Roading a Combine
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=115876
Printed Date: 25 Aug 2025 at 10:39am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Roading a Combine
Posted By: Charlie175
Subject: Roading a Combine
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:24am
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I never have driven a Combine, we only used a 66 pull type. Being behind them on the road they seem to wobble all over the place. Are they that hard to drive at speed in a straight line? ------------- Charlie '48 B, '51 CA, '56 WD45 '61 D17, '63 D12, '65 D10 , '68 One-Ninety XTD |
Replies:
Posted By: Orange Blood
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:28am
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Yes! Because of the rear wheel steering. You really have to pay attention, and make VERY small steering inputs at high speed. The only time I have ever been nervous driving a piece of equipment, was the first time I drove the N7 over to my uncle's place. It's not bad after you are used to it, but you have to pay attention, something some folks just can't do well. It seems worse without a head on, because you can use the snoots or the real, to act a bit like a pointer. Without it, your reaction is delayed slightly more. Now days combines go faster than the old N7 so it is probably more pronounced. ------------- Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7 |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:30am
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They can be. The big tires, rear steering and no mechanical linkage to the steering axle can make it a hairy trip. Especially in a Gleaner because, at least for the older combines, they were faster than most. I road my L2 at 22mph once but not for long. I say road because at that speed on that combine I didn't feel like I was driving much. I felt like I was on an out of control rocket at that speed. 15 mph is much easier on the nerves.
------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: groundhog55
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:37am
| I drove a L2 150 miles years ago for a dealer transfer, and then drove another L2 180 miles the next day. |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:48am
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Wow! That's a long trip in a Gleaner!! I've never had much of a problem, but I know another farmer who had an L series (I forget which). He was always too scared to road at full speed, so he'd go kinda slow. Once when he was going down the road he hit a pothole and the header FELL OFF!!! The combine bounded over it and it tore the rear axle off!!!
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Posted By: jiminnd
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 9:42am
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Ialwys thought my C2 was better on the road than the M2, it, the C2, had direct link to rear wheels so maybe that helped. ------------- 1945 C, 1949 WF and WD, 1981 185, 1982 8030, unknown D14(nonrunner) |
Posted By: Unit3
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 10:01am
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The tires are flat spotted from sitting. That first drive is a wild ride for the first few miles until they round out. Years ago a farmer around here went through a bridge on a two lane black top then started up the some what steep hill. 3/4's of the way up, the hydrostat belt snapped. He kept it upright and didn't kill anyone. I have seen one in a ditch and heard of one that fell though an old wooden bridge. ALWAYS TAKE OUT ROCK INSURANCE!!! ALWAYS ------------- 2-8070FWA PS/8050PS/7080/7045PS/200/D15-II/2-WD45/WD/3-WC/UC/C |
Posted By: Charlie175
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 10:06am
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This was a large CaseIH I was behind yesterday, no head. He would go off the side when car came but then took up 3/4 of the road the remaining time. I don't blame him. I stayed behind him for 2 miles as I knew he was turning into a field ahead. Cars behind me were antsy and many pulled out and went past as fast as they could. Some came close to getting clipped as he darted about. ------------- Charlie '48 B, '51 CA, '56 WD45 '61 D17, '63 D12, '65 D10 , '68 One-Ninety XTD |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 11:10am
| I didn't mind driving them on the road, just like anything else--takes getting used to. |
Posted By: keith wd
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 11:24am
| i know that we bought a c gleaner combine and that my dad said that it was so slow that we took are truck and we pulled it home and that he was steering the combine and that with the head on head said that it jumps like a squeral on the back |
Posted By: Dmpaul89
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 11:46am
That is scary!
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CrestonM wrote:Posted By: Dmpaul89
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 11:50am
| My F is a good cruiser on roads, little light in the rear though with a 4 row corn head. It feels like your going to nose dive at every bump, not a pleasant feeling. |
Posted By: NEVER green
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 4:41pm
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I go 22 mph with my R50, with 6 row corn head on I find it very stable. ------------- 2-8050 1-7080 6080 D-19 modelE & A 7040 R50 |
Posted By: CALEBnOK
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 8:01pm
| C2 with aftermarket road box! 30plus haha. My dad says you better have the header on or it gets to bouncing! |
Posted By: Allis 8050
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 9:23pm
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Our self propelled windrower is way worse to road than the combine ------------- AC C, D-15,D-15II,ONE-SEVENTY,185,200,7010,8010,8030,8050 AGCO LT90a, AGCO RT130 and GLEANER R55 |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 9:35pm
Wow! Aftermarket road box???? Never heard of one! Is that at your place, or at the ranch? Still can't imagine 30+ on a Gleaner....Wow!
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Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 9:56pm
| If the "toe" is off much it makes it a lot worse.My F2 only goes 17mph according to speed indicator and it is good with or without heads. |
Posted By: rob(ont)
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 10:02pm
| Charlie175, as a combine operator/driver, the WORST thing when travelling on the road is to have someone following/not willing to pass. You have experienced why I say this. The person behind you now has to pass 2 vehicles, the person behind them,3, and so on, until someone gets too impatient and ..... I have actually stopped, got out of the machine, and waved them by. Call them disciples (followers). Not picking on you, brother and father bringing the head and wagons are just as bad. A lot of times all the squirrelly driving is avoiding roadside obstacles, shoulder holes or bumps like Shameless has installed, or oncoming traffic that has malfunctioning steering and will not move over. Some machines are worse than other (L2 and R50 were squirrelly, R62 nice and straight). Got run off the road into a shallow ditch once, no damage and was able to back out. AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN. Just something for everyone to think about. Rob. |
Posted By: clintr
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 10:11pm
| Passed a 6620 JD going down the highway with the R50 last year coming home from a custom job. The fella in the Deere was not impressed. |
Posted By: SHAMELESS
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2015 at 10:17pm
| like Unit3 says, drive them slow til the tires round out, then pick a speed that you are comfy with. don't worry bouts the idiots in the cars, they are on their own! years ago I drove an N6 into the heart of Omaha, I don't think the dude driving behind me in his Lexus convertible knew what a combine was, but found out while laying on his horn what that demo machine had inside of it! |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 6:49am
 That's a great idea!
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Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 6:52am
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Shameless' story reminds me....I took an All-Crop sprocket to Ag to get welded on, as I don't have cast iron welding rods at home. The following conversation took place: Girl: What's that? Me: A sprocket. Girl: What's that for? Me: A chain runs on it. Girl: What's it for? Me: A combine. Girl: What's that? I just walked off.
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Posted By: tbran
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 2:53pm
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many years ago I headed out delivering a L gleaner hydro. While driving and looking over the cab I noticed a snake skin remnant. A few minutes later something RAN UP MY PANTS LEG. I grabbed the perpetrator in a death grip. Now think a minute - I have one hand on gawd knows what in my britches - one hand on a steering wheel trying not to wreck at 20 plus MPH - and no way to slow down. Finally I bent over and grabbed the steering wheel in my teeth and searched for the hydro handle or throttle with my left hand almost choking myself in the process. Jerking back on the hydro caused the old gal to nose dive over and almost dislocating my lower jaw in the process. Never the less I did manage to get it centered, hobbled out of the cab and got lower half naked in view of everyone passing on US 54 Paris Tn. It was a mouse. Originally probably 1.5" by 4 " - it was now .25" X 8" with its tongue and eyeballs hangin out - one has amazing strength when the adrenalin downloads in a panic. It is also amazing the amount of mouse pee one of these little critters can contain - or at lease that's how I explained the dark spot in my britches... it is also amazing how traffic backs up in a normally low traveled road... ' ------------- When told "it's not the money,it's the principle", remember, it's always the money.. |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 4:31pm
I laughed through the whole story tbran  and whew!
------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: Orange Blood
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 5:05pm
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I am sorry to hear of you plight, but I did laugh so hard, the candy I was eating nearly came out my nose!!
------------- Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7 |
Posted By: SHAMELESS
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 5:14pm
| lol...better you than me! whew! glad it wasn't the snake either! I would have exited the cab! |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 6:51pm
Me too!  ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: KY poorboy
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 9:39pm
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I laughed through the whole thing too!! I can just picture all that happening, Tim. LMAO!! |
Posted By: CALEBnOK
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2015 at 9:52pm
It would be out there at the ranch if that combine is still around. They ran 4 C2's on propane in the 60's and 70's and still have 2. My dad told me it was scary to road. I'll have to ask my uncle about it to see what brand it was. I imagine it was something like a Behler overdrive (spelling?) |
Posted By: Bob D. (La)
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2015 at 4:39am
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Tbran, I can appreciate the plight you were in. PS: Uncertain why, but I did not laugh. Could be a similar incident in my earlier years also kicked in. ------------- When you find yourself in a hole,PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL!!! |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2015 at 7:07am
| tbran, holy crap man! Hahaha, that's quite an ordeal! |
Posted By: GM Guy
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2015 at 11:34pm
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Charlie, It can be an ordeal, it all depends on how out of round the tires are, and if the steering axle has been broken or is still virgin, and how well the toe in is set. That said, if you have a good one, it is quite a pleasurable experience. Out here in western KS and eastern Colorado, there is little traffic. Dad bought a 12R30 Hugger cornheader at an auction (30 feet wide!) and fearing forklift damage, we actually hauled our pet R7 Gleaner up there to pick it up and road it home. It was about 100 miles, and the R7 drove straight as an arrow, and I only met less than 10 cars, and the best thing was, they all know exactly what a combine is, and they pulled over at a field entrance to let me by. The other trip was a 1980 L2 big engine/ hydro that was rescued from a weird family estate that was planning on scrapping everything. We saved the L2, a buddy saved the 1755 Ollie, and 5200 Massey 4wd (only 25 made) The L2 sustained skid-steer damage to the tail between the time of purchase and pickup (just overnight, guy claims the skid steer "coasted" into it...) and it was suffering from silicate dropout (think silicone buildup in the coolant, plugged the t-stats) so dad pulled the t-stats and re-filled with water from a hydrant at an old farmstead, and headed for home, made it half way, and I went with him for day two and I took it home. Day 1, the flat spots were getting worked out, so it wasnt allowed to go full speed. Day 2, the combine was happy it was being saved from scrap, and decided to do me proud, the axle and linkage was perfect, the toe was perfect, and she has the 23.1x34s, so the ride was on, 24 mph on the flat, and 26.5 coming off one hill, 24 foot header. I was impressed to say the least! ------------- Gleaner: the properly engineered and built combine. If you need parts for your Gleaner, we are parting out A's through L2's, so we may be able to help. |