Review of the John Deere-9660 STS combine

American John Deere products are currently the most common harvesters in the world. To develop technology, the brand uses high-tech equipment and innovative techniques. In terms of the quality of the cars produced, no other brand can compare with the manufacturer. The consistently high demand for John Deere combines is due to reliability, high operating efficiency and unpretentiousness.

For consumers choosing a simple and productive combine, the John Deere 9660 will be the best option. The series includes several models, which allows you to choose a modification that is optimally suited for specific purposes. The machine has high threshing quality indicators and is characterized by minimal grain losses even when harvesting creeping and low-growing plants.

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Models of the John Deere 9660 series are suitable for operation in Russian climatic conditions. Combines not only perform high-quality work, but also demonstrate great fuel economy. The model is characterized by all the advantages inherent in John Deere products. The machine is distinguished by power and maneuverability, the presence of an automatic operating mode and good visibility (panoramic glazing and lighting, allowing cleaning at night).

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John Deere 9660 is used for harvesting grain crops, followed by threshing and cleaning. There are many additional adapters available for the combine that allow you to harvest soybeans, corn, sunflowers and other crops.

Cabin overview

The cabin is equipped with a climate control system with air conditioning; the large panoramic glass has an athermal coating, which also reduces the influence of ultraviolet radiation on the cabin. On the front slope of the cab there are several digital displays, which display information about the operating status of the machine, main technical characteristics in real time, etc. The driver’s seat has several adjustments and, depending on the configuration, can be equipped with an electric drive.

Specifications

Dimensions:

• length (without header) – 8980 mm;
• width (without header) – 3770 mm;
• height – 3940 mm.

The mass of the combine is 13523 kg. The equipment is equipped with headers with a working width of 4300-9150 mm.

Performance characteristics:

• rotor diameter – 750 mm;
• rotor speed – 210-1000 rpm;
• area of ​​cleaning sieves – 4.6 sq.m;
• cleaning fan speed – 500-1200 rpm;
• separation area – 12.37 sq.m;
• grain bunker capacity – 8800 l;
• screw conveyor length – 6500 mm;
• unloading height – 4400 mm;
• unloading speed – 77.5 l/sec.

The transport speed of the combine can reach 31 km/h, the operating speed is 10 km/h. The machine can lay straw in a thin layer in a 10 m strip or form compact windrows.

Engine

The John Deere 9660 combine is equipped with a 4-stroke diesel unit of its own production with liquid cooling. The engine is distinguished by reliability and efficiency. The engine is turbocharged and has in-line cylinders. The special Posi-Trock system reduces power losses during operation in various conditions and extends the service life.

Motor characteristics:

• working volume – 8.1 l;
• rated power – 234 (320) kW (hp);
• rated speed – 2200 rpm;
• number of cylinders – 6.

Review of the John Deere-9660 STS combine

The John Deere-9660 STS combine is a typical representative of powerful, well-powered universal combines. Designed for harvesting cereal plants, as well as sunflowers and corn. With the correct selection of the header, this model is also ready to work and harvest low-growing plant species, as well as those that are especially creeping.

Specifications

The hero of our review is one of the youngest combines of the most powerful family from the famous American manufacturer. The maximum speed when harvesting can be up to 10 km/h, which is an excellent indicator, because the width of the header varies between 4.5-9.3 meters.

Key indicators and layout

The basic header and standard equipment of the machine, as well as its internal layout, are designed for harvesting, first of all, cereal crops. The functionality of the combine is dictated by its main elements of the device, as well as layout features. The engine is located behind the operator's cabin, which, in turn, is located at the front of the machine. This solution allows you to better see the cleaning process and frees up space for bulky mechanisms.

Dimensions

The overall dimensions of a John Deere can vary greatly and depend on several factors. The first of these is the width of the header. It can vary within the range of 4.5-9.2 meters, thus increasing the crop area processed in one pass of the combine. The length of the machine is also related to the dimensions of the header. The most bulky attachment is designed for harvesting corn. Optionally, the combine can be equipped with a gable front tire, which significantly reduces the pressure on the soil and increases the combine's maneuverability on soft and clayey soils.

Engine

The combine is equipped with a 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which is produced at one of the company’s enterprises and is the own development of American engineers. The rated power of the power unit is 305 horsepower.

Design and service features

John Deere 9660 is made according to a classic design, but in design and characteristics it differs from most models of the brand.

Combine design features:

• an inclined chamber with a high-performance floating conveyor, allowing you to harvest high-yielding crops. The reinforced drive ensures stable mass delivery under heavy loads and harsh operating conditions. The feeder chamber has 6 adjustments in the longitudinal and transverse directions, ensuring adaptability to the soil topography and crop parameters. On the John Deere 9660 model, you can adjust the angle of attack of the header for effective harvesting of low plants and fallen grains. The adjustment ensures that the bottom of the header is parallel to the ground when using tires with a dimension different from the base one. The special electro-hydraulic terrain following system “Hedertruck” automatically adjusts harvesting parameters, allowing you to work on uneven ground or sloping fields. Information about the characteristics of the system and the terrain is transmitted to a monitor in the interior of the combine. The extended feeder chamber also improves visibility of the header's work area. The hydraulic lines and electrical wires of the header are located in a single breakaway coupling, so no additional tools are required to install/remove the header. Unlike other combines, the John Deere 9660 also has an additional device for controlling the header mounting lock;
• the most powerful reversing mechanism. During reverse operation, the reel rotates in the opposite direction;
• modern threshing system. The latest John Deere 9660 models are equipped with a 3-piece STS threshing system. In the first section, the mass is distributed and supplied to the threshing area, in the second – threshing, in the third – separation of the grain remaining in the straw. The STS modification uses a 3-stage asymmetrical rotor jacket, which helps release the grain mass during tedding. This improves threshing and reduces fuel consumption. There is also no unnecessary grinding of the straw. The drum in the combine consists of 5 blades. There are 3 types of concave used for John Deere 9660. The coarse-mesh wire concave is used for working with corn and soybeans, the fine-mesh wire concave is used for threshing sunflowers, grains, corn, rye, rice and rapeseed with a moisture content of up to 25%, the rod concave is used for collecting soybeans, peas and corn for grain;
• cleaning mechanism. The system includes conveying screws, fine and coarse sieves, a pre-cleaner and a rotary fan. The latter produces a dense, uniform air flow over the entire area. The pre-cleaner removes about 40% of the chaff, relieving the load on the main sieves. Powerful conveyor screws transfer the mass to the sieve frame. The STS modifications also contain servomotors that regulate the gaps of the screens from the passenger compartment;
• grain bin with a 2-leaf lid that prevents moisture from entering. The lid is opened from the control panel located in the cabin. Unloading of grain is carried out in any position of the unloading auger;
• a straw chopper that places straw in windrows or across a field. Several rotation speed ranges allow you to select the optimal operating mode. For coarse grinding, fixed or regular knives are used, for fine grinding, special serrated knives are used.

John Deere 9660 is equipped with a comfortable cabin with a system for automatically adjusting the air temperature in the cabin. The large glass area (5.2 sq.m.) provides excellent visibility. The machine controls are installed in a logical sequence. There are 4 separate monitors in the cabin with control buttons located on the right side of the vertical column. The combine, unlike most modern modifications, is easy to operate and does not have complex devices or difficult-to-understand menu systems. Even a beginner can work on it, and a minimum of time will be spent on training.

Advantages of John Deere 9660:

1. durability of units and components;
2. unification of spare parts with other brand products;
3. automation of most operations;
4. control of key parameters from the cockpit;
5. high quality factory assembly;
6. efficiency.

Disadvantages of John Deere 9660:

1. poor information content of the instruction manual;
2. high cost of the combine, consumables, spare parts and service.

Maintenance of the John Deere 9660 combine will not be a problem. Maintenance intervals are displayed on the on-board computer. When service is due, the relevant information appears on the display. The modular design of the rotor feeder, straw chopper and fan provides easy access to the components. All belts and chains of the combine are installed in a convenient place, and service lamps illuminate the elements, allowing maintenance to be carried out in low light.

John Deere 9660 STS – a universal combine harvester with increased power

Combine harvesters produced by the American company John Deere are quite popular in our country. High reliability, economical consumption of fuel and lubricants, excellent threshing and low grain losses when harvesting any crops, including creeping and low-growing crops, are the main reasons for such popularity. The manufacturer is constantly increasing the range of its equipment, regularly carrying out upgrades and introducing innovative solutions.

Why is this series interesting?

The John Deere 9660 STS combine can be classified as a series of models characterized by excellent characteristics. It was the result of selecting the best characteristics of early models and eliminating all noticed shortcomings. One of the main advantages is the high-quality threshing scheme. It significantly reduces the load on the machine’s power unit and its kinematics. In addition, important advantages are:

high performance of the model, ensured by full computerization of the system;

maximum comfort for the combine operator when working;

increased fuel tank capacity (960 liters) allows the unit to perform work autonomously for a long time;

a high-speed screw conveyor reduces time lost during downtime associated with product unloading.

It’s impossible not to mention saving time. The complexity and volume of service work is significantly reduced, and maintenance only needs to be performed once every 50 hours.

At the same time, John Deere 9660 can boast of the most powerful engine in its series, which allows it to perform the entire volume of work in agricultural companies.

Main characteristics

Weighing 14 tons, the combine is characterized by its small size, high maneuverability, excellent maneuverability and minimal pressure on the soil. The car is equipped with a proprietary six-cylinder diesel engine capable of developing a power of 305 horsepower.

Operating at medium speeds, the engine is able to create high torque, reducing fuel consumption. Liquid cooling demonstrates maximum efficiency, reducing engine temperatures even when running at high speeds for long periods of time.

Speaking about the features that this series of combines has, it should be noted:

the ability to select the optimal angle of attack with a wide range of header adjustments,

extended feeder chamber,

hundred-horsepower reel reverse,

innovative three-circuit threshing system.

The grain bin has a volume of 8800 liters, which allows you to rarely unload raw materials, saving time.

Operating Parameters

The mown mass is fed by a conveyor at a speed of 520 rpm. Its width is 1397 millimeters. Threshing is performed by a ball rotor with a length of 3130 and a diameter of 750 millimeters, operating at speeds from 210 to 1000 rpm.

The threshed grain together with straw enters a rotary separator, where separation and purification of chaff and other impurities is carried out by blowing with a powerful air flow. The flow is created by a fan with a rotation speed of 500 to 1200 rpm. At the same time, cleaning is carried out over an area of ​​4.6 square meters.

The combine operator independently chooses the harvesting technology, distributing the mown straw on the mown ground in a thin layer or rolling it into dense windrows.

Grain processing

The finished product is moved into a hopper, from which it is cyclically removed by a screw loader. Its average productivity is 77.5 liters per second. Several dimensional options for the unloading mechanism allow you to choose the most suitable one for a particular situation. The maximum grain supply height is 4.4 meters.

Thanks to the high power of the engine, work can be combined with moving the collected grain into the back of a truck.

Advantages

If we talk about the main advantages of John Deere combines over most analogues, then first of all we should highlight:

compliance with agrotechnical agronomic requirements;

increased durability and reliability of all units and components;

all engine and transmission parameters are under computer control;

most of the spare parts are the same as those for previous machines in the series, which simplifies repairs;

working main and auxiliary operations are controlled by computer.

High-quality lighting equipment not only ensures high safety, but also increases work efficiency in low-light conditions.

Many users consider the important advantages of the 9660 STS model to be excellent factory assembly, high functionality, and low fuel consumption. It is important that the combine harvester is distinguished by a successful arrangement of units and can be operated for a long time at maximum load without harm to itself. As practice shows, even with many years of active use, the machines remain in excellent technical condition, without needing major repairs.

Cons of combines

If we talk about the disadvantages of this technology, we can highlight the high cost. Moreover, this applies equally to both the combine itself and all spare parts, assemblies, components, consumables and maintenance.