Am I a fool?
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=24482
Printed Date: 23 Feb 2025 at 11:10pm
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Topic: Am I a fool?
Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Subject: Am I a fool?
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:00pm
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Is it foolish of me to buy a 2500 dollar combine for only farming 35 acres of land? It is a nice older Gleaner M that I would love to have but I am having trouble pulling the trigger because of the small acreage I have available. What should I do? I have been renting the land out but I was born and raised on a farm, have always wanted to farm again and this is my chance, even though it is on a small scale. I have a full time job in town so this is just a sideshow. I already have 3 A-C tractors, a JD press drill, an IH 4 bottom plow, a 13 foot disc, a 4 section drag, an A-C mower conditioner, a Nwe Holland 273 square baler, a New Holland 850 round baler, a New holland 56 rake, 3 hay racks and a JD 800 swather. It seems like I'm in so deep now I might as well buy the combine and a couple gravity boxes and have it over with. Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post. ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Replies:
Posted By: Denis in MI
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:06pm
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Of course your not, because if you are than I would have to be, I have 13 allis's and even more in different colors and don't really farm any ground but I hope to start this spring. ------------- 1938 B, 1945 B, 1941 IB, 1949 C, 2 1938 WCs, 3 1950 WDs, 1951 WD, 2 1955 WD45, 1957 D-14 |
Posted By: GBACBFan
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:12pm
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I believe your approach to be correct. Being frugal, buying good, used equipment and easing into it is smart. If you change your mind, you can liquidate with a zero or minimum loss. ------------- "The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." - Mark Twain |
Posted By: GlenninPA
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:21pm
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If it is just a sideshow for you, you willl need the machine to get your havest in in the limited time you have.
It is romantic to play with the small All Crops, but if you have grain in the field and only a day of decent weather, you better be able to get it done.
You are not going to get rich on 35 acres, but if you utilize Section 179 instead of depreciation, you can turn a profit in years 2-7, which is what Uncle Sam wants to see. (oh yeah, Mother Nature and the market have to hold up their end of it too, but that's farming!)
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Posted By: Sandknob
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:25pm
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Nope not at all. I just bought a M2 for not much more than that. Still need to go pick it up sometime. I farm about the same amount of ground as you, but have a couple of chances in the next couple of years to grow some.
Adam
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Posted By: arkfisher
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:32pm
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I saw one on craigslist near Kansas City, MO earlier today...here's the link. Looks to be in good shape...wish I was closer, I'd own this one. Here's the link
http://stjoseph.craigslist.org/grd/2142176219.html - http://stjoseph.craigslist.org/grd/2142176219.html ------------- D15 #3057 D17 #36222 F-12 Farmall #FS42332 |
Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:44pm
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Do your own preparation, planting, cultivating or spraying, but hire the harvest. The maintenance on the combine will cost more per year than the cost of custom combining and hauling. Gerald J. |
Posted By: Clay
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 10:59pm
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We have a CII. Our repairs/maintenance bills are usually very small. Oil and oil filter Oil for the air cleaner Grease Oil for hydraulic (about a pint per season) Finger guards (sometimes get by without any needing replaced but keep a dozen on hand) Our CII is on propane and fairly easy on fuel. I keep the combine in a machine shed and it is thoroughly cleaned and blow out before it is stored. Once a month, the combine is started and allowed to run for approx 30 minutes. The separator is run for several minutes also. This helps keep the battery charged, engine exercised and separator exercised. On rare occasion, I have custom cut for neighbors when they break down and are in a real bind. |
Posted By: HagerAC
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 11:19pm
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If you can get a little custom work to make up for upkeep and maintenance it would be well worth it. We only farm about 100 acres, and we bought a nice F2 for nearly 5K a few years ago, and we also do about 50 acres of custom harvesting which helps quite a little, and makes it more comforting to own a combine. The maintenance and repair costs on these combines is very little if they have been keep good care of, we rarely have trouble with ours. I would say go ahead and buy it. ------------- 30+ A-Cs ranging from a 1928 20-35, to a 1984 8070FWA, Gleaner R52 |
Posted By: denwic
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 11:20pm
| Unless you have somebody close that would do your harvesting, I'd get it, they's no better or funner job farming than runnin a combine in corn. |
Posted By: Roddo
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2011 at 11:26pm
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I think you will enjoy it as long as your machine is in good shape. Get one that has had a bad life and you will be fixing more than combining. Dad and I bought a 75 Deere 4400 just this year and it ran like a top. It was a hoot to do it all for ourselves for a change. At the rates here for a custom job that machine will be paid for next year. Cant beat that. nd it feels great to dump the first bin of your own harvest. |
Posted By: Matt (NEIA)
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 4:51am
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around here it is about $20 dollars an acre to combine, seems expensive but if you can't do your own repairs and have to ever send you combine to the shop look out! you'll farm the next 5 years after that just to pay the repair bill but with that said i'd buy it, i farm 7 acres (with chance at more if i want) and am looking at gettting an older combine for giggles ------------- 1955 WD-45 with factory PS |
Posted By: BobHnwO
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 6:02am
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Buy it!!
------------- Why do today what you can put off til tomorrow. |
Posted By: PBSoMd
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 7:55am
| To me, the real question is "can you afford it?" If so, don't try to justify it because if you are like most of us, it never works! |
Posted By: JK(IN)
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 8:21am
| I say buy it as well. Heck I was told 15 years ago that we couldn't afford to own a combine for 200 acres. We bought a good used machine back then and still have it. We have had to make several repairs over the years, but nothing over the top. As long as your drive train is sound you can figure out the rest. The thing we always liked was being able to harvest when it was right, not when it was convenient for someone else to come in and do it for us. |
Posted By: Rogers
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 8:24am
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If you can afford it, and you want it. Buy it. It will make you happy. That is the bottom line not whether your need can justify having it. Heck, on another level think about it how may of us wouldn't have the truck we have now if we had asked do we really need it or can I make my old one last a little while longer. It really boils down to being able to afford what you want. If so then I think you should buy! That's just my thoughts. ------------- Think for yourself and be your own expert. Be willing to change your mind; however, willingness to change your mind doesn’t mean that you will. Blindly following any path is the pinnacle of insanity. |
Posted By: Oldoug
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 8:26am
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I own a A-C One-Ninety, a four bottom plow, 13 1/2 foot disc, and I'm wanting to buy my Grandpa's old A II combine someday. The only land I own is the 50 X 175 foot lot that my house sits on, so if you think your foolish then I'm really foolish...lol. I'd say go for it. ------------- Matt Folkers FOLKERS RESTORATION Restoring vintage things to last so the future can enjoy our past. |
Posted By: Fred
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 9:47am
| A very wise and successful man once told me that he never regretted what he bought but only regretted what he did not buy. |
Posted By: Eric[IL]
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 9:57am
| Amen to Fred's comment. |
Posted By: Steve M C/IL
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 10:25am
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Buy it.When dad turned the rains over we had about 20A of each corn wheat beans.I said can't own a machine for this acreage.After a couple years of waiting for hired combine to get my stuff out(not necessarily timely) I figured I could afford an old Gleaner.For $1200 a year it would soon pay off and I figured I could put that much a year in it and still be even if not ahead.Do your upgrades in the off seaon so you can get through the next harvest.Sure there's unexpected break downs but that's life.If you can't fix stuff yourself....that might change the story.
In reguards to Geralds advice;With your "real" job,you'd be ahead to hire the spraying.These days the ag suppliers have the ability to get stuff applied in a timely manner with quality equipment.Killing weeds on time can make a BIG difference in what you harvest.
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Posted By: Chris(WA)
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 10:44am
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Go for it! I would in a heartbeat! ------------- Washingtonian by choice, Wisconsin Farmboy by the grace of God! |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 10:49am
| I think most would qualify you as a 'hobby' farmer... simply because you have a primary source of income, and this ain't it... that being the case, you don't hafta justify the operational and maintenance costs for any reason... and of course, if you get to the point where you can't pull your own corn, hire it done. 35 acres USED to be quite a bit, but mechanization has made it small. You're trying to justify purchase of a machine amidst a 'hobby'... the justification is unnecessary past the fact that youv'e got money in your pocket and interest to warrant having it. I've got two WC's, two B's, a WD, and a Cub LoBoy, and the only one I really CAN justify having is the D-17... don't ask me about my machine-shop equipment, boats, guitars, or HAM radio equipment... ;-) |
Posted By: 427435
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:08am
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An old combine will need TLC-------especially if it hasn't been shedded. You should also have a shed to keep it in going forward. You will also need to learn how to adjust it. Economically, you might be better off having a neighbor custom combine for you----------but that wouldn't be as much fun!! ------------- Mark B10 Allis, 917 Allis, 7116 Simplicity, 7790 Simplicity Diesel, GTH-L Simplicity Ignorance is curable-----stupidity is not. |
Posted By: Rogers
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:18am
Fred, your passing on words of wisdom! ------------- Think for yourself and be your own expert. Be willing to change your mind; however, willingness to change your mind doesn’t mean that you will. Blindly following any path is the pinnacle of insanity. |
Fred wrote:Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:21am
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35ac X 4$corn X 100 bu = $14,000
35ac X 4$corn X 180 bu = $25200
35ac X 6$corn X 180 bu = $37800
35ac X 12bean X 45 bu = $18900
35ac X 9org.blcorn X 90 = $28350
35ac X 18$orgbean X 45 = $28350
minus all the inputs costs expenses, + degree of capabilities to attain max growth/quality and add in marketing skills.... if its suppose to be, 35 could turn into 75, 350 or 3500 . By now you would need bigger better equipment LOL
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Posted By: Gerald J.
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:35am
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Spraying is an area that doing your own pays very much and a small sprayer for 6 or 8 rows isn't expensive to build. Then you get the crop sprayed when it needs it, more often that waiting for a custom sprayer and you run over less crop, providing you are comfortable with the product being sprayed. I'll spray glyphosate, but not some others so I pick my project. Gerald J. |
Posted By: Don(MO)
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 4:21pm
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I don't have a lot of land but I got An old A just to have the fun of picking my corn. Don't spend a lot of $$$ on the old gal but she is a ball to run and I have had a crowd show up just to watch it run and I can get the corn out when I think it's ready not when someone has time to do it. So after all my babbling BUY IT!
Don ------------- 3 WD45's with power steering,G,D15 fork lift,D19, W-Speed Patrol, "A" Gleaner with a 330 corn head,"66" combine,roto-baler, and lots of Snap Coupler implements to make them work for their keep. |
Posted By: mtanut
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 5:13pm
| We bought an old A2 this year, rates here are 30-40 an acre. Last year half my crop went out the back of some one else's machine, this year we controlled it. Figured for what I paid for the combine, did a couple minor repairs, gas etc we broke even. Best part is on a small scale you can harvest at your convince. Guy I bought it from bought another machine but still used this one for his oats and I did mine and my buckwheat. I figured the old A2 covered about 70 acres this year. Do what suits you and have fun. |
Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 5:27pm
| Nothing like being in control of your own harvest. In a moment of ??? I bought an old M-M 3490 self propelled combine with a Scour Kleen. Parked it in the shed as a shed ornament. This year had a weed infested barley field (why-its a long story). First 1/4 bin of JD combine and more green weed seeds than gold. Figured on writing off field. Light went on-spent 2 days getting the MM operational and a way I went. Never missed a beat, paid for itself first season. If no major repairs and doing the minor ones yourself its a clear win. |
Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 5:58pm
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Thank you all for the responses. It looks like a resounding yes to buying the combine. That's what I wanted to hear! My wife says you guys are enablers LOL! Now I just need a way to transport it home as it is 4 hours away. She is a beauty though, always shedded it's entire life, never ran anything through it but wheat and barley, 301 diesel with newly rebuilt injector pump. ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |
Posted By: TREVMAN
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 6:02pm
| I have a gleaner E that I pulled out of a pond with the help of a friend, and brought it back to life after 22 years sitting. I have a 1946 chevy 2 ton grain truck that I brought back to life after pulling it out of a pasture where it sat since 1976. I have an old grain auger, and the tools to fix just about anything. I dont have any land, but I am looking to rent. I farmed 1200 acres with family, that fell apart 15 years ago, I got nothing out of it but some expensive education and arthiritis. Buy the M if it is in good shape, you cant lose. If You are a Fool then I am a complete Idiot, because I want to get going again, use some Gleaner and Allis equipment like I was raised on. I suspect like me, its just part of who You are. Let us know and if You buy it, [post pics, TREV. |
Posted By: realolman
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 6:03pm
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We're all here because we like a brand of farm equipment and tractors that are no longer made. I have a 54 year old tractor that I probably don't need, but it makes me happy... I have no idea why... it just does... The one guy in another thread had ten tractors to keep an acre goin or something like that. I don't think you're going to get a "rational" answer outta any of us. I think we all got a bit o' the fool in us... so what? If it makes you happy you and can afford it ....why not? ... whatever it is. |
Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 6:11pm
| 4 hours by truck or by combine. Not necessarily suggesting you try it but I successfully drove a Oliver 7300 combine (w/o the header) home 60 miles (took about 5 hours). W/o header was legal width on the road, had lights on, slow moving vehicle sign and a car driving shotgun to the rear with 4 ways going. A Transport inspector passed us (and we were on back secondary roads-go figure) and left us alone. Saved a bunch of money (at least $750 up here)-the downside, a semi-major breakdown and then you wish you trucked it. |
Posted By: jaybmiller
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 6:50pm
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Gee...but it, if you can afford it !!
heck, I bought a '61 Gleaner A last month and I only have ONE acre and 1/2 of that's the wife's veggie garden !
------------- 3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112 Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor) Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 7:15pm
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You can't justify owning anything with 35 acres. Are you farming the 35 acres to make a living or to enjoy life? Enjoy life. Get the machine if you can afford it. Don't get frazzled if you have trouble. You can always get somebody to come in and get the crop. Sounds like a good machine so you probably won't have any big issues. And no body is a bigger idiot than me if that's the guage we are using. I won't tell you what I spent on my combine, 7050, 190XT etc, etc for a 120 acre farm. I bought them all cause I could and I wanted to have fun before I die. I'm having fun (most of the time). When or if I get sick of it I'll sell them and move on. That's how you have to look at it. Enjoy your combine. They were the very best of their time. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 7:26pm
| I too would go for it as I too am a old fool that does think he can still handle the work. I love working the old machines and feeling the vibration of My machines doing My bidding on My schedule not someone else's. I have my machines and they serve me well to keep me feeling as young as the first day I drove tractor or cut my first corn, working on them is a labor of love that some day hopefully not too soon I may not be able to accomplish but can still manage reasonably well for today. |
Posted By: Ryan Renko
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 7:51pm
| The two questions I would want answered is can you afford it and how many vacations do you treat yourself to??? I dont see a issue on buying it if you can afford it and if you are anything like I am you would enjoy combining with the M more than a going out of town vacation!!! Some people enjoy airplanes, some boats, some p*ss money away gambling!!! I would much rather enjoy combining in my Gleaner enjoying the harvest nomatter what the cost. Ryan |
Posted By: HaroldOmaha
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 9:07pm
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From what I heard on this web site the Gleaner M was one of the best machines made. It was way ahead of the others of that era.
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Posted By: Steve M C/IL
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:10pm
| Yeah,well,the 220 was enough tractor for 100A but the 8070 has heat and air and a way to keep the grand kids corralled so I bought it.Engine drank oil,fuel pump was shot and while that was all getting rebuilt,I found a bearing out in the front of the trans while resealing the PD. I can't justify anything about this tractor....that's why it's got an A Bosch pump and a big Garret turbo now! Like Lonn says...enjoy life while you have it. |
Posted By: SHAMELESS
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:29pm
| well...right now, i'm down to 70 acres....have a 6 row rotary combine, a 3 row back up combine, 200 hp 7080, along with a 710, 190xt, 180, ih H, 550 bu grain truck, 4-5 big gravity flows, 8 & 6 row planters, NH baler with accumalater, i did just sell my semi, and all the other big equipment to go with it! i don't think $2500. is out of line for a combine of any color! get it! the cab will be better for your health anyway! plus it won't take ya very long to harvest! |
Posted By: SHAMELESS
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:31pm
| i'm down to just a hobby farm now, but keeping all my equip, as it's all paid for! and ill have time to play with the ole lady....oooops...i mean my loving wife! and do other things i've wanted to do thru the years! |
Posted By: AllisChalmers37
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2011 at 11:37pm
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We farm 400 +/- acres and as you know they aren't making any more of it. So I say go for it.
------------- 1937 WC, 1950 CA, 1959 D14, 1967 190XT, 2006 Ram 3500 |
Posted By: beeman
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2011 at 12:40am
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Go for it!! Either way you'll have better stories when you get old!! ------------- 1949 B 3930 Ford- Have owned other Orange ,green,red,yellow,dark green tractors and equipment. |
Posted By: BobHnwO
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2011 at 8:50am
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Everybody says"if you can afford it",WHAT"S THAT GOT TO DO WITH IT,lol!!
------------- Why do today what you can put off til tomorrow. |
Posted By: AllisFreak MN
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2011 at 9:01am
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Ryan; I've been married 11 years and haven't even taken a honeymoon yet, so I guess I don't take a lot of vacations. And yes, I can afford it. To answer the other questions; It is 4 hours away by truck. I'm not in it for the money, it's because I grew up farming, it's in my blood and I love it. We farmed a lot more land when I was young but I left the farm to go make more money at a job in town, meanwhile my brother took over the family farm. Now I came back home and bought 50 acres (35 tillable) and am trying to get back into it as a hobby. I enjoy working on equipment, especially the orange stuff. Thanks again for all the replys. ------------- '49 A-C WD, '51 A-C WD, '63 A-C D17 Series III, 1968 A-C One-Seventy, '82 A-C 6060, '75 A-C 7040, A-C #3 sickle mower, 2 A-C 701 wagons, '78 Gleaner M2 |