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Farmer-Designed Parts For Deere Combines
Years of driving combines have given Kim Tschetter first hand knowledge of combine repairs. The cost of high-priced replacement parts prompted him and his family to start a company to design and build aftermarket parts.
Tschetter looks for opportunities in areas that used to frustrate him when farming. Two parts
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Farmer-Designed Parts For Deere Combines COMBINES Maintenance 30-6-38 Years of driving combines have given Kim Tschetter first hand knowledge of combine repairs. The cost of high-priced replacement parts prompted him and his family to start a company to design and build aftermarket parts.
Tschetter looks for opportunities in areas that used to frustrate him when farming. Two parts he recently added are a Center Section Repair Kit for JD 900 Series platform augers and a telescoping hitch for JD 50 and 60 Series combines.
"If a rock gets into the center section of the soybean head auger, Deere's answer is to sell you a $2,800 auger," says Tschetter. "With our part, you can replace just the 5 to 6-ft. center section, and it'll cost you $425 plus your labor."
Tschetter advises that replacing auger sections is not a job for everybody, although most local machine shops can probably tackle the job if the combine owner isn't confident of his own expertise. "The auger can be 25 to 30 ft. long, and the center section has to be absolutely true," he warns.
An easier product to install is Lankota's $420 telescoping hitch. The hitch lets you tow wide headers from field to field.
"We built it heavier than most farmers or other after-market suppliers do," says Tschetter. "It telescopes for easier one-man operation and will handle the 600 to 700-lb. weight of a header transport trailer tongue."
A convenient feature is the steel cable that lets an operator release the latch to telescope the hitch. Once the trailer tongue is connected, the operator simply backs up to relatch the hitch.
Tschetter notes the entire hitch can be dropped by removing four bolts. Installing it is equally easy. Lankota takes advantage of four holes factory drilled into the heavy-duty tow plate on the rear center frame of the combine.
A third new product that Tschetter is especially pleased with is the upgraded feeder house tilt frame for JD Contour Master combines. It lets farmers with 50 or 9000 Series combines use 600 Series platform heads and 90 Series corn heads.
"Farmers can go to Deere and pay $1,500 for a new bracket with two hooks on top, or send us theirs, and we'll send them an upgraded bracket for $425."
Tschetter adds hooks and some sheet metal, sandblasts and paints the traded-in bracket, and sends it off with the next exchange. Brackets are also available for outright purchase for $1,170.
Another popular product offered by Lankota is their $425 spring-loaded stalk stompers. "We use a standard pickup receiver hitch design so they can be easily removed for transport," says Tschetter.
These parts and others are available by catalog or on the internet. Prices do not include shipping.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lankota, Inc., P.O. Box 914, 1090 21st St. SW, Huron, S. Dak. 57350 (ph 605 352-2693; toll free 866 526-5682; fax 605 352-2927; lankota@lankota.com; www.lankota.com).
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