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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

top unloader harvestore

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pafreehling

12-11-2006 17:46:58




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I am in southwest michigan and would like to know if anyone has used or knows about top unload harvestore options now availible. I know they cut doors into the sides and use a top unloader but with the demise of dairy in my area silo experts are very few. Also would like to find a couple of smaller ?x20 or 25 foot high silos for sale, up or disassembled. I feed beef cattle and would like to find at least 2 of them. There are companies who move them, any suggestions. LOTS OF QUESTIONS!

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Red Dave

12-12-2006 08:28:27




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
Around here, (S.E. PA), the Amish have been known to buy them, tear them down & rebuild them into a top unloader.

Any Amish in your area?



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pafreehling

12-12-2006 17:05:53




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to Red Dave, 12-12-2006 08:28:27  
Yes we do. Has anyone that you know done this conversion and commented on it?



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farmerboy

12-12-2006 07:02:34




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
We have a 20X60 corn unit and a 20X90 silage unit. They've really fallen out of favor 'cause they're too slow for loading TMRs. I remember loading the feed cart and going all the way around our 60 cow barn to feed 15 or so cows per cart. If I was in a hurry and breaking land speed records, there wouldn't be enough to fill the cart again by the time I got back when I left it running onto the ground while I fed.

Another thing that hurts Harvestores today is the unbelievable hourly rates the service guys charge to "short arm" them while filling. "Short arming" was strongly recommended every time you filled as you could bust the unloader from the pressure of filling. The guys that came out told me they had to dig out an unloader that had busted at the nine o'clock position 'cause the farmer thought he could save 400 bucks and fill it without short arming it. He was wrong and paid ALOT more by the time they had it fixed. I remember Dad saying the Harvestore guys charging 150 an hour and a 50 dollar service call.

They were pretty nice mainly because you didn't need to change doors and and they were sealed, mostly eliminating spoilage. Making them top unload would eliminate both those advantages.

I'd find a stave silo if you're looking to move one and want top unload.

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dumb painter

12-12-2006 17:41:27




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 Question about in reply to farmerboy, 12-12-2006 07:02:34  
What did "Short arming" involve?



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JMS/MN

12-12-2006 20:14:18




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 Re: Question about in reply to dumb painter, 12-12-2006 17:41:27  
Remove a few feet of backbone (steel weldment that the chain runs on) and a few feet of the chain that rips the haylage loose. After filling, reinstall, so the unloader reaches to the outer wall. Unloader needs to be pulled and set on rails outside the door to do each procedure. Mostly BS.



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JMS/MN

12-12-2006 09:34:05




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to farmerboy, 12-12-2006 07:02:34  
I never short-armed them after the first year (1977). When I filled, I made sure the arm was at 6 or 12 o'clock, and run a bit out every few hours while filling. If they need to be pulled, they'll be in the easy position. Never had to. Bottom unloading means you always have uniform, fermented feed- top unloader means constant change of feed all summer with several hay cuttings. Labor charges around here were not cheap, but well under half of your figures. Unloading haylage is slow, but the corn unit equipped with a Goliath is fantastic in low gear.

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JMS/MN

12-11-2006 23:38:29




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
Hanson Silo Company, Lake Lillian, MN. does conversions. I wouldn't convert them, but even if you use them for grain, get the forage unloader or the Power Sweep auger system. Regular auger unloader is junk. Can find good Goliath forage unloaders for $2-3000. Find out what to look for on used unloaders, skip the stainless chain, make sure the backbone is good. Maintenance is spendy on them.

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msb

12-11-2006 21:11:24




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
"Farm Show Magazine" is the place to go to for information.Look in the archives there. I think there is a guy in Ky that converts them to top unloader silos. I saw a couple of the blue monuments in a farm sale in central In. 2 years ago.They brought $100 a piece.Concrete stave silos are now about that cheap too.You might want to check with silo dealers in Wisconsin these days.A lot of them setting unused up there.

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cornfarmer

12-11-2006 18:57:34




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
Why would you want to convert one to top unload? That ruins the advantages that Harvestore had. Fed cattle for years with both stave and Harvestore silos. No way would I go back to feeding cattle with top unloaders. With a blue silo, you only climb it twice when filling-once to open it and check the bags, and again when you get done. Plus, if you chop different crops you never have to stop feeding to fill it. Their big problem was cost when new, but that should have resolved itself by now. From what I have seen, the pundits who dismiss Harvestore silos never used one.

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billyiron

12-11-2006 18:37:05




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 Re: top unloader harvestore in reply to pafreehling, 12-11-2006 17:46:58  
theres an outfit in Norfolk Ne called nebraska harvestore,they at one time were sitting on a pile of used ones,,thats bout all I know,,,billy



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