X9 header choice…………

[shtferbrains]

Big swath to bale in sidehills doesn't give much opportunity keep both sides of the chamber full as the swath width fills the PU. You don't have much leeway to weave.
Sometimes have to run backwards on the swath beside it to finish the bale and leave a 50 ft gap on the next round.
It can be done and you will figure it out I'm sure.
Maybe not the place for the new guy on earn as you learn.
Not much different than doing big raked swaths of hay as long as it's not bunched up.
But you need the wide pickup with stuffers like JD and maybe Vermeer?

[GDR]

One thing we've learned with a drop pan is that full fast is not the same as full slow.
You're in the bushel business not the bale business.

I believe that and have seen that...but I don't really understand why its that way, do you have any explanation as to the reasons?

[blackpowder]

My name is under Slow Learner in the encyclopedia.
But guessing it has to do with more even flow. Less surging. Of material and separator.
Watch it go in the front in different conditions.
Watching the screen while automation learning seemed to confirm when I tested one.

[blackpowder]

A case could be made suggesting that, if you can't utilize a large enough header on a Class 9/10 combine, you may be better off with 2 class 7 or 8s if terrain dependent.
I dunno.

[woodland]

A case could be made suggesting that, if you can't utilize a large enough header on a Class 9/10 combine, you may be better off with 2 class 7 or 8s if terrain dependent.
I dunno.

Blackpowder thanks for all the ideas. Definitely labour is driving this decision. Lost dad a year ago and an employee retired. Had my kids running a machine this year out of necessity since the teachers were on strike then. We have a Massey 9790 and the same in a Challenger and they’re getting worn out. Hard to find enough help to run them and when they inevitably break down the wheels fall off the operation. Trying to free up a person as there’s straw to bale and cows to deal with at harvest as well. Never had a combine with warranty so that will be a treat. Honestly not going to be breaking any production records as our hills bordered by ravines and muskeg aren’t conducive to that anyway.

Got a deal on this unit and it was only 15% more than a S780 which we were originally leaning towards. The X even has tracks which will be a huge benefit in the hills.

[LEP]

Blackpowder thanks for all the ideas. Definitely labour is driving this decision. Lost dad a year ago and an employee retired. Had my kids running a machine this year out of necessity since the teachers were on strike then. We have a Massey 9790 and the same in a Challenger and they’re getting worn out. Hard to find enough help to run them and when they inevitably break down the wheels fall off the operation. Trying to free up a person as there’s straw to bale and cows to deal with at harvest as well. Never had a combine with warranty so that will be a treat. Honestly not going to be breaking any production records as our hills bordered by ravines and muskeg aren’t conducive to that anyway.

Got a deal on this unit and it was only 15% more than a S780 which we were originally leaning towards. The X even has tracks which will be a huge benefit in the hills.

We upgraded our 3 S780s this year. They tried to convince us that 3 780s to x9s was a good move. I said 780s just run, but x9s aren't the same. When 1 goes down that is half your capacity.

Hopefully it works out for you. They should be a good machine.

[blackpowder]

We all have slightly different factors to deal with of course.
No family operators here in 26 years.
Hopefully you mitigate the downtime whichever way you go. I can testify you'll quickly get used to that. Dealer support priceless if you can get it.
Paying the white truck to be in and out in a couple hours less stress than sweating it out by yourself for a whole day or more. And you get parts warranty.
You may even find your cost per acre is less with one good one. Repairs and operator labor can be more than a payment. Good luck.
Now a cart and some semis lol.

[woodland]

Now a cart and some semis lol.

Hehehe
actually we bag everything in the field now to save time. Got a tri drive KW with 710 floaters on it and it’s my SP grain cart. Most of our fields are 10-20 miles away so it works good.

Used to do all our mechanic work in house but started sending some stuff out due to lack of time. Trying to update equipment to avoid downtime and stress as well. Had times when both machines were down at the same time for bizarre issues and that really sucked.

[mcfarms]

If you have the risk of short crops from drought or hail ,the 2 bat Versions of the HD headers are not perfect as the reel to cutter height needed to clear in the center does miss crop and not clear at times, the new triple does a better job, in "normal" crops the 2 reel are fine .
Have not ran the fd2 sons friends have one and like it, they farm in very hilly country. Deere also collects way too much trash in the center at the back in what I'll call the recessed section the back plate option helps a little but needs more bracing in the center and still builds up and visibility to cutterbar isn't ideal at times. The 6 and 735s had better visibility and were more relaxing to run. I'm more tired at the end of a day running an x9 , than I was on our class 7s. Do a ton more acres but things coming at you faster and not as nice looking past that center support.

[woodland]

If you have the risk of short crops from drought or hail ,the 2 bat Versions of the HD headers are not perfect as the reel to cutter height needed to clear in the center does miss crop and not clear at times, the new triple does a better job, in "normal" crops the 2 reel are fine .
Have not ran the fd2 sons friends have one and like it, they farm in very hilly country. Deere also collects way too much trash in the center at the back in what I'll call the recessed section the back plate option helps a little but needs more bracing in the center and still builds up and visibility to cutterbar isn't ideal at times. The 6 and 735s had better visibility and were more relaxing to run. I'm more tired at the end of a day running an x9 , than I was on our class 7s. Do a ton more acres but things coming at you faster and not as nice looking past that center support.

Thanks for that. We would definitely get the triple reel for the hills here. Didn’t think about the visibility aspect but that’s a great point. I hear you on things coming at you faster. Running the SP chopper at 7mph blowing into trucks in the hills is always a tiring day even when everything cooperates