1968 Combines Still Going Strong

2004 - Volume #28, Issue #1, Page #14

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Roger Foster, Tower Hill, Ill., has his own independent and innovative approach to farming. A good example is how he has modified three vintage Deere combines to fit his operation.
  A salesman once commented to Roger that it was about time he buy a new combine. Roger replied, "Well, if you're going to pay for it, fine, but if I'm supposed to pay for it, forget it."
  Roger has tailored three 1968 Deere machines to fit his needs, and he gets along just fine with them. Of course, having a natural mechanical talent and a good farm shop are part of the equation.
  His Deere 105 is used strictly to harvest corn. Since a return elevator isn't needed in corn, he removed half the fingers at the bottom. Another change was to add filler plates in the cylinder. And, he added a large, hydraulic-operated stalk spreader at the rear to scatter stalks. The cab has also been widened out for easier access and comfort.
  The 105 combine still has its original gas engine, but it has been overhauled. In fact, all three of the combines are powered by gas engines which, Foster says, are economical and relatively easy to work on.
  The other two combines - another 105 and a model 55 - are used to harvest soybeans. Which machine Foster uses depends a lot on the weather and ground conditions. The 55 model was repowered with a Chevrolet 350 V-8 engine, which is equipped with a Pierce governor to make the combine run at a constant speed. This machine rides on 28.1-in. rice tires and is equipped with a 13 1/2-ft. Hiniker floating cutterbar.
  The 105 model has a 20-ft. header equipped with a Deere 220 floating cutterbar. It still has its original 4020 gas engine, which was overhauled once. It's equipped with a straight shift transmission.
  Roger says ground conditions sometimes dictate which machine to use. "The 55 model doesn't weigh as much as the 105 and is better balanced," he notes.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Foster, Rt. 1, Box 108, Tower Hill, Ill. 62571 (ph 217 567-3417).

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1968 Combines Still Going Strong COMBINES Miscellaneous 28-1-14 Roger Foster, Tower Hill, Ill., has his own independent and innovative approach to farming. A good example is how he has modified three vintage Deere combines to fit his operation. A salesman once commented to Roger that it was about time he buy a new combine. Roger replied, "Well, if you're going to pay for it, fine, but if I'm supposed to pay for it, forget it." Roger has tailored three 1968 Deere machines to fit his needs, and he gets along just fine with them. Of course, having a natural mechanical talent and a good farm shop are part of the equation. His Deere 105 is used strictly to harvest corn. Since a return elevator isn't needed in corn, he removed half the fingers at the bottom. Another change was to add filler plates in the cylinder. And, he added a large, hydraulic-operated stalk spreader at the rear to scatter stalks. The cab has also been widened out for easier access and comfort. The 105 combine still has its original gas engine, but it has been overhauled. In fact, all three of the combines are powered by gas engines which, Foster says, are economical and relatively easy to work on. The other two combines - another 105 and a model 55 - are used to harvest soybeans. Which machine Foster uses depends a lot on the weather and ground conditions. The 55 model was repowered with a Chevrolet 350 V-8 engine, which is equipped with a Pierce governor to make the combine run at a constant speed. This machine rides on 28.1-in. rice tires and is equipped with a 13 1/2-ft. Hiniker floating cutterbar. The 105 model has a 20-ft. header equipped with a Deere 220 floating cutterbar. It still has its original 4020 gas engine, which was overhauled once. It's equipped with a straight shift transmission. Roger says ground conditions sometimes dictate which machine to use. "The 55 model doesn't weigh as much as the 105 and is better balanced," he notes. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger Foster, Rt. 1, Box 108, Tower Hill, Ill. 62571 (ph 217 567-3417).

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