Cat Lexion Combines

[Hysyde]

Anybody have any experience with these?

A large custom guy has bought one around here. I saw him working it the other day. Definitely an impressive *looking* machine.

Anyway, my buddy's dad has been considering one, and I've been hearing of a lot of problems with new John Deeres around here this year.

The only opinion that I've heard is that they've been having problems with break front axels on the Ctas as they aren't supposedly built heavily enough for this size of the machine. But that's about the only thing I've heard. No one seems to have much of an opinion on them yet.

Any one have any idea?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Here is the scoop on the Lexions. They are the best combine on the market by far and the benchmark for everyone else. However, they have a poor resale because there are not very many Cat dealers.

I have not heard any issues with the front axles on any of the Lexions. Claas builds them and has sold a ton of them in lime green as well as quite a few in yellow. If you go over seas you will see Claas leads the market in combines and forage harvesters and they do so for a reason.

So if you have a good dealer near you and the price is right have your friend jump in one. But without a good dealer within 50 miles I would be hesitant to own one. I feel this way about Gleaner also, simple but solid machines yet very little dealer support in this area which is why you only see green and red machines. I do know of one Lexion that was sold up north of me. It burned up in the field from trash buildup. Seems the farmer didn't want to take the time to keep the machine clean.

As for the problems with the JD's. Most of those problems are being addressed by JD. I know when they released the 50 series they had a lot of issues and worked most of them out for the 60 series. Now they are fine tuning it.

Same with the 8010 if you are looking for that size machine. Case-IH has worked almost all of the bugs out and the owners of those machines all agree. The first year models were terrible, the second year models would gobble up corn like crazy.

 

[5030]

Bob:

Best in who's eyes or is that a personal opinion?

I have no problem with a re-badged Claas, but in my opinion IH Axial flow combines are the benchmark. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

We just added Krone about 3 months ago and everything we are seeing and hearing so far is positive. As I recall they are one of the top 2-3 brands for hay tools and harvesting in Europe. The throughput is really really good, when we signed up with them they did a demo against NH and Claas and the speed difference between them was amazing. I don't sell these products so I don't know real specifics beyond that.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Personally, I am a NH guy. However, I enjoy talking to farmers who run these machines and when the only bad thing the green guys can say about them is the poor resale then you know it is a good machine. The Case-IH guys are upset over the CNH merger and the problems with the 8010 as well as some good size dealers upsetting the locals and turning them away. Being a CNH guy I would love to say the CR and AFX is the best machines on the market but I would be lying. Not from personal experience but from the guys who have run these machines on both sides of the pond.

Even the Ford Claas machines had a good reputation for a heck of a harvester but the lack of support killed them.

If all I was doing was harvesting corn I would get either a New Holland or Case-IH. But since I am going to do straw crops I need to concentrate on John Deere to get a cheap straw walker. Right now I am looking at two 7700's. It kills me to think about having to buy parts at the JD dealer but oh well. I am loyal to my dealers but not to the color.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The Big X is a heck of a machine and right now I think it is the king of the forage harvesters but there have been rumors of Claas coming out with a larger machine. What hurts the Krone is the same thing that hurt Claas originally, lack of dealers. Another issue is the Big X is ungodly expensive compared to the other forage havesters on the market.

Krone had a Big M up here at EFD and was showing it off. It is a great machine but too expensive for most farmers. Claas sells the tripple gang cutter to mount on their forage harvesters and gives the farmers a self propelled mower without another motor to maintain. Also, Claas just released the Cougar with is a 5 gang machine and is huge (along with its price tag). I only know of one Big M in WNY and no Big X machines yet there are a lot of Claas, JD and NH's running around. When Krone gets a better dealer network or signs an agreement with Agco, then I will look foward to talking to the owners of them. Hopefully they do something soon before they lose much more market.

 

[5030]

Robert:

You know I am a NH guy too. As far as I am concerned NH makes the best hay tools bar none and I am in the hay business. I have no desire to chop forage or row crop, the cost of admission is way too high in these uncertain times. I'm not color loyal either to a point. If I can get a good buy on a piece of equipment like my Gyrorake, that's what I'll run and honestly, after using the Gyrorake, my side delivery "roper" is out to pasture.....for ever. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I know, I apoligize if I sounded like I said otherwise.

Kuhn and Claas both make some great rotary rakes. Vicon also has one that looks very well built. I have been wanting to buy a Kuhn 6002 but can not justify it yet. I just can't stand how much time I waste with the 256 and not getting the hay to dry well (still need to buy a tedder /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif).

I do try to buy all CNH equipment because I have very good relations with my local dealers. I also deal with my Valtra/Krone dealer as much as possible. But if I find a deal on something and I know I can get parts for it I will buy it if it fits my operation. I just bought a MF 880 5-16 plow (at least its red /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif). My discbine is a Gehl (again, its red /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif) but my main tractors are all blue /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thats why I like Valtra, you can get them in blue also /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Have a good one.

 

[Hysyde]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ( So if you have a good dealer near you and the price is right have your friend jump in one. But without a good dealer within 50 miles I would be hesitant to own one. I feel this way about Gleaner also, simple but solid machines yet very little dealer support in this area which is why you only see green and red machines. I do know of one Lexion that was sold up north of me. It burned up in the field from trash buildup. Seems the farmer didn't want to take the time to keep the machine clean.))</font>

There are a few Cat dealers around here but the one thing that he mentioned to me was that he was worried about parts availibility and service.

He bought a big new JD rotary last year (forget the model #) and it has given him sufficient enough trouble for him to look around. Although really he's is so loyal to John Deere (they've had nothing but for years and many of them) that we would probably only consider something like the Cat as opposed to anything from CNH.

The farm beside ours has been running Gleaners for years and when their's was involved in a road accident 2 years ago and written off, it was the only replacement they wanted. They eventually ended up finding one thousands of miles from here.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I would not be worried about parts. Cat and Claas built a huge plant here in the US to assemble the Lexions and I think some Jaguars also. Cat has a very good parts network and I don't doubt they will support this machine.

I can't remember exactly how the deal worked but Agco bought into the Cat ag division which is why Cat dealers sell Challenger tractors (rebadged Agco's). You might find you can get Lexion parts thru some Agco dealers in the future. I don't know for sure though as Agco does some strange things.

Something else that I always thought was funny. When JD released the 50 series combines they called them STS (single tine seperation). John Deere refused to call them a rotor machine. Now with the 60 series they are marketing them as Bullet Rotors. I do love the John Deere marketing boys. They know their stuff and do a great job of convincing their customers anything they want.