Versatile combines

Dick2

Well-known Member
Anyone own a Versatile combine back in the 60's - 70's? There were several pull types in our area of ND. There were rumors that there would be a self-propelled combine, but I never saw one. A bit later Versatile was sold to Ford; as Ford had their own combines I imagine the Versatile SP was never released?
 
Ford combines were built by Claas. The 642 was the last model, and I think those were last built around '79 - roughly a decade before Ford bought Versatile. Ford dealers (at least some of them) sold Claas combines after that, at least through the mid '80's.
 
when ford bought new Holland they used their combines and being they owned new Holland first they had no need for a versatile combine.
 
Dick2,

we had a few Versatile combine sold here in Kansas. A year or two ago one was listed on Nex-Tech Classified. It was a cherry of a machine. Attached are a link to pictures taken by Roger of Versatile combine in Missouri. I will keep looking for others.
http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=harvest&th=47837

Masseypride
Versitle combine
 
My parents, owned Two Versatile PULL type Combines. They were manufactured in WINNIPEG, MANITOBA CANADA. I had left home, so I know very little about these Combines. My father pulled the Machines with a CASE 970 Tractor. When I purchased the last TWO quarters of Land from my Parents in 2011, both Combines were sold to a Salvage Yard. I removed the TIRES/RIMS 24" and PTO angle drives before they were sold. All acres of Barely and Oats that were grown were harvested with these machines, as my parents were calving out two hundred head. They farmed 1000 miles North of Spokane Washington were the seeds are in the ground at or close to May 15, and harvested at or Close to September 1. This picture is from the Internet, however, is the same model machine they used. This picture is VOID of the PTO drive. Removed?

Bob..
a211856.jpg
 
Versatile made their own self propelled combines starting around 1965. I think the first model was the SP420 and then later the 5000. I've seen one of them in person. Just google those two combines and you will find pictures of them.
 
I read recently that the largest combine manufacturer in Russia bought an 80% share in the Versatile company. That will give them an outlet/dealer organization to sell their combines through and the will sell the tractors in Russia. Looks like the Russians pretty much copied the CaseIH combines and tractors.
 
How so? Their combine is a bi-rotor and the tractors are just a continuation of the old Versatile/Buhler/Ford New Holland tractors.
 
The story is that what it actually did was give the Russian mafia a way to launder it's money. versatile had a combine at Dakota Fest. I would think it would be a tough sell.
 
I saw it the other day when I went to Watertown for the 2nd injection pump from DK dsl.for my 01 dodge in 30,000 miles. Instead of charging me $1495 they are giving me deal at $1250! Doesn't make my butt feel any better!I suppose I could stop at walmart first for some KY!
 
I have learned not to deal with that bunch. Had trouble with Sioux Diesel in SF also.....this was on a Cummins rotary....3 times before they got it right. Had to pay full repair the second time because I took it off and took it to them. The third time I hauled the truck to them to remove and replace.
 
This matter isn't over yet. G. Paulsen once told Arnold motors That he would give them "all the free advertising they could stand" over a crank grinding job. I've used that line myself a few times since hearing it.
 
Rostselmash has started making combines for the US market. There was one sent here about 10 years ago ago the be fitted with a US engine. I believe it was 11.9 liter. The machine still had dirt and some sort of seed in it,cant believe it got shipped here like that. A coworkers dad ran the machine in wheat and it seemed to work well.
 
My Dad sold a new "1660" Case to a customer back in the early 1970s and traded in a SP420, it was a big crop that year and my Dad also farmed so he put it on the farm to help finish up. We were running a Case "1010" with a bad engine valve (Hercules) a "400" PT Case.(He sold our new "1660" to the customer we took out every year) The SP420 was so slow as they had if my memory proves me right the beater in the feeder house, it hardly moved, and it had a 318 Chrysler engine in it! The "1010" would go around the SP420 and the little "400" kept up to it!
We were all happy as I was a truck driver that the SP420 finally got sold.
 

They asked what would be fair and I said I would split it with them so knocked $500 off. It's an expense I didn't want but I can live with it. At least they made an attempt so I won't say anything bad about them.
 

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