We Have MAJOR Problems!

[@LannyBeam]

I worked on a custom harvest crew in 1966, '67, & 68. I grew up on a wheat farm so was familiar with a combine (Dad had his own) and what wheat harvest means to the farmer. I joined a crew specifically to make money to go to college on. I did see some interesting country, but scenery was just an added benefit. We cut from Crowell, TX to Harden, MT. We started cutting the week of the 20th of May, and typically finished the 3 week of Aug. That worked well because most of his help was HS and college students, so it was a summer only job. He picked up a different crew and went back south to cut maze (millo) (sorghum) for the fall. We ran five 18' Greener machines.

[@KevinChristiansen-i2q]

Great job running the combines Hayden and your mom

[@robertreznik9330]

About 6 years ago we finished our first hopper when the hydraulics quit. It was the coupler to hydrolic pumps next to the flywheel. The plastic was compromised by oil leaking from the rear main seal. They had to take out the engine. That and the trucking cost $8,500.

[@robwar2288]

On Harvest in 1994 Burkburnett TX woke up in the Holtel with 3” of water on the Floor. Yes we were on the First Floor! It was a Musty Smelling Room for the Next week😬

[@gilreynolds9282]

A very bad day. Hopefully mom’s combine is back up and running in short order. Thanks for posting

[@curtmyers6273]

I grew up on a farm, I'm 67 now but I went on the wheat run in 1979 with a crew out of north east north Dakota. I loved every minute of it. There's not really 1 thing that really stands out of my experience. I drove truck back then, a tandem straight truck, 7700 jd combines 22ft heads. In 1983 I went again with a crew out of Minnesota and run a 7720 combine. Today I've been working for a farmer the last 13yrs I run cart in the fall, tillage and drive semi. I'll retire in a few years if my health permits. If I had a chance to do the wheat run again I would

[@JulianKeller-om6wz]

I started working for a Deere dealer as a tech the year the 7700's came out. Holy crap did we think that was a big combine! The worst thing anout them was they could eat more than they could clean. I'm not sure how the new Deere's are, but I have heard that they are still like that. The 9600's were about the worst. You could run half your crop out the back of those things. And high maintenance too! They were a P.O.S. The old 8820 was a better machine.

[@mikewood3203]

As a kid, I remember riding with my father on the CH Gleaner combine as he harvested the wheat, never rode will cutting barley (no cab). When I got older, 12 or so I drove 3 ton grain trucks, I was a big kid, in the field and to the granary. Damn it was hot with those plastic seats in August. Never wanted to go back to school, wanted to harvest till snow.

[@mihaitheartist]

One of the reasons why I would like to be part of a custom harvesting crew is the fact that although I am a little over 20 years old and a university graduate, I realized that dealing with agriculture and harvesting is a small "passion" that I I rediscovered it. When I was a little kid and I was asked in primary school "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I said I wanted to be a farmer. The years passed and I laughed at myself, but being at this point in my life I realized that I rediscovered this "dream" of mine by looking at this type of content that I'm looking for more and more often on KZbin and playing games of this domain. Thus, being part of such a crew I could say that I would fulfill a wish long extinguished but now rekindled.🙂

[@jetegtmeier71]

👍 on the Dad cam. It's great to see everyone trying to contribute to your channel 😀

[@kentreib1489]

I worked with custom cutters back the day. At the time we had the biggest headers available and they were 20’. I was in high school and by the time they got up to SDak the kids they had needed to get home for school,so I picked up nice jobs helping them to finish out the season.

[@HaydenOnHarvest]

That’s awesome!

[@Jdudg112]

What was there crew name?

[@MikeMelichar]

Would love to be back in a combine again!!! Harvest was always the best time of year!!

[@rydenlewis7800]

Maybe one day I’ll join a custom crew. I think it would be fun to travel and see different areas of the plains. I also like the idea of a tight knit group that you get to work with for a whole harvest. It just seems like a really fun experience. I may aswell do it while I’m young.

[@FreddieJames-k3b]

I used to custom cut grass seed. Nothing on your scale. I am a recently retired Veterans Healthcare registered surgical nurse. I would like to be able to run a grain cart, but the dust is hard on me pertaining to servicing. I enjoy your videos.

[@johnhrynyk8521]

When using that rachet to tighten/loosen section bolts, pull away from the section edges instead of pushing towards the sharp edge and the points of the guards. A slip or a snapped bolt could be a bloody mess. When I was your age, my pop decided that custom square baling hay was the fastest way we could have money flow through our hands before he took a county job of road blade operator and I found a job in town. I am 76 now and retired. I enjoy your vids very much. Takecare young man.

[@markrister3909]

First memory I have of being on a harvest crew was when I 6-7 years old , riding in the hopper of a John Deere 55 with a 12’ header with boards for bats on the reel. I was dad’s mirror as we drove the combines 200 miles.

[@chrisandkristin]

Been there, done that replacing cracked aux pumps on S670's and S770's. Every one I've replaced I found the relief valve on the multifunction block on the left side of the machine out of tolerance. Likely set ~1,000 psi over spec to get the grain tank doors to work. Then they can't figure out why they crack the pump housing, crack the grain tank door valve (the square one below the multi-function valve), and crack the stem on those $500 apiece valve cartridges in the multi-function valve. Also seen hydrostat motors push oil into the ProDrive case and overfill the PTO gearcase. But that's a different story ever since Deere went away from using Hy-Gard low-vis in the hydraulic system on S-series combines. If they're pulling the hydro pump they're on the wrong end of the machine for that problem.

[@jeffallmond5030]

Don't know how I stumbled across your channel, but this is the first time I've heard you describe yourself as a custom harvester. I like watching for the mechanical stuff you have to do almost daily AND to learn a bit about harvesting in general. Thank you for helping understand what my late uncle used to do when I remember him talking about harvesting off the Natchez Trace Parkway lands. Nothing huge like you guys are doing, but just as interesting.

[@boallen7]

Our family originally came from the Natchez Trace Parkway area near Franklin, TN in the 1800's. The old family log cabin was rebuilt there about 20 years ago. I am Hayden's grandpa / Pappy. My Great Great Grandfather came to Texas and purchased the farm we currently live on in 1880. We visited the Cabin and the field was close to 5-10 acres by the house like most others in the area.

[@bertrutledge4546]

I enjoyed operating the machines and being in the country. Have missed custom harvest for 50 years. You are doing a great job of sharing the life of a custom harvesters.

[@Machines85]

16:35 sunset in your mirror. Very beautiful

[@CraigJackel]

great video, i remember those hills in Montana, will test you and your combine limits, go up hill till you spin out , badk down hill till you can go around hill ,then have to finish going from the top of hill going down with your feet on windshield, we didnt have foot pegs back in the 80's. i could never believe they could raise wheat thru all the rocks in there feilds, Cutbank Montana

[@7rixee]

Best part about custom harvesting has to be that you dont need to worry about where the grain is going. Thats the toughest part of harvest. 😂❤

[@jimmykellam7072]

Looks like a lot of upkeep on those deeres

[@bruceschwertner9343]

Have you ever had to use 2 tractors to pull a grain cart to harvest milo due to rain and snow. The only way we could harvest normally was to wait until the ground would freeze at nightother than that the tractor ruts were at least 3 ft. deep.

[@tractorfixrable]

I’d get a hydraulic shop to look at the old one. Might be just a shaft seal failure. That would explain the oil transfer to the gearbox. If it’s fine at least you have a spare one.

[@iancroot1388]

Some days are just better off forgotten but at least one positive point, at least you won the light game.

[@simonstaples8784]

I would love to experience a season as a custom harvester. But living in England and 52 with a family, I don’t think it will happen. I’ll just have to live off the memories of my MF865 combine days in the late 80’s and 90’s Like you say, life is short and you need to be happy doing what you do

[@bladewiper]

Some days are just harder than others. But the hard days make the good ones that much better.

[@FarmGearInnovators]

Love hearing about life on a custom harvesting crew! Anyone else have memorable breakdown stories? 🚜💥

[@fredericducroquet6301]

The hydrostat pump seal (or motor) is about $150, and can be changed in the field. It is very important that John Deere tech check why the pump cracked.

[@TheChessUniverse]

What do you use to clean off the hydraulic oil from the combines? $10K for a part seems excessive but what can you do but grin and bear it?

[@brcidd]

OMG NEVER NEVER push a wrench! Section changing scared me to death you'd slip and bust your knuckles on a guard etc. Always pull a wrench. Dad taught me that at 5 years old.

[@trapperbob8812]

Repairs can be expensive. This newer stuff the repair bill is a hold up. Hope things get better for you guys.

[@GlennCrawford]

Rough break.... Good luck with the rest of the season.

[@leefury7]

Sorry to hear of your expensive troubles. That really bites into your profits. As to why I would LOVE to be hired as a custom harvester? To be honest, being with you guys these last couple of years, I feel like one of the family. But I love hard work. I love long hours out of doors, especially summer nights. Unfortunately I'm too old and have a back which sometimes reminds me of my age. . . like it did today. If I was younger and in my present situation...retired...I would work for you and your family for free! I like good old fashioned work just that much. The tie that binds. I hope the rest of your season ends without any more $$,$$$ expensive repairs. How old are your combines? Did you buy them new? Oh, and why did you name your dog, "Dibs?"

[@shorthandedstockdogs3297]

There’s something about 4+ combines all working in a field that you’ll never forget. You’ll never forget servicing a combine too 😂

[@stuartroland9605]

That repair sure hurts the bottom line.😒🤩👍👍

[@jetegtmeier71]

do those honey bee headers have the built in cart option ? (integrated transport axels if you will)

[@BruceBergman]

We have enough rolling hills in SoCal -they filmed MASH IN Malibu canyon.

[@patcoffey7757]

Sounds like 2 new combine you put alot of acres threw it

[@ronromkoz5995]

Great video even though you and your Mom broke down and I guess it's the joy of owning newer combines...but you have with the amount of acres your family works on. Too bad about the 5 figure problem on Harvest Chic's combine!

[@roryweber817]

I went custom harvesting for four years. We started down in Texas and we ended up in Chester Montana one year we went up to Fort St. John’s British Columbia

[@Thelarrs110]

What hrs do you have on both combines ? Looks like you have been doing well, till today !!

[@shadrickyoder8782]

I would love to custom harvest for a summer just for the comrade and scenery. I do custom farming but would really enjoy a summer of wheat harvest

[@njb7209]

It's interesting that this is happening when it started getting cold at night. I wonder if the hydraulic fluid is too thick on start-up.❤

[@lesliewoinarowicz7018]

The hydraulic fluid is specifically designed for these temperature changes. Never had a problem in over 30 years with temperature affecting hydraulic oil in North Dakota.

[@canadiansnowplowguy2852]

Going up the steep grade puts extreme pressure on the hydraulic system! Then going down steep hills puts pressure in places that are not normally exposed to. Most combines would never this steep of terrain.

[@johnjohnson65]

The joys of owning equipment. My dad always told me if you don’t want breakdowns, don’t have anything.

[@FarmLife-k7f]

"I can’t believe how much goes into running a farm! Your videos make it all look so fascinating."

[@Dapalm24]

Which pump was it that broke on your mums combine? I have a serious interest in combine harvesters? I hope you got fixed.

[@jayraney5483]

I am a military brat. When my Pop/ Dad/ Father went to 'Nam we moved to my Mother's home town. St John, WA. WE lived near a farm. Helen and Woody would show us what it took to farm. I've always held farming in high regard - that's what brought me to your channel. To answer your question: I would join a crew for the experience. I am retired military with a background in IT, tech, and cabling. I prefer active jobs. I tried office jobs...didnt care for them.

[@armyguy872008]

I am retired military, single and have a nomadic quirk….I am used to moving around and love to see and experience new areas.

[@cowchick8130]

Hello Hayden, I am from the Netherlands and after graduating I was part of a custom crew in the US for 2 seasons. After two internships in America during my studies with dairy farmers in Michigan and Iowa, I thought it would be great to see and get to know your country before I took over the farm at home. and that was it, I saw, learned and gained a lot of experience! The first year I drove a chopper with a silage crew and the second year with a grain cart in a combine crew. Great to experience, make friends and countless moments you will never forget! Good luck with the harvest, keep the machines intact and most importantly the best for you, your family and the rest of the crew!

[@HaydenOnHarvest]

@cowchick8130 that’s awesome!

[@AureFreePress]

Hayden, my heart bleeds for you guys. What a punch in the gut... $10,000 for a pump. That must be sooo disheartening... Sigh. Fingers crossed you've had better luck since then 🤞🤞 Thank you for the video and your hard work Hayden ♥️ - Hope

[@cameltanker1286]

Tough luck there. 50,000 or so pump castings you caught the weak one.

[@AndrewCure-wt5mu]

I love driving grain cart and i also want to travel but im only in 7th grade do i have a while till a can custom harvest. But I help my grandpa out with harvest and grain cart.

[@joesanders652]

Somedays your the windshield some days your the bug, thats life

[@Eric-o3m7e]

How many hours you have on those machines?

[@derekbosl2761]

I never been a harvest crew I would like to visit some of the states and see all the countryside

[@laurie9142]

Retired farmer 👩‍🌾 from Australia 🇦🇺 I had custom harvesters and my own harvester, both were stressful, as harvest are.

[@noahscarborough]

Scenery and getting to run a combine all day

[@tapitXq9]

When i retire i want to join a custom harvest crew so i can continue being itchy. Hayden, whats your secret weapon to avoid it in cab. (I guessed hydraulic pump just seeing the service truck crane). You seem to feel better today.

[@rodneyevans5525]

I haven't been on like that. I been farmer harvest corn milo very little beans. I will be on a crews . I like to travel and like those long hours and like to farm. It way of leaving to help out others out when they need help to harvest

[@BruceBergman]

Maybe Diesel or Motor oil into the hydraulic system.... 11:49

[@brian7327]

Time for dad and you to get Mom a New combine for Christmas she clearly works hers harder than you plus keeps you fed and dressed Mom deserves a New combine 😂

[@chrisandkristin]

Also, if you drive an S-series until it runs out of hydraulic oil and stops moving you WILL damage the gears in the charge pump. It scores that four-bolt housing on the back of the hydro pump and in the next 200 hrs it will break the center gear in the charge pump. Most tech's will replace the entire hydro pump when that happens instead of just fixing the charge pump because they don't know what's wrong with it even though you got a code for no charge pressure.

[@StrawBoss-xy]

It got every thing new …

[@chrisandkristin]

@@StrawBoss-xy Unfortunately, that's called a CYA repair. I don't even want to know what the bill was. A lot of dealerships are that way now, afraid a failure in the pump is going send metal to the motor. Instead of tearing it apart and inspecting it they just replace it. I've fixed plenty of 'em in S-series machines, and 99% of 'em only need to be flushed out and a seal kit. They usually stop turning before the metal contamination can damage anything else.

[@lindapereboom]

It never ceases to amaze me on any of the farm equipment related breakdown videos i watch the keyboard warriors always suggest buying new or changing "colors" 😂. All i know is no way I'm replacing my 18 yr old diesel truck for a 6 figure def drinking computer 😊

[@LAWSON08]

2006 was a great year for diesels 😎

[@allanstriber5272]

They all break

[@BruceBergman]

And the combine is beeping header running!! 8:47

[@matthewbontrager1527]

I still am custom harvesting............

[@george2048]

I assume that you also purchase and extended warranty from Deere that is PT or bumper to bumper. Talk about your warranty issues sometime. All things mechanical break or wear out.

[@StrawBoss-xy]

No warranty… we pass that warranty time long ago

[@Ghost_Job]

Dam hydraulic oil getting everywhere

[@JulianKeller-om6wz]

Did you put a used sickle section back on there ?? Dang... when I opened your post and saw that crane, I knew you had issues up in the hydro and pump area. That sux. I worked for a very large Deere dealer for 33 years in service and parts. And I don't care if it's Deere, or Case, or Claus, or who it is, the price of parts is crazy high. And I'm sure Gooseneck's labor rate is at least $125/hr or more, + the service call. And I'm sure some belts got oil soaked too, which is never good. So sorry that happened to you all. I feel your pain...... Why would I want to go on a custom harvest run? I grew up on a farm/ranch not all that far east and south of where you were on this video. We had a custom harvester in my home town that went to Texas in May every year and worked their way back up to ND. They ran Gleaners. L2,s at that time. The last ones they had were N6's. So obviously, that was quite some years back. I always wanted to go along with them for just one year, just for the experience, and to get to meet all the people along the way, and to see the country, and all the small towns along the way. And they would have gladly taken me cuz I was a farm boy that knew how to work. But, my dad always said "We have a lot of hay to put up and a lot of acres of summer fallow to work, and that takes all summer right up until we are ready to start combining ourselves". (Bet you don't know what summer fallow was Hayden). So, I never got to go. I plan on retiring in January of 2025. I've been in the implement business and farming and ranching, all my life, and I would still love to go. I would love to run a combine, or grain cart. Actually, I think the grain cart would be more fun. So when that time comes, I may just try to find a custom harvester that would want to take a little bit older guy along for a year. I still want to go, for all the same reasons..... Thanks for your great videos. You all stay safe out there, and I hope your breakdowns are over for the year.

[@LAWSON08]

Gooseneck is $200/hr last time I checked. The bill is always a near heart attack

[@mikeklehr7105]

I am sure to some people this ? may seem like a dumb question but "Do these combines come with extended warranty?" This video reminds me when I tried to be a hobby farmer. I bought an old hay bind, I-H baler and 2 sears rakes. You can just guess what my hay making days were like. lol

[@StrawBoss-xy]

Passed that warranty mark long time ago

[@michaelallen9604]

You can buy extended warranty

[@KevinChristiansen-i2q]

Great video Hayden

[@howardwittker5292]

Hey dude you need to carry a Milwaukee 3/8 impact gun a box deep well impa t sockets for your section and guard repairs. It's your down time in half. Wouldn't leave the shop or service truck without it

[@LAWSON08]

My first thought when I saw the ratchet: Ain't nobody got time for that 😁 I have a separate gun for the guards and sections so I don't even switch sockets 🤣

[@tmeier0812]

I’m a jr in highschool grown up farming my whole life was 9 when I got trained on the grain cart my dad custom harvested for 20 years we are from North Dakota and he went south and worked his way back north but he quit when I was six years old so I don’t remember much so I’m planning on joining a crew this coming summer to try and live out all the memories he talks about and I’d kill to experience the fly over states to the fullest

[@TrevorMills-j2n]

I would love join a custom harvest crew just to run a combine I have an old L2 gleaner in the shop that we used to combine with

[@zfactortedzabel9267]

When I retire, I'd like to join a custom harvest crew for at least 1 season. It's been a lifetime desire of mine to satisfy this yearning of adventure, operating machinery, and being part of a team. When will you be accepting applications for the 2030 Harvest season?

[@HaydenOnHarvest]

Might be robots doing custom harvesting in 2030 😂😂. No but that’s along time aways lol

[@zfactortedzabel9267]

@@HaydenOnHarvest when then, I'll have to wait a few years!

[@billmonroe8826]

Probably have to get the part from Mexico since John Deere moved there and layoffs now. Even in my little town they have laid off employees. Might consider buying a different colored machine next time. John Deere has become too greedy!

[@williamshaw4796]

10000 $ is hard to take but on a 700000$ machine its not much. It still hurts. Did you ever get Off loading auger fixed?

[@HaydenOnHarvest]

Far from a $700,000 machine 😂😂 and yes

[@claytonbatten7317]

Id rather be out there and not behind walls

[@BruceBergman]

But hopefully in Warranty... 10:36

[@EvanC8]

Two catastrophic failures in both combines the same time. Very odd hey ?? How many separator hours you got on your combine?

[@ronaldwinder5051]

In my opinion, it is just downright ridiculous what the cost of repair parts is these days, totally unnecessary. The equipment manufacturers are literally raping the farmers, who have been their bread and butter for years. No, I don't own my own farm or equipment but I help 2 of my neighboring farmers with harvesting and planting their crops.

[@steveneal2706]

Anazing video guys. Thank you guys so much

[@07Farmguy]

The harvest crew I was a part of has lead to people I know now who are big influencers in the social media world and just the friendships that were made. I’d love to go on a run again maybe when I retire from my full time job in 35 years

[@rogerembry4777]

Time to trade

[@stephenfrench1060]

Luckily no fires

[@MikeRichardson-b9o]

I would like to join a crew just to get to drive a tractor and big truck again

[@mattthomas3207]

deere seems to have alot of combine failures

[@CJEquipment]

did you just call John Mask OLD

[@HarvestChic]

@CJEquipment 😂 ….John is a pretty good guy!

[@crc1763]

sorry,for the loss of 10 grand to ur moms combine

[@kevinglanzer9388]

its time to go red

[@BruceBergman]

Endings are overrated!😅 19:19

[@canadiansnowplowguy2852]

Go slower when combining on steep grades!

[@erickaufman1851]

Sounds like it time for new combines

[@kevinmoore3208]

I would be looking at another brand of machine, I follow other channels that have the green machines and they seem to have more problems then other brands.

[@HaydenOnHarvest]

Deere has the best support in the locations we cut. They all break down… it’s just who can get you back up and running :)

[@LAWSON08]

Deere has 60 percent of the U.S. market for combines, no one else is even close. The dealership network behind the machines is also second to none. But yes that green paint is expensive, and parts have gone completely nuts.

[@michaelallen9604]

We have a two year old 770 just like theirs and it been a very great machine....almost 4300 @ of wheat, beans, milo and corn...had one breakdown since it was bought used 14 months ago!