
Incredible machine, cuts like a dream. Cutting canola and wheat easily at 7mph. I have cut at well over 8 mph on canola with the rpm limiter set at 1800rpm. (full rpm is 2300)
At 7mph you are easily covering 30acres/hour.
The tires are massive which really gives it a smooth ride.
If your looking for 36' the Westward is actually 35' 4". Go for a single reel model rather then the double. Westward also makes a 40' with the single reel.
If your land is at all spread out the bi-directional transport feature is slick. It will do 23mph on the road and it feels safe and in control.
Also, if you dont already have an auto-steer unit you will want it no matter what brand you end up buying.

[ry0972]

Check out the Hesston with a 36' 5200 series header. We have an 01 CIH 8860HP with a 36' HB loaded. Got an 08 Hesston with both 30 and 36' 5200 AGCO headers. The tractor units are identical except for the CIH has chain drive legs and the Hesston has power wheels planetary. Guys i know that traded 8860's on the new CIH (NH) wish they had their old machines back (a few actually did buy them back). The Challenger and new massey are the same but smaller cab on Massey ($8,000. option)and 09's all have 125HP SISU engines. We are VERY happy with both our machines, We were able to cut 50 BPA canola full 36'. Never plugged the hole but had trouble pulling the cut canola away from the standing as it was VERY intertwined . No header would be any better in that condition.I had a 97 Macdon (premier) 2930 before, it was a good machine but the 960 headers were a bit light for our area. Are likely gonna get a new 36' Agco for the 8860 and use the HB on a 2388.

[TOM4CWB]

Chevyrules,

I must agree with Jay... the Premier/Westward M150 beats the rest of swathers hands down. Traded our JD with honeybee... the MD D60 header is miles ahead of the new Deere d****r header... honeybee is miles behind. MD has the reel designed as an hourglass... it is strong and cuts less fingers off... MacDon also has a great combine adapter with quick couplers if you need to straight cut; with less than an hour to convert.

[mbratrud]

We had a 98 Westward with 972 head (great swather) this year we bought a Macdon M100 with D50 header with Header tilt and hydraulic fore and aft. We were cutting lentils at 6mph when others couldnt even cut because it was to wet. There are a few bugs they had to work out with the AC but the swather is incredible. Cutting Cereals and Canola at 8MPH no problem, could have went faster but that's just going to wreck something, I don't care what kind of swather you have. I dont know if it was just luck or what but we swathed 2500 acres this year and only went through about 10 knive sections and 4 guards.... 1000 of those acres were Lentils... That is a first for me.

[fjlip]

Demoed a M100 yesterday. Can you fellows get used to that distortion in the windshield corners? Should have kept the glass flat since they still have a seam. Would be way cheaper too. The D60 header bunches on the ends where the chunk of material is, unless you could remove them. The MD reel is not as good as my UII. The best laid even swath is still around 6.5 MPH. Great cab and handling. Better road speed. The bi direction must be great for taking out traffic and sign posts, no thanks, save the $8000.

[Hopperbin]

Is that westward with 972 header sitting anywhere looking for a home?

[Hopperbin]

Just a question, I like to sorta buy the used older equiptment. Is there a reason that them newer swathers are cutting faster than the older ones even if the older ones had brand new guards and knives? What actually is better? Better divider? Better clearance? What else?

[cchurch]

The only advantage I see with the dual-direction is so you won't do a wheelie if you have to stop quick.

[Jay-mo]

Hopper, I'm not sure about other makes but the Westward M150 came with really aggressive "shark teeth" knife sections.
Likely though, the biggest reason is larger rubber, especially on the Westwards. The rear tires are massive, makes for a smooth ride.

Filip, did the M100 you demod that was bunching on the ends have the metal spring fingers on the ends of the reel?
I have the 35' and have not had issues with bunching on the ends.

[fjlip]

Jay-mo, yes it did. Do you have a 10" strip of d****r material on each end? I'd say it could be removed if the d****r opening is at max width. Did you get used to the windshield distortion? If you think the tires are big, the new series Deere has a 24.5x32 option, and rear suspension.

[Jay-mo]

Mine doesnt have any " 10" d****r material" on the ends.
I know the glass distortion you're talking about, noticed it at the start but got used to it.
I haven't seen the new Deere but a friend of mine was also raving about them. Is it true the new Deere header swath opening is no bigger then the 56" opening on the HB. Do they not test those things on canola?? lol

[Freesaw]

who cares they got big tires and there green