Grapple Loaders Made From Rebuilt Combines

Grapple laoders made from rebuilt combines COMBINES Conversions 12-6-36 "We turn old combines into new loader tractors," says Harold Willett, a manufacturer in Jeanerette, Louisiana, who says he's taking advantage of the fact that many of the components on "worn out" combines still work like new. "I recently bought a 15-year-old IH 915 combine for $4,000 that had just 900 hrs. Even though many of the grain cleaning components were worn out, the engine, driveline, cab, hydraulics and many other components still had a lot of life left in them," says Willett, who has rebuilt 15 combines over the past two seasons, turning them into tractor loaders fitted with grapple forks, buckets and mowers. Farmers in southern Louisiana raise small grains, beans and suger cane. Because of the recent strong market for sugar, more farmers have started growing sugar cane which requires specialized equipment. Grapple loaders for loading cane onto trucks can cost $65,000 or more if purchased new. Willett can cut the cost to less than half with his loaders built from combines. Although he builds his combine loader tractors primarily to handle sugar cane, Willett says the design could be modified as needed to fit any farm loader chore. The 15 combines Willett has rebuilt have all been Deere (6600's) or IH (715's and 915's). He plans to convert an Allis Chalmers Gleaner this winter. "We strip them right down to the chassis and then put them back together using the good components. All grain cleaning and handling equipment is s; ,ld off to salvage yards. We use the engine, radiator, cab, lights, hydraulic drives, final drives, tires, fuel tanks and many other components. A commercially-built grapple loader mounts at the middle,pf the machine. The grapple fork can be replaced by abucket, mower or other equipment as needed." Willett replaces the existing two-wheeled steering axle with a single, "tricycle" wheel to increase maneuverability. He also adds a hydraulic pump to provide power to the big loader arm, which reaches out as far as 16 ft. from the combine and lifts up to a ton. The loader arms swing in a 205? arc. Willett sells the completed grapple loaders for $30,000. He also sells detailed blueprints so you can make the conversion yourself and he has plans to turn a combine into a high-boy sprayer in the near future. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Harold A. Willett, H. Willett & Associates, P.O. Box 392, Jeanerette, La. 70544 (ph 318 276-3884).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.