Pull type combine - small grain recommendations

[JoeBiscuit]

Hello,

I'm looking to harvest grains on around an acre or less.

I've got about 10 tillable acres and an acre of grain, or less, should provide more than enough grain for personal use and animals. I don't have a problem with cutting the grain and realistically could even cut an acre by hand; however, I don't want to thrash the grain by hand.

Does anyone have experience with small pull-type combines or thrashing machines? Recommendations?

Thanks for your help TBN.

Joe

 

[deereman75]

I think they stopped making pull type combines over 50 years ago, and threashers almost 100 years ago. I think your best bet would be hireing someone to do the harvesting for you, although for one acre, it might not be worth it.

 

[Egon]

For small combines or thresher type machines you may have to look at manufacturers in India or such places.

Consider a small hammer mill for the feed and forget the combine or thresher.

 

[leonz]

Hello,

I'm looking to harvest grains on around an acre or less.

I've got about 10 tillable acres and an acre of grain, or less, should provide more than enough grain for personal use and animals. I don't have a problem with cutting the grain and realistically could even cut an acre by hand; however, I don't want to thrash the grain by hand.

Does anyone have experience with small pull-type combines or thrashing machines? Recommendations?

Thanks for your help TBN.

Joe

Ferrari tractors in Calfornia has a lot of small farm tooling and can help you, you will find that an acre is not enough normally.

 

[deereman75]

You would be surprised how little grain you get off an acre, and how fast the animals would go through it.

 

[SamSpade]

This guy blogged about a year ago about a small italian pto thresher he aquired. I couldn't find it among his listed posts, but you could probably get more details from him.

The Living Green Farm Journal

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I think they stopped making pull type combines over 50 years ago

Deere (among other) built pull type combines well into the 1980's, albeit larger than what most people think of when you mention the subject. They were based on self propelled models.

Here's a 6601, based on the classic Deere 6600 self propelled model. They were built as late as 1979. 20 series Titan combines were also offered in pull types. Those were offered well into the late 80's. It would take roughly a 100hp tractor to handle hp requirements of a 6601.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Hello,

I'm looking to harvest grains on around an acre or less.

I've got about 10 tillable acres and an acre of grain, or less, should provide more than enough grain for personal use and animals. I don't have a problem with cutting the grain and realistically could even cut an acre by hand; however, I don't want to thrash the grain by hand.

Does anyone have experience with small pull-type combines or thrashing machines? Recommendations?

Thanks for your help TBN.

Joe

Your best bet to find one at a reasonable price would be to watch for something like an Allis Chalmers "All Crop", or maybe a Deere 12A.....There are many still around, some restored, some just in good original shape. I'd watch yesterdays tractor's photo classified. They pop up there from time to time. Another option is a smaller self propelled combine. If you have a place to store on when not in use, they sell ridiculously cheap. I farmed with a Deere 4400 for years, before that, a Massey Ferguson 300. They are extremely productive little combines, and can often be had in the $1000 to $2500 range still in good working order.

Here's a link to a page dealing with Allis Chalmers All Crop combines. Most common was the model 66. They would literally handle "all crops". Still thousands of them floating around....I spent a LOT of time around one of these when I was a kid.

http://faracresfarm.com/jbvb/faf/ac_66.html

 

[DJ54]

There are a few of the old pull types around, you just have to find them. Last spring, a fellow had 2 listed on Columbus, Ohio Craigslist. A 60 and a 66. Both barn kept, and in really decent condition. He wanted like $400.00 ea.

It stated in the ad, he put them on to see if someone was interested in them. If they did not sell, they were not going to scrap, he would keep them. Personally, I thought it was a steal, if a person truly needed one, and had a place to keep it in.

Here is a link to a site that offers new All Crop parts. All-Crop Harvester

 

[randy41]

i've got an allcrop 72 that needs to be restored if anyone is interested in it.

 

[JoeBiscuit]

Your best bet to find one at a reasonable price would be to watch for something like an Allis Chalmers "All Crop", or maybe a Deere 12A.....
Allis-Chalmers All Crop Harvester Page

Thanks FWJ, that's exactly what I was looking for. They've even got some parts support on that link. Nice!

The reason I'd prefer pull-type over self propelled is 1) slightly easier storage 2) LOTS more to maintain in an old self propelled.

While I'd prefer a JD just because I raised with JD, it looks like smart money is going to be on the AC All Crop series. They seem to be lots of them built and well liked which are both important when working with old machines.

I'll be looking on craigslist now that I know what to look for, thanks!

 

[JoeBiscuit]

Ferrari tractors in Calfornia has a lot of small farm tooling and can help you, you will find that an acre is not enough normally.

Thanks Leonz,

I looked at some of the newer Ferrari models. You are right, there is no way an acre can justify that, a small stationary models can cost over $20k. They have an odd niche.

 

[JoeBiscuit]

There are a few of the old pull types around, you just have to find them. Last spring, a fellow had 2 listed on Columbus, Ohio Craigslist. A 60 and a 66. Both barn kept, and in really decent condition. He wanted like $400.00 ea.

It stated in the ad, he put them on to see if someone was interested in them. If they did not sell, they were not going to scrap, he would keep them. Personally, I thought it was a steal, if a person truly needed one, and had a place to keep it in.

Here is a link to a site that offers new All Crop parts. All-Crop Harvester

DJ,

Thanks. That's exactly what we all look for on CL. Equipment that has been stored indoors at scrap metal prices! If you see the ad again, you can tell the poster you know of a guy who'd keep them greased and indoors. :laughing:

Thanks for the link too. I bookmarked it.

Joe

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Thanks FWJ, that's exactly what I was looking for. They've even got some parts support on that link. Nice!

The reason I'd prefer pull-type over self propelled is 1) slightly easier storage 2) LOTS more to maintain in an old self propelled.

While I'd prefer a JD just because I raised with JD, it looks like smart money is going to be on the AC All Crop series. They seem to be lots of them built and well liked which are both important when working with old machines.

I'll be looking on craigslist now that I know what to look for, thanks!

Every brand had a few gems during their heyday. The Allis Chalmers All Crop combines were just that...a real gem. I know a few die hard "greenies" and a few more die hard "binderoids" (ie Deere and IH) that had ONE piece of orange equipment in their barns....an All Crop 66.

 

[Egon]

‪Mini Combine: More Info‬‏ - YouTube

This is what may be required!:thumbsup:

 

[JoeBiscuit]

‪Mini Combine: More Info‬‏ - YouTube

This is what may be required!:thumbsup:

Egon,

WOW! Easily one of the best you tube clips I've seen. It's a diesel, and it fits in a wood shed! I'd better not watch that clip too many times or I'd probably trade away my ZTR and plant my whole lawn in oats.

Thanks for the clip. I'm pretty sure it's one of those units where if you have to ask how much it costs...you can't afford it. Nonetheless, it is officially my pipe dream now!

Thanks again!

 

[Egon]

Some Google research should yield lots more results.

 

[Duffster]

Deere (among other) built pull type combines well into the 1980's, albeit larger than what most people think of when you mention the subject. They were based on self propelled models.

Here's a 6601, based on the classic Deere 6600 self propelled model. They were built as late as 1979. 20 series Titan combines were also offered in pull types. Those were offered well into the late 80's. It would take roughly a 100hp tractor to handle hp requirements of a 6601.

Yup, here is the pull type equivalent to the 7720. An '87 model.

 

[JLMissouri]

I was looking for the same thing, although an acre was just my testing ground as I want to build up to about ten to twenty acres. I decided that an Allis All Crop 72 would be my best bet. The 72 and later All Crops didn't have the canvas which is the biggest pain of most older combines. They also have a lever to increase pulley speeds vs having to switch out pulleys to adjust speed. Unfortunately the 72's are worth more money than the older 66, 60 or older ones because of these improvements. Luckily for me I found one on craigslist in exellent condition for $350. It had been stored in a shed awaiting the next harvest which never came. I towed it home 70 miles, cleaned and greased it for a whole day and put it to use. Here are some videos of it in action being pulled with my 52 8N:
1952 Ford 8N Combining Wheat with a Allis Chalmers 72 All Crop Combine AC - YouTube
1952 Ford 8N Combining Wheat with a Allis Chalmers 72 All Crop Combine AC Missouri 2012 - YouTube
1952 Ford 8N Combining Wheat with a Allis Chalmers 72 All Crop Combine AC Missouri 2012 - YouTube
1952 Ford 8N Combining Wheat with a Allis Chalmers 72 All Crop Combine AC Missouri 2012 - YouTube

There are also a lot of old John Deere pull behind combines as well. At one time about everyone made a pull behind combine.

 

[Kiwi Guy]

They have made pull-type combines more recently than 50 years ago, and threshing machines more recently than 100 years ago.

In research for a biography, I found that a relative bought a used threshing machine in 1972. It was described as "a late model McCormick Deering 28" with roller bearings and it really ran quietly. It had pneumatic tires making it ideal to take on the road for threshing or hulling clover with an attachment." Though I don't know the year of manufacture, they bought it used in 1972 for $190, used it a lot and sold it twenty years later for $12,000! However, nostalgic as threshing machines are, I wouldn't be all that enthused about that whole process as it involves a LOT of work!

As far as pull-type combines, if you do a search on the internet, you can find a lot of information about them. For example the following site has reviews of a whole lot of what appear to be late-model pull-type combines, which appear to have been bought new between 1977 and 1989. I've actually never seen any of these models, but have seen older, smaller models around. There is in fact an Allis Chalmers one on ebay right now for $950.