Aco Gleaner R72 Combine Harvesting Corn: Specs, History, and Price

Gleaner R72 Combine Overview

• 🌽 The Aco Gleaner R72 combine, a top-of-the-line model from the R2 series, is showcased harvesting corn in South Central Wisconsin.
• ⚙️ This combine features a 330 horsepower engine, a 330-bushel grain bin, and is paired with a 12-row Gleaner R1230 Hugger corn head.

Production History and Specifications

• 📅 The R2 series of Gleaner combines were produced from 1992 to 2002, initially manufactured in Independence, Missouri, and later in H, Kansas.
• 🚀 Early R72 models (through 1993) used a 300 hp Doutites BF8 L58B V8 air-cooled engine, while later models (from 1994) were equipped with a 330 hp Cummins M11 6-cylinder turbocharged liquid-cooled engine.
• ⛽ It has a 150-gallon diesel fuel tank and a four-speed hydrostatic transmission allowing speeds up to 22 mph.

Threshing and Cleaning System

• 🌾 The combine utilizes a unique natural flow rotor system mounted horizontally, differing from traditional axial or twin rotor designs.
• 💡 Crop enters through a 39-inch wide feeder house and moves directly into the rotor, where chaff is separated from the grain without wrapping.
• 🧼 The R72 boasts a high-profile rasp rotor (25" diameter, 88" length) and a total cleaning area of 7,187 square inches.

Grain Handling and Dimensions

• 📊 The 330-bushel grain tank unloads at 2.4 bushels per second via a 12-inch diameter auger.
• 📏 Standard unloading auger length was 20.8 feet, with an optional 21.6-foot upgrade available for wider harvesting platforms.
• ⚖️ The combine weighs 23,046 pounds.

Original Pricing and Options

• 💰 In 1992, a Doutites-powered R72 cost $150,795, increasing to $162,680 by 2002 with the Cummins engine.
• 💰 An optional rear-wheel assist four-wheel drive traction rear axle added $11,288 to the price.
• 💲 The 12-row Gleaner R1230 Hugger head had an original price tag of $30,380.