Gleaner 2/3 series ??

Other than the new number, were there any "capacity" advantages to a "3" series over the latest "2" series??  I'm asking about the F/M/L series because I've not heard of a K3. Thanks

No such thing as a K3.  Farmers did not want small combines at that time - they were going bigger.  Price would have been a factor too.  A brand new F3 cost $50,000 back in the day.  Even K2s are not very common around here.  Tons of F2s, but no K2s.

Like other said already, Gleaner added more comfort features in the later version series 2(1982 Golden Harvest Edition) which continued into the series 3(1983). So it was more of a transitional period than a specific series, per say?? The L & M combines usually lead with the most updated features. The F & K combines seemed to be secondary for feature updates, so they may or may not have been offered the L/M features?

Lonn wrote: My 1981 L2 is not a Golden Harvest edition and it has the saddle tan interior. I've never seen a black interior in any 1981 Gleaner.

Well as I said the L2/M2 combines Usually lead the way in updated features. So obviously I’m wrong about the timing of the saddle tan cabs? But I dont think the whole L2/M2 series 1977-1982 came with saddle tan cabs.

Edited by AC7060IL - 25 Feb 2020 at 7:27am

AC7060IL wrote: Lonn wrote: My 1981 L2 is not a Golden Harvest edition and it has the saddle tan interior. I've never seen a black interior in any 1981 Gleaner. Well as I said the L2/M2 combines Usually lead the way in updated features. So obviously I’m wrong about the timing of the saddle tan cabs? But I dont think the whole L2/M2 series 1977-1982 came with saddle tan cabs.

I think the saddle tan came in 1980 at the same time as the longer shoe as DrAllis mentioned. I briefly had a 1979 M2 which had just about every feature my L2 had except the saddle tan and probably had the short shoe. It did have the larger grain tank vs the earlier M2 combines. I never used the M2 because that same year I bought the L2 and sold the M2 to the neighbor. That M2 was a very good machine but it was not hydro.

1980.  brought back in 81.

Edited by AC7060IL - 25 Feb 2020 at 9:45am

As Lonn eluded to, my question was more toward the "capacity" aspect of the machines, NOT the color of the cab interior ?? Does/did a brown/tan colored cab liner improve the through-put of the machine :-) ?

My understanding is that on the tan cab machines the clean grain was sped up to help in high bpa corn.

As per AC 7060's comment did the L and M not start with the electric over hydraulic? Also what was the first year of the L and M?

Ray54 wrote: As per AC 7060's comment did the L and M not start with the electric over hydraulic? Also what was the first year of the L and M? The oldest Gleaner I operated was a 75 MH. I realize the sidehills where all somewhat of a deluxe machine in that hydro-traction drive was standard.  The only control that was not electric over hydraulic was unloading auger drive. The belt tightener was a lever,by 78 changed to a over center lever. But I believe a small hydraulic cylinder with electric control was a option from the beginning. Been to many years, but remember servicing in the morning you could tell the different years by the changes in the different ways of driving the major parts. Worked for 2 different owners of Gleaner MH combines that at times put there machines in the same field.  I had a picture pre computer of a 78,  79 , 80 and 82 MH2 all in my safflower field in the fall of 82 I think.

You are correct. And thanks for sharing your great Gleaner memories. If you would like your safflower field with gleaners photo loaded here on the forum, l’d love to see it. If you do & need help, pm me for my email & I’ll load it to forum for you. Per your Gleaner question, I will try my best to explain.

The Gleaner L(48” cylinder)debuted in 1972 along with it’s new electric-over-hydraulic controls. The gleaner M(40”) debuted in 1973, replacing the G, and had mostly same features as L, except it got a smaller cylinder & cleaning etc.

The Gleaner EIII(27”) F(37”), & G(44”) models debuted in 1968. During 1969, their hydrostatic transmission debuted for Gleaner as the F-Hy & G-Hy models. Also in 1971, the new header hooks feature enabled the operator to mount/unmount platform or cornhead from the cab seat by levering the hydraulics to lift the combine’s thresher throat up & under the headers top hooks, and then down on the ground on foot, the operator could engage lower spring loaded wedge pins & connect drives. So for the hydro”, & perhaps the header-attaching feature, they were initiated in the F & G, then later offered on the L & M. Keep in mind, the L&M had more of a “notched frame” instead of pair of hooks on headers.

But for the electric-over-hydraulics, traverse flow fan, & most newer cab features(tattletale monitors, rocker switches, curved windshield cab) they mostly initiated on the L & M and later were then added to the 1977 F2. 1977 K2 only received traverse flow fan, newer tattletail monitors, cab lights’ rocker switches, & curved windshield cab.

Edited by AC7060IL - 27 Feb 2020 at 12:04am