815 Combine

Hey guys,

I was at a local dealer today and we got talking about the 815 combine they took in on trade last fall..

It was too wet where it sits to have a look at it tonight (plus was raining) so I'm gonna go sneak a look at it the next chance I get. It's my understanding (without looking and just asking questions) that it runs, is a diesel/hydro, and could go to the fields as it is, but needs some work..

I know the normal things to look at would be the rasp bars, concave, bearings, belts/chains, Anti-Freeze and Oil.. I know final drives were kinda weak on the -15 series..

Is there anything else I should be alert to looking at? I've been around/worked on combines in the past, and pretty mechanical.. Just hate to MISS something serious..

If it matters, they're asking what it should scrap for, with a 4 row narrow corn head.. They took it on trade, had no interest in it so far, and was talking about scrapping it..

Thanks in advance,

Brad

Take a look at the plate that is above the cylinder & beater. Ours had lots of hours on it & the cover plate wore through. Lots of trouble to replace it. Otherwise, a good machine. Ours had a 345 gas which used more fuel than the Diesel.

A scrap yard is the best place for it. I would take the motor out of it and scrap the rest. We had a 915 and an 815 back in the day and I can"t say I have a lot of fond memories. Parts might be getting scarce too.

We ran one for several years and still have it and a spare for parts. The only difference between the two is one has a 407 engine and one has a 414. The 407 is much easier on fuel with very little noticeable difference in power. The cylinder on one is driven by a double roller chain, while the other is belt driven. I prefer chain driven, despite higher replacement cost. It was an early version narrow feeder and narrow at rear with only 4 straw racks. Had some problems with plugging in feeder and at straw chopper in heavy straw. The newer ones were wider at rear with 5 straw racks and an improved straw chopper. It has what is referred to as a platform type grain head which is very difficult to get parts for as most have became obsolete. The pitman arm that drives the knife was notorious for wearing out and was no longer available from IH. We found that a tie rod end from a JD tractor worked just fine and would have to be welded to the old pitman arm. I remember seeing one 815 with a converted feeder to accommodate a newer 820 or 1020 grain head. We never had a problem with the final drives but I have also heard that that is a weak area. We ran a 4 row 744 corn head with ours. Not sure but I would think parts may be scarce for them also. Over all despite a few problems it was a great combine in it’s day but I would opt for a newer axial flow machine if possible. Parts availability and grain head being the main reason.

Just curious...What is the scrap price for an 815

First off there was 2 distinct series of 8/915, early were called high profile with serial number below 8000, were available with V345/392 IH truck gas V-8 engines, D407 for 815 IH non turbo diesel, DT407 for 915 turbocharged. All were Hydrostatic ground drive. IH replaced the 407 diesels with D414/DT414 in 1970. These were replaced in 1974 by the low profile 8000 above serial numbers. I cant recall exactly but the gas engines were not used by then,phased out.

The combines were fitted with the 700 series corn heads which were very heavy obsolete designs, they were too heavy & overloaded the final drives. The 8000 up had the new 800 Corn heads, much better & lighter. The finals & trans from the 815 was used on 1440, 1460 & 1480 used the 915 finals & trans. I set up & delivered these new at dealer. Biggest problem on all series was sep fan & drive belts. They were overpowered compared to other brands of the time.

We had excellent service from the 815"s and 915"s we sold. The later low profile are much preferred over the original high profiles. All 815"s were four straw walkers wide and all 915"s were five straw walkers wide. We never considered the drive trains weak and had very little trouble with them. Most we sold had the optional spike tooth cylinder and quite a large precentage were the "Rice Field Special" which had a number of heavy duty features not found on the regular 815"s and 915"s.

Harold H

They generally were a good machine, compared to other brands better, had more power, lots of belts & chains on all of them. The straw racks were prone to get bent, usually bend cranks also, in heavy corn would plug up machine from trash, engines had so much power that it would blow smoke till it was too late. We stocked a set of cranks & 10 straw racks in the fall.

Rich,

I'm assuming with the 4 row head that is on it it should scrap out for about 2k..

That price would not include the engine, which assuming it does in fact run well, would be pulled and sold outright, and the tires, which I would try to sell outright as well, seeing I'd be docked for them at the scrapyard.

I scrapped out 3 Massey's this year.. A 750, 760, and a 510 hydro.. They were all junk, the 760 was parted out to everything but the tin, engine, and trans/finals, the rest were just plain wore out rusted junk.. (plus they were all demo derby combines) The 510 is a bit smaller than a 815, and with all the things removed from it, and a grain table on it, it still brought in 1700..

I'll check out the serial number.. I'll probably go look it over Monday or Wednesday..

The reason I'm considering this machine is because I honestly CANNOT justify a rotor, or a -20 series Deere.. I had a -00 sereis Deere before, and I don't really care for them personally.. They're just not comfortable to operate, IMO. I farmed a few years ago, and I have decided to get back into farming, and found right around 40 acres to work. I have most of my equipment from before, but did not keep the combine I had. The derby and scrap guys have pretty well cleaned up all the "small" combines in our area, so when you do find one, they're sky high.. So far, I have this 815, or a Gleaner K.. both at the same money, and I'm venturing a guess that the K needs more work than the 815 (until I look at both closely) but I know the K corn head is shot (good friend of mine owns the K, he says it'll take 600-1000 to take it to the field, and I just don't see a K being worth that kinda cash)

Thanks for insight so far guys.

Brad