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Guide to Buying Used Combine Platforms

Helpful insights for purchasing, maintaining, and maximizing value from pre-owned combine platforms.

Shopping for a used combine platforms? This guide highlights what to check, common wear factors, and how Koenig Equipment ensures you get lasting value.

What to Check for and Common Wear Factors in a Used Combine Platforms

  • Auger Heads: Check auger flighting for sharpness, bends, or cracks; inspect the floor for holes, rust, or worn spots where material may leak.

  • Sickle & Guards: Check knife sections for sharpness, missing or broken pieces, and the integrity of guards. Excessive wobble or uneven wear signals problems.

  • Draper Belts (Draper Platforms): Look for belt tension and surface wear, cracking, fraying, or patch repairs mean replacement will be needed. Ensure belts track evenly.

  • Flexible Cutter Bar: Confirm smooth flexing action without binding; check for broken or poorly repaired sections.

  • Reel & Height Controls: Test reel tines and bearings for smooth rotation, bent arms, and proper movement. Check header height sensors and auto-control if equipped.

  • Drive Components: Inspect the feeder house coupler, chains, and shafts for excessive play or noise. Verify hydraulic and electrical connectors are clean and functional.

  • General Wear: Look for bent end shields, previous welds, and rust through areas on frame and skids.

  • Operational Test: Watch platform run at full speed on the combine whenever possible, checking for vibration, feeding consistency, and header height response.

Important Model Year Milestones for Combine Platforms

  • 2000s: Introduction of flex platforms and wider cutting widths, popular for soybeans in the Midwest.

  • 2010s: Rise of HydraFlex™ (John Deere) and similar systems offering advanced hydraulic float for consistent ground-following in uneven fields.

  • 2015+: Wide adoption of draper platforms for smoother crop feeding, reduced shatter loss, and higher harvest speeds, especially in soybeans and wheat.

  • 2020s: Digital controls, auto-height systems, and more integration with combine displays. John Deere HDF (Hinged Drapers with flexible knives) allow higher productivity and adaptability.

Common Costs & Value Factors for Combine Platforms

Factors like age, hours, brand, and condition all influence resale value. Below is a general guide to price ranges for combine platforms, prices below or above these ranges do not mean the product is improperly priced, as this is just a general guide.

  • Auger/Flex Heads (25-30 ft.): Pricing for older models auger and flex heads (4+ years) range from $9,000 to $25,000 with newer models (less than 4 years of age) ranging from $30,000 to $45,000. These are primarily used for smaller or expanding farm operations.
  • Flex Draper (30-40 ft.): Pricing for older model flex drapers (4+ years) range from $35,000 to $85,000 with newer models (less than 4 years of age) ranging from $90,000 to $145,000+. Flex drapers from 30 to 40 ft. are the standard draper model for most farms today.
  • Large Flex Drapers (40-50+ ft.): Pricing for older model flex drapers (4+ years) range from $85,000 to $135,000 with newer models (less than 4 years of age) ranging from $135,000 to $165,000+. Larger flex drapers that are 40 and above are used for larger operations and normally include some of the latest system features.

  • Wear and Replacement Parts: $750–$6,000 for initial wear parts and repairs on most units; draper belts and sickle assemblies are the most common early expenses for used combine platforms.

Why Buy Used Combine Platforms from Koenig?

  • Expert Inspections: Each used platform is thoroughly assessed for key wear points, reducing surprises during your next harvest.

  • Expert Field Advice: Recommendations are tailored to the specific crops, field sizes, and terrain common in Indiana, Ohio, and surrounding regions.

  • Dealer Support: Fast access to replacement belts, sickles, guards, and bearings, plus knowledgeable service teams for pre-season setup or quick in-field repairs.

  • Inventory Selection: Koenig stocks both auger and draper platforms, including popular widths and recent models compatible with current combines.

Next Steps for Finding the Right Combine Platform for Your Operation

Browse our current used Combine Platform inventory or contact Koenig Equipment to find the right machine for your operation.