Jd 6620 vs Ih 1440

I have a Gleaner K2 with a 3 row narrow cornhead and a 12 foot flex head, I want to update to either a JD 6620 or IH 1440. I will be using the combine in wheat, corn, and beans. Which of these combines is easier to set up for each crop and which has the least amount of belts and chains? The nearest Gleaner dealer is over 100 miles away round trip. I want to get a newer combine with bigger heads so that I can get done sooner. What are your opinions? Thank you, Chris in MI

Having hired both a 7720 and a 1440, I would say the 20 series deere will leave a lot less wheat in the field, and if you want the straw you will get more bedding.

In beans, the 1440 will have less unthreshed pods, but more dirt... and when questioned on this the IH operator said, it getting all the fan its got.

The engine in the front is not good on the deere. You could look at it this way though- If she gets on fire, you'd be the first to know!!!

If you could find a 1460 thats been changed to a special rotor you would have a good machine , beans all ran 0.05 for dockage and almost no red dogs in corn , a lot less moving parts than deere

after years of deere telling everyone that they didn't need a rotary combine and then they started making them ought to tell you something, I have worked on both and like the axial flows alot better, less parts and easier to get at, not that the 6620 was a bad machine but I like the red ones more, however a 920 jd flex would be nice on a 1440

Go with the red one. Period. I've worked with both of them too. The reason Deere didn't get in a hurry to go rotary while IH and Gleaner had been selling rotaries for years is because Deere was selling conventional combines like hotcakes and they didn't want to break the mold. Jim

I recently left behind over 40 years of Gleaner experience when I sold my F2. It was time to move up, and Gleaner has gone(at least the dealers) So I went red. JD combines have ruled around here since they came out with the 4400,etc. I have helped work on them, and don't appreciate that experience at all!

not sure how much faster you are wanting to get done, you may consider a 7720-1460. you will not be paying much more money, finding these machines with not a lot of hours is getting very dificult. I went from a k2 to an f3 to a jd 9400. all good combines but the Gleaner is by far the easiest to work on. A lot of IH units in my area still going strong.

I don't know where you are at. If you have wet field conditions then the JD 6620 will go better than a IH 1440. The rotor machines are heavier in the back. Red or green.

As for harvesting. In high moisture corn the IH will do a better job. In wheat or green stem soybeans then the JD 6620 will do better.

As for parts. The JD 6620 will have many more options for parts. There are many after market companies that make a lot of parts for them. The IH has after market parts too but not near as many options.

Then you need to consider what heads you are going to use. The IH corn heads and grains tables are not near as good as the JD ones that would be on a JD 6620. IH did not have a very good grain table until the IH 1020. The IH 810 was real bad and the IH 820 was not a whole lot better. While the 200 series on the JD where a real good head even yet today. An the 40 series corn heads where just bullet proof.

1460 with 1020 grain head & 9/10 series corn head is a tough machine, Deere still straw walker & front engine, hard to work on.

Case ih has plenty of parts and aftermarket also so don't believe that b.s. Check out Bish head changers if you want to run another brand on there. I think you'll find that the biggest downfall is the 5 blade cleaning fan. They make a crossflow fan upgrade that helped those machines drasticly. You may even find one equiped with one.

Don"t be afraid of an IHC corn head.

I'd probably try to get a 1460 as it wouldn't be much more $$$.

But a 1440 or a 1460 with a 1020 and a 963 or a 1063 would leave the Deere 6620 in the rear view mirror.

As for the fellow who said there were more after market parts for the Deere...............he's been drinking to much green cool-aide. Also a lot of parts from a 1460 will fit a 2366

I have ran and worked on both easy call get the Axial Flow. We have a 1660 with a specialty rotor, chopper and RWA. Had a 1460 set up the same way before. Don't buy the bs that will leave more wheat, chew up the straw bad, or won't clean the beans. For their capacity I will put them up against anything else. The 20 series Deere machines were alright but the IH rotor has less moving parts and will flat out eat it alive in corn of any moisture or beans in any condition and give a better sample. I actually prefer the old paddle fan myself and have had no trouble with inadequate air flow. If you slow the chopper and drop the bedknife out, it will leave better straw than a walker I think, mostly whole and makes the bales easier to break being crimped more. The 1020 platform is as good as the 900 series Deere and starting with the 900 series IH had the best corn head made, and leaves the stalks chopped down better than the Deere will and are bulletproof. We have a 963 that has been over all our corn acres since 1986 (250-300 acres a year) After working on 40 and 90 series Deere heads at the dealer you couldn't give me one personally. They are better than the massey head we had on our 750 previously but not by much. I don't hate on any brand that doesn't deserve it (except Gleaner) I worked at a Deere dealer for a couple years, worked for a couple guys that ran a Deere combine while in college and at home we have had Axial Flow's since 1986 and Massey's before that back to before self propelled combines. Wouldn't have stayed with rotors this long if they weren't good.

Check out bigiron.com the auction on the 21st has a pretty nice looking 1460 on it and as of now the bid is around $700. I believe it's located in Iowa.

If you like having an engine running right beside you, and having some of the most important pieces on the combine under your SEAT to get at to work on then pick the 6620 I guess.

Over the course of 10 years running my 4420, have grown to detest it and wish it was red now.

Maybe look at moving up a notch on the ih, specialty rotor will eat any green one back then up one side and down another. I have ran both. Many,many parts available. Many parts are similar up to my 2188. My 2 cents.

I second eveything you said, Deere sold & hoodwinked everybody with straw walkers & corn heads that made a cornfield look like a bad haircut, then came out with a rotary like they thought they reinvented the wheel. Same old stunt & guys went for it, just like the 2 cyl tractors, looked like a steam engine with spark plugs.

Do you plan on selling your K2. Imight be interested. I am in Michigan.

I have never had chance to run an axial flow, but have run a 6600 a time or two and have helped work on it a little. I must say, from my limited experience I would not wish having to work on a 00--20 series Deere combine on my worst enemy.

Al