Farmer-Built Articulated Combine

Farmer Built Articulated Combine COMBINES Miscellaneous 16-1-4 "I designed and built it from scratch," says Wayne Vogel, Fremont, Mich., about the amazing 4-WD articulated rotary combine ù it may be the first one ever builtù which he constructed in his farm shop. First featured in FARM SHOW 9 years ago (Vol. 7, No.3), it not only boasts the unique articulating design that makes the machine longer and narrower while splitting up the engine and drive components from the grain cleaning components but also features an exclusive grain cleaning system. "One of the problems with big combines is the feederhouse, so I eliminated that. The header feeds directly into the rotor which mounts perpendicular to the header, butted right up against the back of it. From the rotor, grain is fed to sieves, some of which are from an IH 915 and some built in my shop. They're mounted in a housing I de-signed and built," says Vogel. Except for the IH sieves and an IH cab, a Deere header and a Gleaner discharge auger, Vogel built the corn-soybean combine from the ground up. Total cost of the project was $50,000. "The articulated design allows the combine to stay on the row better in muddy conditions. It harvests as clean or better than any other combine on the market," says Vogel. The combine is equipped with a 160 hp 6-71 GMC diesel engine, two differentials with 27.1 interplanetary drive, and hydro-static variable speed drive. All motors, pumps and reservoirs are mounted on the rear half. The cab, header and grain cleaning and handling mechanisms are on the front half. The 175 bu. grain tank is also mounted on the front half, but in such a way that it's balanced between the front and back. The two halves of the 22,000 lb. articulated machine are equally balanced.

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