Anyone ever replaced all the wood in an all crop combine?

[wilamayb]

What a job!! Im a bad mechanic and an even worse carpenter! So far we have two full days in disassembling and replacing all the wood in an old 66 that my dad dragged home. It will take at least one more full day to finish the job. We still have yet to reinstall the tailings elevator, sieve/ Chaffer retaining pan or the straw rack and grain tank.

I have never used so many different tools on a single project in all my life.


You guys may not agree, but in my mind, these cute little combines are a bit fllimsy. We Repaired a whole pile of stress fractures and beefed up the hull because so many bolt holes were stripped out of the back.

At least all the wood is new, and maybe good for another 60 years
 

[BushogPapa]

Those machines have been dragged through partly frozen ground, Mud and anything else you can imagine..!
They are very rugged machines...they have been used hard and held up well..
About the only thing that would do them in was to sit out in the weather, or let a Rock get into the Cylinder...
Probably the best thing with the wood, would be to find a good AC Combine that has been stored inside and use the best of both..
They can make you some $$$ in Red Clover or Timothy..Great Machines...
Take good care of that Straw Spreader...Remove it, for that 1st round, near the fence.,,
Ron..
 

[BushogPapa]

Remember, remove the Grease fitting in the Slip Clutch under the grain Bin, before you make the mistake of greasing that one...!!!

Ron..
 

[Paul from MI]

Good luck with it. I don't envy the job one bit. Lots of work to replace all that. The good part is that they are great machines when you are done. When Allis was designing the All-Crop combine, Harry Merritt, president of AC told the engineers to design every part too smalla nd light to hold up. Then we'll test it and if it fails we'll beef it up. Actually they are darn tough machines unless you run a rock thru them or leave them set out.
 

[wilamayb]

There is no spreader or chopper on this machine. It just has the plain hood.

This machine is for a semi expensive specialty crop. It has been in a barn for around 30 years so I can only imagine the breakdowns that await us.
 

[BushogPapa]

What specialty crop is it for..??

As long as all the Bearings, Belts and elevator chains are good..and the sheet-metal is sound, it should not give much trouble..

Ron.
 

[wilamayb]

Specialty crop is sericea lespedeza. Guys in Missouri and Kansas hate it but to guys here in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississipi it is poor man's alfalfa. It is tough as nails, cheap to maintain and is a heck of a lot easier to maintain than alfalfa. The nutritional content is almost as high as alfalfa but makes more tons per acre. It prevents bloat and is a natural wormer for goats.

Have I sold you on it yet? Ha ha ha
 

[Leroy]

That is something never heard of up here in Ohio. I am guessing the seed must be simular to cut to Alfalfa, Red Clover or timothy? And the wood on the bottom of the tailings elevator would be the worst. The straw rack I have done, stripper out several in scrap yard and there is always some good slats and some completely wore away. Just took the like new parts and put them together. That was close to 30 year ago tho.
 

[BushogPapa]

Sounds like something we, in Ohio may be interested in..if it weathers the Winter...

Thanks..
Ron..
 

[the real roger]

Better let that grease fitting in the clutch. You will be sorry if you tear it up because you can t get the clutch parts anymore
 

[Tom Yaz]

"I have never used so many different tools on a single project in all my life."

Hehe! Tell me about it:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N936dgy0BU
All Crop Rebuild

 

[BushogPapa]

YOU DO NOT want that one greased--EVER...Leave it DRY..it will take care of itself...
I am referring to the fitting that will put grease on the latching dogs that slip..
If they get grease on them, you can hardy start the combine without it slipping..
About the only cure is to wash it off with solvent, they toss some dry dust in it..

Ron..
 

[Erik Ks farmer]

The thing is, that cheap man's alfie likes to spread with the wind and critters, and is invasive. It's a noxious weed here, one we fight constantly and never get entirely controlled.
 

[Will Herring]

Interested to hear how the wood replacement turns out. I've got an old allcrop that has a shot canvas, rotten paddles, and the bottom is rusted out. Seems fixable though. All of the moving parts seem to still move okay, without actually putting it on the PTO of the tractor for the time being.

Also, here's a picture of the hitch ball.