Case IH Axial Flow 9230 combine exceeds expectations

“We’d never kept any combine for as long as 10 years, so didn’t really know how the plan would work out,” Colin explained.

“But, despite farming predominantly heavy soils and taking on a significant amount of extra land since then, the combine still copes with its workload quite easily and although annual maintenance costs have increased they remain low.”

Trading as Little Bradley Farming Company, Colin farms in and around Little Bradley, near Haverhill.

The farm was overall winner of the SAA’s South Suffolk Crop Competition in 2024 and Colin commented this was only the second time it has triumphed in more than 50 years of entering.

Currently, approximately 1,000ha of combinable crops are grown on the mix of owned and contract-farmed land, and the rotation includes oilseed rape, wheat, winter and spring barley plus beans and borage.

Most wheat is grown for milling although continuous wheat from one farm is for feed.

Winter barley is also for feed and used to precede oilseed rape, allowing early establishment as a defence against flea beetle, but Colin intends to drop it next year due to reduced market prices.

Spring barley is usually one of the farm’s most profitable crops, grown for a contract with Simpsons nearby.

Reliability, cost and back-up

When the Case IH Axial Flow 9230 combine was purchased, it replaced a competitor brand.

“Our previous hybrid model lacked capacity, so we considered other options,” Colin explained. “

An agricultural consultant we work with strongly recommended the Case IH Axial Flow, and he ran one himself as well as a fleet of Case IH tractors. We borrowed a demonstration machine from the Ernest Doe Power Sudbury depot nearby, and that convinced us to place our order.”

Colin explained that priorities when selecting the new combine included reliability and a competitive purchase price. Timely back-up from a dependable dealer was also a requirement, especially as this was a problem with his previous machine.

“Before we bought the Axial-Flow we had done very little business with Ernest Doe Power, but we knew the team had a good reputation and one of our neighbours already had an Axial Flow and strongly recommended it too.” 

The Axial Flow 9230 arrived in time for the 2015 harvest, with a pre-production belt-fed header.

“The Draper header appealed as we grew combinable peas and knew that it could dramatically reduce harvesting losses by getting in under the low crop and ensuring peas went into the combine rather than falling forward onto the ground,” continued Colin.

“The header was successful, although issues with the pre-production unit persuaded us to upgrade to a MacDon Draper header the following year.

Maintain constant flow

Colin said average work rates in wheat are between 35–45t per hour, although spot rates of 60t per hour are occasionally seen.

“The key to getting the best from it is to keep the rotor full without overloading, and to maintain constant crop flow through the processing system,” he explained.

“That’s where the belt-fed header improves working efficiency, by delivering the crop steadily without lumps that might otherwise cause problems. The combine has only ever blocked once, and that was completely due to driver error. 

“The unblocking system works well though, reversing the feed elevator and rocking the drum
to release it.”

Popular with operators

Since its arrival, the combine has had five different operators, most of who were agricultural students with little prior experience.

Each year, the farm takes advantage of operator courses offered by Ernest Doe Power to ensure drivers can set-up and get the best from the machine.

“All the operators enjoy using it and even in challenging conditions it’s always been possible to achieve a clean, damage-free sample. Some of the barley varieties we grow have a reputation for being more difficult to thresh, but we have never struggled to meet the sample quality standards demanded by the buyer.

“When I check for ground losses, they are always extremely low,” Colin confirmed. “But these are all characteristics I would expect of any modern combine.”

Operator view

Driving the Axial Flow for the first time this harvest, farm manager, Chris Raggett said he finds the cab spacious and comfortable, and the machine is easy to set-up and use.

“Almost everything is adjusted from the cab. The controls are logically arranged and user-friendly. It’s easy to look after too. There are just a handful of grease nipples to lubricate each day.

“Blowing the combine down, refuelling and daily checks take 1.5 hours or so. Before this harvest I spent very little time driving combines but the Ernest Doe Power course was good, and the hints and tips have been helpful.”

Efficient and economical

Colin said that a full fuel tank provides enough diesel for up to 14 hours of harvesting, when the straw chopper isn’t in use.

“When we grew peas then they were often ready for harvesting at the same time as the milling wheats, so we hired a contractor and combine for a few days each harvest to bring in the cereals, while our combine did the peas with the MacDon header.

“I’m amazed at how complicated other brands of combine look when the side covers are opened with belts, chains and hoses everywhere. The Case IH Axial Flow is so simple in comparison, with one main drive shaft and a few hoses – that is it, and the simple design seems to contribute to the reliability. It also seems to use less fuel.”

Residue management issues

Wheat and barley straw is left in the swath and baled for a local livestock farmer by a contractor.

“We’ve had problems with the Axial-Flow discharging straw down into the stubble at high speed so that sometimes it’s difficult to pick up,” Colin observed.

“Although straw quality isn’t our main priority, the ability to leave it in good condition and easy to bale will be a factor when choosing any future machine.”

Ernest Doe Power Case IH brand manager, David Carver pointed out that later Axial Flow models provide better straw protection, and that even Colin’s older combine could have a spreader plate fitted that discharges straw horizontally rather than vertically, so it lands on top of stubbles rather than between the stalks.

Impressively reliable

By mid-harvest this year, Colin’s Axial Flow 9230 had clocked up 3,000 hours.

“It’s been impressively reliable, and parts availability and back-up from combine specialist, Steve Woods and the rest of the Ernest Doe Power team mean we have never stopped for more than a day due to a break-down,” said Colin. 

“New combines are a big investment, so when you’ve got a good machine then you’re reluctant to let it go. However, yearly maintenance costs are gradually increasing due to its age and the work it’s done, and we could do with slightly more capacity in case of a wet year.

“We no longer grow peas so would probably opt for a Case IH header rather than paying the premium for another MacDon, and we would stick with our current 35ft cutting width rather than going wider as we farm many small fields and have to negotiate narrow lanes.”

Extra technology

“Although another Axial Flow is the obvious choice, we will also check out what else is available and the cost of changing as well as value for money will be our priorities.

“Whatever we upgrade to will come with more technology and driver aids than our current machine, and features such as optional Case IH HarvestCommand that constantly optimises harvesting performance in line with pre-set parameters on the latest models would give us advantages.

“We are also moving towards remote transfer of task and field data between machines and the farm office, so the Trimble mapping systems which come with the latest Axial Flow models would be of benefit, especially as they are cross-compatible with the system used for our other machines on
the farm.”

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