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AFL

Posted 11/13/2012 02:40 (#2694343)
Subject: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

SE SD

I'm looking at a Geringhoff PC corn head. I'm probably going to have around 400 acres of corn next year and this head isn't out of my price range. What should I be looking at with these heads? And what kind of job do they do? Any advice appreciated, thanks.

TurnbullFarms

Posted 11/13/2012 05:35 (#2694360 - in reply to #2694343)
Subject: Re: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

Southern Ontario

Tale a good look at the roller gearboxes as some of them have defective drive gears and would be an absolute bugger to replace.
Check all the knives and the hammers on the rolls and see if any are bent/missing.
If you have a chance to run it prior to purchasing it check all the front bearing hubs after running it for a bit. If any are hot that indicates that the row unit may be bent.

The guys we bought our "new to us" Geringhoff from don't even fix up PC heads anymore because they are old and outdated. They just buy them for scrap weight and cut them up. The PC heads also drive harder than the newer Rota-Disc style heads. I'm not sure what the parts availability is for these heads either.

They do a good job of chewing up the corn stalk, but not quite as good as a Rota-Disc.

If you buy it, make sure its for a CHEAP price...

Tazzerblue

Posted 11/13/2012 07:09 (#2694414 - in reply to #2694360)
Subject: Re: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

SW MN

check outside keyway drive as it has to drive all row units on its side. also check play in individual row unit gear boxes. they do take more power and are alot of up keep. And don't go out and combine in a heavey dew or wet stalks, you will ve replacing alot of knives fast. I would think you could find a newer RD for around 20k and have alot better head. check tractor house or fastline. Those PC heads are OLD.

cyberzl1

Posted 11/13/2012 09:56 (#2694671 - in reply to #2694343)
Subject: RE: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

I have a PC630 on a 2388. Everyone says they pull hard, but I haven't really noticed. If you have the knives set right, you should be able to roll it by hand. They do wear knives pretty quickly, but they are pretty cheap. I think if you check them and keep them tight will help with that. Use new poly locks, and double nut them. They work loose. Probably dont' need to run a full set. I have taken out several of them, still shreds the stalks down to nothing.

Does a really nice job of shredding the stalks. I like that the stubble left has a shredded top instead of the clipped off top that many heads leave. I think that helps for breakdown.

They are a well made, simple head. But as others have said, they are getting old. Early 90's is the end I think. Typical German hardware. Very heavy build with quality parts. Drives are in an oil bath, drive shafts are suspended on the both ends on good bearings, etc.

Check the gear boxes underneath if possible. They are known to leak a bit.

Everything will be metric, including the chain drive. Geringhof will send you a manual for it free. Or I can scan in mine and mail it to you if you like.

Overall, I like it. I'm sure the RD and other newer heads are nicer, but they are also a lot more money. You can find a PC for $4-5k and spend a little bit of time tinkering with it, or spend $20k on a newer head that might have a different set of problems.

Oh, FWIW I can run about 5 mph and the head keeps up fine.

ayrporte

Posted 11/13/2012 18:32 (#2695299 - in reply to #2694343)
Subject: RE: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

Eastern Ont

Parts are still readily available for these heads
Picked one up this fall also,
We were presently surprised when we drug the old 3 bar wilrich cultivator through the stalks this fall with no plugging
We have the parts manual in a PDF file
Email me and I will can send it to you.

Email in profile

First Pic Is the PC head

2nd Pic is a Roto Disc head

Both Fields done about a month ago

Edited by ayrporte 11/13/2012 18:47

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Scooter67

Posted 11/16/2014 17:57 (#4181738 - in reply to #2695299)
Subject: RE: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

New Brunswick

i bought an old pc head a couple of years ago, my problem with it is plugging of the row units, at the front of the rotors. does anybody else have that problem? service guy at the dealership told me to bring in the concave closer to the rotor at the top only. i was on the calmer website reading up about a slowdown kit for gathering chains on JD corn heads, to help prevent the chains grabbing the plants before they get to the rolls. i can slow down my head by changing sprockets on the side gear cases, but the sprockets are already equal sized. my 9400 combine has a header drive speed of 520/minute, so i'm not sure if i should go any slower. input speed is usually around 750? also i'm lookin gfor a operator's manual.

TurnbullFarms

Posted 11/17/2014 07:53 (#4182920 - in reply to #4181738)
Subject: RE: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

Southern Ontario

Wow... Resurrect a 2 year old post... :)

You can email Geringhoff and they should be able to send you a manual for free.

Centuryfarm

Posted 10/21/2016 13:47 (#5593123 - in reply to #4182920)
Subject: RE: Geringhoff PC Corn Heads

I use one too. If I have the money to buy a rotodisk I would. You can buy a pc so cheaply it's incredible. You can buy one to run and a second for parts for the price. Any farmer can work on a pc by a himself compared to other chopping heads.

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