[AT] deere combine

[jtchall at nc.rr.com]

Thanks for the info., I'm sure to have more questions and comments as we dig 
deeper into this one. Its been a few years since it was used, and then it 
was in corn. I've got one bearing in the feeder house out that I must fix 
before we can even run it to check the rest of it out. 40 years ago we 
(grandma) had a 55. Dad swears he saw the high side tire clear the ground 
while my uncle was shelling corn. They were tending a small field that 
belonged to my aunt. Finally they told her to plant it in trees or grass as 
it was just too dangerous to tend.

John


-----Original Message----- 
From: John Hoffmann
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 9:05 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] deere combine

John,

     I don't know about comparing it to a 55 for capacity, before we
went to 7700's we ran 105's. For a little background on my unit,  I have
been accumulating a fleet of equipment and finally had enough to be able
to farm a few acres late 50's early 60's vintage except for the combine.
I looked for a 45 or 55 but couldn't find a good one. we brought home a
45 and once we got digging into it found a lot of the parts that were
needed either unavailable or very high priced. The 3300 was attractive
since the size fit the scope of my plans and a lot of the parts are
interchangeable all the way up to 7700. There are a few like the straw
walkers that are only interchangeable with the 4400. But, for the most
part you can find what you need. I had been looking for a straw chopper
to add to mine and ended up buying a parts machine that had a broken
countershaft, the guy had another caller that wanted the engine out of
it so I ended up with the balance of the machine and will have a supply
of belts and drives and other parts that will be dismantled and put on
the shelf. If you need anything contact me off list.

     As for the weight issue i have a couple anecdotes to share from
previous owner of the parts machine. This combine came from the rolling
hills of SW Wisconsin. The parts machine had fluid in the tires to help
lower the center of gravity. He was cutting barley on a side hill and
after the grain tank, granted it had an extension kit, was over half
full he started losing traction occasionally on the high side drive
wheel. He also told of a neighbor who tipped one on its side when it was
new and he was unloading it on the side of the hill and once the load
was getting lighter in the right side of the grain tank and the
discharge auger was loaded on on the left side it toppled over. FWIW...

John Hoffmann