Buying a used combine? Check these 10 points before purchase.

A combine harvester is the most expensive and shortest-working machine on a farm: it must perform flawlessly for a few weeks each year, and every downtime is a direct loss of crop. Therefore, when buying a used combine, the question is not whether the machine looks good, but how much work is still left in it and how much it costs to start the first season reliably. The following 10 points cover exactly those areas where the most money is usually lost.

Tip: print out this list and take it with you to the inspection. Look through it before harvest, with the machine stationary, under calm conditions, rather than in the rush of the harvest.

Mechanical condition

1. Engine and operating hours: how much is left in it?

Two hour meters matter for a combine: engine hours and threshing hours. The ratio between the two reveals how the machine was used. If engine hours are much higher, the machine spent a lot of time idling or on the road; if threshing hours are close to engine hours, it worked continuously under load.

• Cold start: monitor the starting speed, knocking, and smoke color. Blue smoke may indicate oil burning, while white smoke on a warm engine could signal a cylinder head gasket failure.
• Oil and coolant: the oil should not be milky or smell of diesel, and there should be no traces of oil in the expansion tank.
• Radiator and screen filter: chaff and straw debris cause a clogged radiator, which leads to immediate overheating in summer. Check how clean the cooling package is and if the rotating screen filter works.
• Belts and tensioners: cracked, shiny-sided belts and stuck tensioners indicate neglected maintenance.

2. Threshing mechanism: the heart of the machine

Refurbishing the threshing drum and concave is one of the most expensive jobs, so it’s worth spending the most time here. Open the threshing chamber and shine a light inside.

• Rasp bars: they should be evenly worn, not broken or post-welded.
• Threshing concave: the grates should not be dented, and the concave adjustment should work evenly on both sides.
• Drum bearings: no noticeable play or roughness when rotated by hand.
• Balancing: with the machine running, the threshing mechanism should not vibrate or make unusual clanging noises.

3. Sieves, straw walkers, and cleaning

Most of the loss occurs in the cleaning section. This part isn't visible from the outside, so it's often skipped during inspection.

• Sieves: they should not be deformed, and the slat adjustment should not be stuck or broken.
• Straw walkers or rotors: check the bearings and the wear on the bottom plates; perforated, worn-out plates cause significant grain loss.
• Fan: the speed adjustment should work, and the blades should not be worn out.
• Rubber seals and brushes: grain leaks out through worn seals; this is the most expensive "minor" fault.

4. Elevators, augers, and the grain tank

The grain's path from the threshing unit to the tank is full of wearing parts.

• Elevator chain and paddles: a stretched chain and worn paddles reduce performance and necessitate a chain replacement.
• Augers: the edges of the spirals should not be worn down.
• Grain tank and unloading tube: look for rust-through at the bottom of the tank, and the unloading auger should work smoothly without jamming.
• Unloading on the go: if possible, test the unfolding and folding of the tube as well.

Systems and controls

5. Hydraulics and drive

• Hydrostatic drive: the machine should start smoothly, not jerk, and maintain speed even on an incline.
• Lifting: header lifting and reel adjustment should be smooth and should not sink back down on their own when raised.
• Leaks: there should be no fresh traces of oil around cylinders, hoses, and connections.
• Oil condition: cloudy, milky oil indicates water, while a burnt smell indicates overheating.

6. Electronics, sensors, and the cab

In modern combines, a faulty sensor causes as much downtime as a mechanical break, while diagnostics are expensive.

• Display and error codes: check for stored error codes after turning on the ignition and ensure all values are visible.
• Loss and yield monitor sensors: ask if they all work; replacing these is a significant cost.
• Automatic header control and height sensing: test it if available.
• Cab: operation of the air conditioning, heating, seat, work lights, and camera, as well as the condition of the cab filter.

7. Tires, chassis, and brakes

• Front tires: most of the machine's weight is here, and replacement is a major expense. Look for cord separation and sidewall cracks, not just the tread.
• Rear steered axle: play, ball joints, steering cylinder leaks.
• Brakes: they should engage evenly on both sides.
• Rims: they should not be cracked or heavily corroded.

Header, history, and costs

8. Condition and suitability of the header

Many purchases fail because the machine is good, but the header doesn't fit the farm's crop structure. The price of the header can be a significant part of the total investment.

• Grain header: condition of the knife blade and fingers, reel runout, auger wear, and ensuring the header frame is not bent.
• Corn header: wear of gathering rollers, deck plates, and sprockets. Also check the number of rows and row spacing to ensure it matches your planting.
• Connection: integrity of the quick coupler between the header and machine, and the hydraulic and electronic connectors.
• Header trailer: check if it's included and operational.
• If you also need a header, check the Optigép headers and the Russian-made Oros headers in our range.

9. Service history, documentation, and authenticity

• Service book and invoices: whether major repairs, drum and concave replacement, or hydraulic overhauls are documented.
• Identifiers: chassis and engine numbers should match the papers.
• For imported machines: check if origin documents, customs clearance, and registration requirements are in order.
• Liens: the machine should not be encumbered by loans or leasing.
• Previous working conditions: how many hectares it threshed annually, in which crops, and whether it was stored under cover.

10. Expected repair costs for the first season

The purchase price is only one half of the investment. It’s realistic preparation to list the items that definitely need replacement after inspection and factor this into the price.

• Typical startup items: knife blade and fingers, elevator chain, belts, filter kit, oil changes, seals, and brushes.
• Larger items to prepare for: front tires, rasp bars and concave, hydrostatic drive overhaul.
• Parts supply: for older or rare models, obtaining parts can be longer and more expensive, which is critical during harvest.
• Calculate the financing side as well with our leasing calculator, and estimate the value of your trade-in machine with the valuation calculator.

Summary

A good used combine is not the most beautiful one, but the best-documented and most thoroughly inspected machine. If you find serious deficiencies in any of the 10 points, they should either be reflected in the price or you should keep looking. The cost of an inspection performed together with an expert is negligible compared to a drum replacement or a lost harvest day.

You can find our current stock on our combine harvester range page, and you can read detailed technical descriptions of the most popular models, such as on the Claas Lexion 660, the Claas Tucano 440 and the Claas Dominator 106 pages. If you need help choosing, contact our colleagues on the contact page.