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| I was looking on another site earlier today and the debate was about how higher houred 2000 series Case IH combines are not worth having. I found this interesting mainly because I just bought an '01 2388 with 3400 engine hours, 2300 on separator. The one I bought has been well taken care of and has about all the bells and whistles available including 9" touch screen yield monitor. It's got new augers, sieves, shaker bushings, after market AFX, new rotor bars, new chopper knives, almost new feeder house chain, good belts and chains, duals and rwa w/good tires, no oil leaks and just an all around good looking combine. (I tried to post a picture, but couldn't figure out how to do that yet). Some of the opinions pretty much said my old 1680 would out last the newer ones. I had years of excellent services from the 1680, sold it for more then what I paid for it and was just ready to trade up. I was looking for a 2188, but ran across this deal on the 2388 and with the hydraulic reverser and a few other small things I think I'll be real happy with this one. Just curious to hear any stories here. |
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Alliance, NE | we had a 2002 2388. it was a great combine as long as we tok care of what needed to be repaired. It was starting to get alot of wear holes in elevator and grain tank when we traded it off. Good machine though! |
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Western illinois | i had a 2188 for several years. they didn't get great reviews from some
people, but it served me well. don't worry about what others say, sounds
like you got a well taken care of machine. bottom line is take care of it
and you will get along fine. the cabs are leaps and bounds nicer than the
old models. some people have to bash anything that isn't new and costs
more than a farm used to. |
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| I'll second the elevator sheet metal , have a caulking gun handy. I'd say the biggest PIA is the air intake . If it ever gets dry you can spend alot of time blowing out air cleaners and trying to figure out were all the dust is getting in. Hydraulic reverser way better than the older electric. |
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NC IA | Virtually every part on the combine is fixable/replaceable. I still run an old 21, put about 7-800 hrs/yr on, with 7600 engine/ 5500 rotor hours, and it goes on the wheat harvest every year yet. (Currently in SW kansas waiting on green wheat.) Yes the only original pieces are the cab, frame, engine, and gearboxes. But I also run a red combine repair business so its kinda an advertising piece as well. Almost all the latest updates and new features that are on the 25s are retro-able to the 23s and 21s. Depending on hours/year you put on, plan on spending between $5-20K a year to keep these girls going. Paint means nothing, and honestly "previous care" only goes so far, as grain flow = metal wear. For what its worth, I've had my grain tank off and put the thicker stainless floor out of a 25, plastic fuel tank like a 25, kile flights on standard rotor, razor rock beater, new rear axle, stainless extenda-wear elevators, & Heartland's cleaning system repair kit. I think its on its 4th set of auger bed augers. List of little parts not enough time to type. Main thing is to keep ahead of repairs, don't let things go or skip a year its either pay a little at a time or wait till it needs a $40k rebuild. If you decide to own one of these high hour machines be sure to have a cozy shop in the winter or have a trustworthy red combine mechanic at your disposal. Good luck |
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West Union, Illinois | I'll second what jalopy said: jalopy - Virtually every part on the combine is fixable/replaceable ... plan on spending between $5-20K a year to keep these girls going..., Main thing is to keep ahead of repairs, don't let things go or skip a year its either pay a little at a time or wait till it needs a $40k rebuild. If you decide to own one of these high hour machines be sure to have a cozy shop in the winter or have a trustworthy red combine mechanic at your disposal. Good luck We had a 2166 that was Dad's baby. I took off in the winter delivering propane, he piddled with the combine off and on all winter. When he slowed down from cancer I didn't realize just what was going on. Then when we lost him I ... well, I suppose grief and depression are similar. Son-in-law and I ran the combine for 5 years and we did virtually nothing to it. Last fall we came to the realization if we were to keep it we were going to spend a minimum of $20,000 on it getting it back in shape. After talking with my friend the CIH Service Manager a while we replaced it with a larger machine this winter.I told you all that to tell you this: If you are going to keep it, make it your hobby. Fix all the little things as they come up. Don't let them gather and hit you with major problems all at once. |
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| That's sounds about like my old 1680. Ran it for over 7 years and kept up on everything as needed and it never really cost me much down time during harvest. My maintenance/repairs ran between 2k - 12k per year. Once the big ticket items like augers and shaker bushings are replaced, they're good for a while. Jalopy had a good testimonial, it'll take me over 20 yrs to add those kind of hours up!!! I'm looking forward to the 2388, mainly wanted a yield monitor and the cab. One thing this combine has that I'm not used to is a rock trap. jalopy made mention of the Razor beater, I've heard of these and wondered if they're worth it? I've also heard a rock trap can restrict feeding thus improved with the beater? Thanks for all the reply's and input. |
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| Great testimonial!!! When did the plastic fuel tanks become available? Mine has one, is it an original or replaced? Sounds like you know these combines inside and out - literally!!! |
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| We always tell our customers that your combine is like your wife or girlfriend, you can't cheat on it, or you will pay in the end!! |
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NC IA | 01 and newer machines have the plastic tank. It holds 160 gal vs. 110 on the old steel ones. My old steel tank was leaking, real bad, at the soldered seam on the backside. After several unsuccessful tries at patching it externally failed, if I was going to remove it from the machine, only a new one was going back in. A new steel tank was over $2000, vs. a plastic tank from a newer 23/25 was only $900. The problem was all the other stuff in addition that needs retroed also. The main backsheet is totally different, and the side sheets too and some other brackets. In the end I had another $2000 in additional parts to make it work, and it was a mother of a job (I think worse than taking the grain tank off) but I do like it now that its done, especially with the extra fuel capacity. Honestly I don't know if I would do another one or recommend anyone else doing the retro. But it is an option. |
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| Here's a picture |
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| Here's a picture
 (100_1558.jpg)
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 100_1558.jpg (72KB - 452 downloads)
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Oregon | Our combines don't look that good when new... -Mike |
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2388 combine
