- 7 weeks ago
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00:00If you want to have a look around the corner here, you will see a rather nice accoutrement, large ones, here.
00:15There you go.
00:17All right, there you go.
00:19That's a bit small.
00:20That is a bit of a disappointment.
00:23What do you mean by that?
00:23Well, there's no engine.
00:25What are we going to do to that?
00:26Sand it down.
00:27I don't know.
00:27I just liked it.
00:28I thought it looked like something out of Lord of the Rings.
00:30I am disappointed.
00:31No, you shouldn't be.
00:31All you've got to do is take a few more steps forward.
00:34Oh, OK.
00:34Then you'll be fine, because I'll tell you what, it's got a friend.
00:37Oh, OK.
00:38Ah-ah.
00:43For years, I've been in love with agricultural equipment.
00:48I've had tractors, ploughs.
00:51It's going really well.
00:52And cultivators.
00:54Look at that!
00:55We're cultivating!
00:56But now I want something very big and very special.
01:00I want something vast.
01:02A combine harvester.
01:03I think we've made your day.
01:05We're going to buy one.
01:08Get it going.
01:09Look, it's right in there like a rapid drain pipe.
01:11And learn how to use it.
01:13It's cutting!
01:14If it goes well, we'll harvest my wheat field and then sell it for a tidy profit.
01:19But it ain't going to be easy.
01:21Welcome to Shed and Buried.
01:24Classic combine.
01:30We're on our way to Sherbourne in Dorset in search of something big.
01:35We're heading towards Justin.
01:40He is our perfect shed dweller today because he's got vast accoutrement.
01:48Oh, yes.
01:49Oh, yeah, baby.
01:50We have been on the search for a while, but I think we might have found it right here.
01:55And that is...
01:57Is it a lawnmower?
01:59It is a sort of lawnmower.
02:01As you know, it will be, I hope, a fully operational, with a little bit of fettling...
02:09Yes.
02:10...Massie Ferguson combine.
02:13Fantastic!
02:14I love the idea of harvesting.
02:17Have you ever driven a combine harvester, though?
02:19No.
02:20Do you know anything about them?
02:22No.
02:23Do you want to know my experience of combine harvesters?
02:26Not particularly.
02:27Well, you've just heard it.
02:29What?
02:30Nothing?
02:30Nothing.
02:33Whether we come back with a huge combine harvester and a huge hole in my pocket, who knows?
02:39But, Dorset, here we come.
02:48Joe, you're Justin's son.
02:50Yeah, that's right.
02:50Now, my children just want to be on the internet and on phones and games and things.
02:55Has it sort of gone in the blood down to you?
02:57Yeah, that's it.
02:58Yeah, anything, any screens or any of that, I'm not interested in that.
03:01Wow.
03:01Give me a spanner and I'm happy, that's it.
03:03Brilliant.
03:04Justin, Joe, right, we're in the market for some big stuff.
03:09Exactly.
03:09I want something vast.
03:11What sort of thing are you looking for?
03:12Oh, well, fuzzer.
03:13Okay, well, he's been on, banging on about big farm machinery, combines, all that kind
03:20of stuff.
03:20Yeah, we might be able to help you out there.
03:22Yeah.
03:22I think we've made your day.
03:23Is it red?
03:24It's red.
03:25It's Massey.
03:26Is it?
03:26Massey.
03:27Oh, man.
03:28Is it?
03:29How old is it?
03:30Oh, 1967.
03:31Is that old?
03:31Even better.
03:33That's three years younger than me.
03:35That's right, so it must be worn out.
03:37Oh, no, it's getting there.
03:40Yeah, cool.
03:40Well, that's brilliant.
03:41Okay, look.
03:42Okay, so we'll have a look at the combine, but also, obviously, we won't be able to keep
03:45our hands off other accoutrements to go with it.
03:48Oh, yeah, that's fine.
03:48Have you got plenty of stuff?
03:49Yeah, there's stuff here.
03:50It's all here somewhere.
03:50You've just got to find it.
03:51Really?
03:52Everything's for sale as well?
03:53Everything's for sale.
03:54Oh, cool.
03:54At the right price.
03:55Right, okay, so look, what we'll do is we're right up for the big stuff.
03:58We'll hunt the big stuff first.
03:59Yeah.
04:00Right, and then we'll have a look for some accoutrements.
04:03No problem.
04:04Help yourselves.
04:05Yeah, great.
04:05Justin, thank you so much.
04:07Joe, thank you so much.
04:08Cheers.
04:08Great.
04:09Great meeting you.
04:09Let's go this way.
04:10Okay, come on then.
04:11Is it in there?
04:11In there.
04:20Carefully, carefully.
04:21Look, steady yourself, old boy.
04:22Lean against something.
04:25Come on, man.
04:27Do you know what?
04:27I'll tell you what.
04:28When I was thinking about big stuff, right, and I imagined something like a combine, I
04:34imagined it to be red.
04:36Yes.
04:36I imagined it to be cabless.
04:38Yeah.
04:39And I imagined it to be something rather like that.
04:44Here comes a new one and a big one.
04:48Matsey Ferguson was one of the pioneers of self-propelled combine harvesters.
04:53They revolutionised farming, literally combining the reaping, threshing and winnowing stages of
04:59the annual harvest.
05:01Operations that were once done by hand or on separate machines.
05:06Joe, Justin, come in here.
05:08Look, now, you did say you had something quite special, didn't you?
05:12Yeah, we weren't lying to you.
05:14Now, come on then.
05:14Tell me about this.
05:16It's a Matsey Ferguson 788.
05:18788?
05:19Yeah.
05:19And basically, yeah, we use it here sort of like each year to cut like an acre and a
05:23half of corn.
05:24All right.
05:25Oh, so it works?
05:26Yeah, yeah.
05:26For how much longer did they make these open cab harvesters?
05:30Probably until the end of the 60s, I thought, and then in the 70s, they'd probably start
05:34putting cabs on them then.
05:35Yeah.
05:35While everyone was dying of emphysema.
05:38Farmer's lung.
05:39Farmer's lung.
05:40Yeah.
05:40They didn't wear anything.
05:41Just about to scarf over their nose.
05:42That's right.
05:43That's exactly right.
05:44That was it.
05:45Yeah, bliming, yeah.
05:46Bliming.
05:46So you use it every year, though, this particular one?
05:48Yeah, pretty much, yeah.
05:49Most of the machinery we've got, we try and use.
05:51So it just needs a bit of a makeover, right?
05:53Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:53What else does it need?
05:55There's belts everywhere.
05:57Yeah, there's a belt that needs replacing, which I've got a new one for.
06:00Yeah.
06:00Part of the price, yeah.
06:01Yeah.
06:03Yeah, there's a bit of tinkering on the side.
06:06There's like a screen that goes down the side to stop dust going into the air cleaner.
06:10I mean, this has got a set of guards to go with it, but we've always liked seeing it
06:15work, so we've never put them on.
06:16And you walk down the side here.
06:17Yeah, all those chains.
06:19Yeah, no, you've got to see the chains going.
06:20That's it.
06:21Basically, there's an elevator that takes it up to the thrashing drum, where basically
06:24the heads get stripped off the wheat, and all the grain falls through onto some sieves.
06:29And it does a shake in, and the air blows all the chaff out.
06:33The grain drops through the sieve, and then you have an elevator that takes it back up
06:37to the tank, and then you can unload it.
06:39Oh, there we are.
06:40I can't wait to see all that working.
06:42So let's move on, because we're off to some trinketry as well, shall we?
06:45Okay, yeah.
06:46Oh, mate, fantastic.
06:47I'll tell you what, I love a combine.
06:48You really think it's all?
06:51I don't know yet.
06:52Come on.
06:52Really?
06:53Come on, guys.
06:54Come on.
06:56So unless he's got another one somewhere else, it seems like we've found a potential combine.
07:01But we're also going to need some big bits of trinketry to go with it.
07:06And looking around this vast farm, I'm sure we're going to find a lot more.
07:10Starting with this giant-sized stationary engine.
07:15Look at this.
07:16Fuzzer.
07:17Look at this.
07:19Now, hang on a second.
07:21Now, this is magnificent.
07:24It's huge.
07:25It's a Lister, but what is it?
07:27I mean, it's a 10 horsepower.
07:30I think this is one of the biggest Listers they did.
07:33Lister is one of the great names in British agricultural history,
07:37from their factory in Dursley in Gloucestershire.
07:40They produced everything from sheep-shearing equipment to cream separators
07:45and the stationary engines that once powered Britain.
07:48Talking about big stuff.
07:49Yes.
07:50I'm sorry.
07:51It is absolutely stunning.
07:53Most of them have a little trolley, don't they?
07:56Yeah.
07:56With tiny little metal wheels, right, that you pull around a country show.
08:00This thing is pulled by a tractor.
08:02Well, yeah.
08:02Or something.
08:03And these wheels look like they've come off a, well,
08:05I would suggest maybe a milk float or something like that.
08:09Something like that.
08:10Yeah.
08:11For more bijou trinkets,
08:13Justin's got a litter of cubbyhole shelf units.
08:17You could basically keep everything I ever owned in those.
08:22Love them.
08:23And in his next shed...
08:24Look at this.
08:25It's grey, it's old, it's beautiful.
08:28He's got a factory prototype, little grey Fergie,
08:31with high and low gears, which will be worth at least ten grand.
08:36This for sale, is it?
08:38Um, yeah, well, have you got enough money to buy it?
08:41No.
08:43Probably not, Joe, you're right.
08:44Yeah.
08:45Anyway, it's a nice thought, isn't it?
08:47And as for the perfect accessory for the combine,
08:50I've spotted something.
08:52Potential grain cart.
08:53Yeah, that is very nice.
08:55What do you reckon?
08:55Beautiful, beautiful.
08:56I do, I do.
08:57I think that is lovely.
08:58There is another really nice cart.
09:00Shall I...
09:01Have a look at that, get that chipboard or whatever it is away.
09:04Oh, that's rather fun, isn't it?
09:06Wouldn't that be nice?
09:08Wouldn't that be nice?
09:09Oh, I see what you said there.
09:11Well, we can ask about it, come on.
09:13Oh, yeah, let's ask about that.
09:14Yeah.
09:15Before we get down to some hard haggling, though,
09:18there's one more field to check out.
09:24Pass.
09:25That looks like a field full of old Fergis.
09:30It's a herd, mate.
09:31Yeah.
09:32Oh, my God, come on.
09:34It's so crazy, it's kind of like an art form.
09:37It is.
09:37Isn't it?
09:38It's an installation.
09:40So this is where they've all gone.
09:41Ha, ha, ha, ha.
09:47Blimey, O'Reilly, mate.
09:49At the back, there's a covered shed with yet more tractors,
09:52but none of them compared to what we've already seen.
09:55Well, we've found it, haven't we?
09:57Yeah.
09:57That Massey for the right price.
09:59Straight in.
10:00It's absolutely beautiful.
10:02OK, so, look, we've got the combine,
10:04but obviously a nice little bit of trinket tree as well.
10:06Big cubbyhole shelving.
10:07Yeah, yeah, that was great.
10:08I did like that slope-sided wooden trailer.
10:13Shall we go see the boys?
10:14Yeah, come on.
10:14Come on, then.
10:15I'm in the mood.
10:17So we know what our targets are,
10:19but can we get them for the right price?
10:23OK, let's start with the biggest item, obviously, the Massey.
10:26Yeah.
10:26How much do you want for that?
10:27Three grand.
10:29OK.
10:30All right.
10:30Oh, OK.
10:31All right, and it runs and rides, sort of.
10:33Yeah, it needs a little bit of looking up.
10:34There is a beautiful, very large stationary engine.
10:39It's a Lister R.
10:40Lister Type R.
10:41Type R.
10:421926.
10:4310 horsepower.
10:43Don't tell me.
10:45Yeah, yeah, that's it.
10:46Yeah, that's mine as well.
10:47Now I hope then.
10:48You won't be able to start that one, no.
10:50What?
10:50It's hard to start.
10:51Yeah.
10:51I've got muscle.
10:53Have you?
10:53Yeah, not me.
10:54I've seen more muscle on a baked bean.
10:57But I have them.
10:58Yeah.
10:59But it's not for sale, anyway.
11:00That one's not for sale, no.
11:01OK.
11:02All right.
11:02So, look, moving into the other shed with the Morris Minor in it.
11:05Yeah.
11:06Now there's a cart.
11:07Yeah.
11:08Yeah.
11:08Yeah, sort of slope-sided one.
11:10The old dung putt.
11:11The dung putt.
11:11Is that what it's called?
11:12Yeah, a dung putt.
11:12What's it called?
11:13A dung putt.
11:14OK.
11:15Now, how much is the dung putt?
11:16£1,000.
11:21All right.
11:22All right.
11:24What happens if we go two and a half for the combine to start off?
11:32No, we want a bit more than that.
11:34Three grand.
11:46We're down in Dorset with Justin and his son, Joe,
11:50trying to fulfil my lifelong ambition to own and master a combine harvester.
11:56He wants three grand for it, but we want to pay two and a half.
12:00No, we want a bit more than that.
12:02What?
12:04£2,750.
12:04Do you know what?
12:08I'm going to say that that sounds to me like quite a fair price for such a big item.
12:14Yeah, I think that's all right.
12:17He's right.
12:18Well done, Joe.
12:19OK, hang on.
12:21The dung putt.
12:23It's all had new wood.
12:24It's all been rebuilt.
12:26All in oak.
12:27All in oak.
12:28£750.
12:28No, no, there's got to be more than that.
12:32I'll tell you what, I'll do you a special deal just today.
12:35£900.
12:38OK, look, before we go any further, the silvered cubbyhole shelving, what did you say?
12:44£50?
12:45£50.
12:45All right, £950 the pair, plus £2,750.
12:49£3,750, that's £3,700 the lot.
12:53We got it.
12:54£3,700 the lot.
12:56Yeah.
12:56Wonderful.
12:57I've got to tell you, it's not free delivery, is it?
13:00Not quite, no.
13:01I know a man, though, would do it.
13:02Yeah.
13:07A week later, the ground trembles as our supersized challenge arrives on the farm.
13:13It's bigger than any agricultural equipment we've had so far.
13:17And it's going to be a real test for me to master.
13:23Next day, Skid and Alan get the call.
13:27I've brought you down here, right?
13:29You know we were after big stuff.
13:32Yeah.
13:32Yeah?
13:34Well, we think we've found it, yeah?
13:36Right.
13:37So, if you want to have a look round the corner here,
13:41you will see a rather nice accoutrement, large ones.
13:48Here.
13:49There we go.
13:53Oh, that's a bit small.
13:54Well, I'm a bit disappointed.
13:56What do you mean by that?
13:57Well, there's no engine.
13:58It looks like a hay cart.
13:58No, it's a dungtup for carrying, you know, dung around.
14:03Yeah.
14:03A dung cart?
14:04I mean, what are we going to do to that?
14:06Sand it down?
14:06I don't know.
14:07I just liked it.
14:08I thought it looked like something out of Lord of the Rings.
14:09It's very quaint.
14:10It is lovely, but I am disappointed.
14:12No, you shouldn't be.
14:13Oh.
14:13All you've got to do is take a few more steps forward.
14:15Oh, okay.
14:16Then you'll be fine, because I'll tell you what.
14:17It's got a friend.
14:18Oh, okay.
14:19Now, now I know why you're wearing the scarf.
14:24Yes.
14:25That's proper old, isn't it?
14:26Yeah, yeah.
14:27Ah, right there.
14:28That would be a convoy and harvest, or that?
14:30It looks a bit old and crusty.
14:32Come on, have a look.
14:32Come on, have a look.
14:33As we get closer, it gets bigger.
14:34It's like a big lawnmower, really, isn't it?
14:36Come on, Bean.
14:37Have a look.
14:38Bean, Bean, Bean.
14:39Yeah, it's quite large up close, isn't it?
14:41Mate, it looks surprisingly all right.
14:43All the chains are kind of greasy and on, and the belts seam on.
14:47What we need to do first of all, I think,
14:48is probably just start it up and see what happens.
14:52Now, I had a very brief run-through yesterday when it arrived,
14:56but this is going to be my first proper ride on a combine.
15:00Do you want me to hold the steps?
15:01Right.
15:01Foot the ladder.
15:03Yeah, that's it.
15:04Foot the ladder.
15:04Now, there should be a cushion here.
15:06There you go.
15:07There you go.
15:07Okay.
15:08No, I'll put it down.
15:10There you go.
15:10That's nice.
15:11Oh, no.
15:12Is it wet?
15:13Yes, I've crunched my bottom, and now it's all gone woovler.
15:16Okay, right, let's spark it up.
15:17I don't know what we're doing.
15:18Where's the choke?
15:22First time.
15:24We can put things in the grain cart.
15:27She'll be happy in there.
15:28This is it.
15:29I feel like combine armister.
15:33Hiya.
15:34There you go.
15:35He's going.
15:35There we go.
15:36He's sitting there up.
15:37We're moving.
15:38Yeah.
15:39No.
15:39Watch this.
15:42It's cutting.
15:44It's cutting.
15:46What a feeling.
15:48It's all beautiful.
15:49This combine might be almost 60 years old, but it's still taking care of business.
15:56Lower it.
15:57That's it.
15:58More.
16:00I don't want to wreck it.
16:02We managed to get something in there.
16:03The choppers are working.
16:04Yeah.
16:05The paper, yeah.
16:07Maybe I think they probably look a bit dry to me.
16:10Shall we go and see them?
16:11Well, look.
16:17You managed to move it.
16:19We did notice you were very much winging it.
16:21It sounds really good.
16:22It does sound lovely.
16:23And also, look, I've got the thing to go up and down.
16:25Yeah.
16:26I've got the header to spin.
16:27The little cutters are going like that.
16:28I've got the cutters to go like that.
16:30Yes.
16:31I know how to break.
16:33In a couple of weeks, I'm going to set our big combine.
16:36A big challenge.
16:38I've done a deal with Ed.
16:39Yeah.
16:40Me next-door neighbour, right?
16:42We can harvest that field at the bottom of me drive.
16:47I think there's going to be a lot of wastage.
16:49Yeah.
16:49I'm sorry, don't I?
16:51I think we'd be lucky if we all end this whole thing
16:54having cut the field with all our limbs.
16:58Oh, mate, how exciting.
17:00So we've got three weeks to master harvesting techniques
17:04and get our combine in perfect running order.
17:07And that means bringing in some specialist help.
17:10What do you reckon?
17:12Oh, a little beauty.
17:13Oh, really?
17:14That's a good start.
17:15Will, now, come on, look.
17:16Here are another couple of beauties.
17:18Right.
17:19Skid and Alan.
17:20This is Will.
17:21He's really, really important because he knows combines like you know motorbikes.
17:26He looks like he does.
17:27He does, doesn't he?
17:27He's got that kind of combine look about him.
17:29Yeah.
17:30What do you reckon, mate?
17:30I mean, it runs.
17:32Perfect.
17:33Yeah, that's a good start.
17:34It drives as well.
17:35And also, when you drove it round the field, I lifted this hatch up and there is debris
17:39in there.
17:39Oh, right.
17:40So, it's ending up there.
17:42Wow.
17:43So, it's getting that far.
17:44Okay.
17:44Now, look.
17:45I've got a couple of belts.
17:47Right.
17:47Okay.
17:47Which came with it.
17:48New ones.
17:49Quick question.
17:50Is the big fat one an absolute nightmare to change?
17:53We'll have a little look and just delve into it and see.
17:55Okay.
17:55Now, look.
17:55Also, we've got some other items that we might just need some advice from you on how
17:59to attach.
18:00Most especially the auger, actually.
18:02Right.
18:02Okay.
18:02We can do that.
18:03Because it seems incredibly heavy.
18:04Yeah.
18:04Okay.
18:05Do you want to have a quick look inspection there, Will?
18:07Yeah.
18:07We'll have a little look round.
18:08Fantastic.
18:08No problem.
18:09Should we just keep out of the way for a minute and let him concentrate?
18:11I think we say we need a lot of concentration.
18:12And then he can give us the bad news.
18:14Look.
18:14He's right in there like a wrap up a drain pile.
18:16Am I going to look?
18:16Yeah.
18:17Look.
18:17He's in there.
18:18Yeah.
18:18I think we ought to change that main drive out there.
18:21Is that a massive job, Will?
18:23About an hour.
18:24Hour and a half.
18:24We should be all good.
18:25That's a lot of tea for us, isn't it?
18:27Yeah, a lot of tea.
18:27I must say it looks very complicated, really.
18:29It does look complicated, but it's mechanical and basic, so it shouldn't take too much to
18:33come off.
18:36The main drive belt is crucial to the smooth operation of the combine.
18:41Changing it might sound straightforward, but to just get the old one out requires Will
18:47to wiggle into the heart of the mechanism and get down and dirty.
18:51Are they getting on, Will?
18:53Slowly.
18:54Very slowly.
18:55Have you seen that?
18:56Look.
18:56Look at the state of his arms.
18:58It's covered in a fancier go-out.
19:00No, I think I'll stay out here.
19:02Is that belt nearly off then?
19:04Nearly off.
19:04Oh, here it comes.
19:07Look at that.
19:07He's got it off already.
19:08Well, this is fantastic.
19:09Look, it's just hanging off there.
19:11Guy, can you pull that belt through?
19:12Yes, mate.
19:13Just gently feed it through.
19:18This is fantastic.
19:19That's amazing.
19:21Oh, look at that.
19:23Should we compare it to the length of the other one?
19:25That's a really, really great idea.
19:26I hope it's the same.
19:27Come on.
19:30Yes.
19:31Yes.
19:31Exactly the same.
19:32That's close enough.
19:33But look, you're right.
19:34Look at all this, mate.
19:35That looks like a Henry Cole repair.
19:37Look at that gaffer tape.
19:39Well, I'm glad someone else takes a leaf out of my book.
19:42Yes.
19:42If you see what I mean.
19:43Bodget and Scarpa.
19:44Bodget and Scarpa.
19:45Yeah.
19:45Exactly.
19:46Oh, great.
19:46Okay, so we've got the new belt.
19:48It's a little bit wider.
19:49Is that all right?
19:50We'll be fine, yeah.
19:50That'll be fine.
19:51It'll give us a bit more grip on the pulleys as well.
19:54The drive belts are made from rubber, reinforced with metal or hard-wearing fibres.
19:59Once Will has sorted the main belt, he spots a different kind of issue.
20:04I've got a slight problem, Henry.
20:06What's that?
20:07Got a little bit of wear on the pulley here.
20:09Right, a little bit.
20:10We take the belt off, knock the pin out.
20:12Right.
20:13Draw the pulley off and we'll see how bad the pulley and the shaft is.
20:19While I take 40, Will removes the pulley and carefully files down the misshapen shaft
20:25and worn-down wheel centre.
20:28Then Skid helps him to cut a metal sleeve or shim.
20:31The theory is that this will hold the pulley much tighter to the shaft.
20:37Because this is worn down, the hole in the middle of that is worn oval.
20:40It's as baggy as anything and we're just shimming it with these, basically.
20:44Nice steel shim just to hold it in place and when we drift it back on,
20:49the pin that should hold it in position.
20:52Will taps the shim tight to the shaft, aligns the pulley wheel and then hammers it into position.
21:00Look at that.
21:01Now.
21:03Perfect.
21:06There we go.
21:07Boom.
21:09By the end of the afternoon, the new belts have been fitted and the pulleys re-tensioned.
21:14Is that enough?
21:15That's lovely.
21:16Next week, we'll fit all the other elements, but first...
21:20Frank, a local combine driver, has offered to give me a lesson on how to operate a modern combine.
21:29It's even bigger than our Massey Ferguson.
21:31How am I going to cope?
21:32Can I just tell you, though, I am incredibly nervous!
21:35Look!
21:43Watch this!
21:48I've given myself a massive challenge, restoring and learning how to operate a vintage combine.
21:54It's cutting!
21:56Before we take it harvesting, Frank, a local contractor, has offered me a driving lesson.
22:02Frank is going to show me, especially, how to drive a very large combine.
22:09Yeah.
22:09So what's going to be great is we can see the difference between a modern combine and our combine.
22:15Well, I can sum that up in one word.
22:17What's that?
22:18Computers.
22:19Oh, my Lord!
22:24Look at the size of it, man!
22:26I know.
22:26It's massive!
22:29That's big, Skid!
22:30That's big!
22:32Boys!
22:33Frank!
22:34How are you?
22:34How are you, mate?
22:35I'm Henry.
22:35That's Skid.
22:36Ed!
22:37Hang on a sec.
22:37We're privileged, Ed.
22:38Olivia, are you Ed's daughter?
22:40Hi, Ed.
22:40Yes.
22:41Amelia, that's right!
22:42Hi, there.
22:42OK.
22:43Now, I didn't know, you know, the governor was turning up, Frank.
22:46Nor did I.
22:47So tell me, how many acres can this do a day?
22:51This year we've been doing about 100 to 150 a day.
22:55I mean, I think we could do what with ours?
22:58Two?
22:59No.
22:59Ten.
23:00Ten acres?
23:01What do you think?
23:02Ten, 15 maybe.
23:03Is big best in farming, Frank.
23:06Bigger than better.
23:07Ed's daughter Amelia is going to be hauling the trailer that runs alongside the combine to collect the grain.
23:15Right, come on, Frank, let's go.
23:16Holy moly.
23:18OK.
23:21Oh, my God.
23:22It's air-conditioned, isn't it?
23:24Beautiful.
23:25A modern-day combine looks as much like our Massey as an Airbus 380 resembles the Wright brothers' Kitty Hawk.
23:36The driver sits in a high-tech cab whose computers do most of the grunt work.
23:42That's auto-steer now.
23:43I've got to touch the steering wheel.
23:44It's auto-...what?
23:45Yeah, it sends the header down and it also locks onto the GPS.
23:56Within ten minutes, Frank's combine is full enough to call in Amelia.
24:01Oh, my God, here she is.
24:06So, what we'll do is we press that button there.
24:09Oh, yeah.
24:11And then you see the auger come out.
24:14Oh, my Lord, here it comes.
24:15And then, see that yellow button there?
24:20Yeah.
24:20Press that.
24:23Oh, my God, that's it.
24:25That's amazing.
24:26Whether we'll manage to do this quite so smoothly, with me on the Massey and Skid hauling the dung putt, we'll have to wait and see.
24:38But, amazingly, Frank has agreed to let me have a go.
24:42Don't touch any.
24:43OK, mate.
24:44It's really odd, right, not to touch the steering wheel.
24:49Yeah, it is weird, isn't it?
24:51You get used to it.
24:52Yeah.
24:52So, after a quick driving lesson from Frank, me and Skid are going to take control of £500,000 worth of state-of-the-art combine.
25:04Can I just tell you, mate, I am incredibly nervous.
25:09Sitting in the cab and running on autopilot is not too taxing, but can we achieve a smooth unload?
25:17Amelia, it's Henry here. Over.
25:19Hello.
25:20I'm going to swing out my auger, I think, all right?
25:25Sounds good to me.
25:26I've just got to find the right button.
25:29Top one, isn't it?
25:30Here we go.
25:36Is she in line?
25:41Uh-oh.
25:42Getting a bit close.
25:44We're going to hit her.
25:45Stop, stop.
25:46It's missing the trailer.
25:52Oh, dear.
25:53I think I've messed up a little.
25:55So, not so good first time around, but second chance saloon?
26:00Is it?
26:01Perfect.
26:02Now we're rocking.
26:03Now you're doing it, son.
26:05Just don't touch that wheel.
26:06Thanks, mate.
26:07We've done our first bit of harvesting, my number.
26:11Slightly rocky start, but we're all right now.
26:15Yeah, it's missed the back of our trailer.
26:18Our second time around was perfect.
26:20Thanks, Amelia.
26:21So, a great lesson for me, but before we take our vintage Massey into the field, there's
26:28plenty more work to get it up and harvesting.
26:31Next morning, we start the rebuild.
26:35Task number one, mount the auger.
26:37Right.
26:38I've got gloves on now, lads.
26:40Just to show some feet.
26:41I'll do the rod to push it back through when you're ready.
26:45The auger is both heavy and awkwardly shaped.
26:48We've got a pen.
26:53Let's just turn that bit.
26:55Mind your fingers.
26:57Go on, then.
26:57OK, hold on.
27:02Oh, blimey, I'm exhausted.
27:04How did it feel?
27:05Well, I might have to have a week off.
27:08Fuzz and Will attach the fittings and tie rods that hold the auger in position.
27:13But though everything seems to be there, I'm worried about how much it projects.
27:18How far?
27:22Well, there we go.
27:24This is going to be a comedy of errors.
27:27We've got quite a long drive to get to the field.
27:31Can I ask you something?
27:32Yeah.
27:33Have you ever written off a combine?
27:37I've never had the opportunity.
27:38The other big item to re-attach is the ladder.
27:46Oh, hang on.
27:47It's treading on.
27:48You've got a bit.
27:48Yeah.
27:49What we need to do is get it over there.
27:51Over the lip?
27:51Over the lip.
27:52That's it.
27:53Right, now.
27:53You see, that's good.
27:54I can now get up.
27:55Yeah.
27:56Fuzz.
27:56I feel combine ready.
27:59I found my cushions as well.
28:00Let's not forget the comfort, eh?
28:02No, no, no.
28:02We mustn't.
28:07It's very solid.
28:08It's got to carry a bit of weight, hasn't it?
28:10Oi.
28:10Yeah.
28:11I heard that.
28:12It's lucky, though.
28:13The handrails are low, so the belly will go over then.
28:15I heard that as well.
28:17I am actually here, you know.
28:19Me and Pot are residing on the bench.
28:22Is that oil?
28:24I hope not.
28:24My goodness me.
28:25Oh, look at that.
28:26You look like you've done some work, even though you haven't.
28:29How have you managed that?
28:31I've got to take this off.
28:32No, you haven't.
28:32No, no, I'll keep it on now.
28:34I tell you, this is going to be dusty.
28:36Keep that on.
28:37OK, all right.
28:40And talk about oil.
28:42With so many pulleys, chains and moving parts,
28:45it needs gallons of the stuff.
28:47Fuzz takes a spray can to the chains.
28:51We don't want any snappages.
28:55Everything must be in perfect working order for us to harvest.
29:02But Will's weapon of choice is a grease gun.
29:06All right, we've just greased the axle.
29:10It's got a lot of moving parts.
29:11We just make sure we're getting it where we need it.
29:13Nothing's tight and it all moves nice and freely.
29:16Here we go.
29:18Remind you of the old days, eh?
29:19En garde.
29:21En garde.
29:23Enchanté.
29:23Now, is this the correct one?
29:26Last bits to go on.
29:27The safety shields.
29:29A little bit of a tap.
29:30Oh, right, posh.
29:31Oh, right, hang on.
29:32So there's no bolts in it?
29:34No, I don't think so.
29:35So I think we just go...
29:37Do you need this?
29:38Maybe, yeah.
29:40No.
29:40All right, that one's on.
29:44And that one's on.
29:45Oh, good lad.
29:46There we are.
29:47Oh, yeah, man.
29:49I fuel up the combine.
29:52Will and Fuzz fit the remaining metalwork.
29:55I think it's looking pretty hardcore.
29:59And skid for once makes a useful observation.
30:03Mate, I've got some good news.
30:04All right.
30:04This auger, see these rods?
30:07Instead of putting them in this hole here,
30:09if you put them in there,
30:10that will pivot in flat against the side.
30:13Oh, OK.
30:14So we can get that in if that helps.
30:16Hey, that auger's will.
30:20So the combine is more or less there.
30:23All that remains to do
30:24is to give our dung putt a quick tidy up.
30:28Next day, I start early.
30:31Skid is going to tow this behind my grey gold Fergie,
30:34so I'm giving it matching wheels.
30:36There's no cardboard template, which amazes me.
30:40There's no whizzy wheel to de-rust anything.
30:42No.
30:42And amazingly, amazingly, I'm gobsmacked,
30:46it looks all right.
30:47Rather than doing all the prep,
30:49I think it looks as though it's been in the yard for a while,
30:52which I guess is the same as the tractor are.
30:54Just let me finish off, see what you think.
30:58That's what a farmer would do.
30:59They wouldn't be there for hours whizzy wheeling it
31:01and making it like a brand new wheel.
31:03We've got crops to bring in, mate.
31:05I move over to the other wheel.
31:07Watching you do it is quite incredible.
31:10What?
31:10It's one thing you are quite gifted at.
31:14And then Skid takes over.
31:16So your job now, if I open the back, is sweep out.
31:18OK.
31:20Off comes the back.
31:21OK.
31:22It should just come off, I think.
31:23Oh, does it?
31:24Yeah.
31:25Hang on.
31:25And out comes the broom.
31:28I can see already the transformation of sweeping out some straw.
31:32Hey, look, this is looking lovely.
31:33I think we should walk away, you know.
31:35Don't you?
31:36Yeah.
31:37We're ready.
31:38We're ready to collect some grain.
31:41If I mean, I will go.
31:42If I mean, I will go.
31:45So tomorrow is our big day.
31:48We've got the combine.
31:49We've got the tractor.
31:51We've got the cart.
31:52But will the driver be up to the challenge?
31:55Only one way to find out.
31:57Steady yourself, old boy.
32:11Lean against something.
32:14Six weeks ago, we went hunting for some big stuff
32:17and bought ourselves a combine harvester.
32:20Tell you what, we're going to cut some corn.
32:23Since then, we've tested it.
32:26It's cutting!
32:28Fettled it.
32:29He's right in there like a rubber drain pot.
32:31Oh my God, look.
32:31Yeah, look, he's in there.
32:33With the state of his arms.
32:34It's a fancier go out.
32:36No, I think I'll stay out here.
32:37And accessorised it.
32:39That's what a farmer would do.
32:41They wouldn't be there for hours whizzy wheeling it
32:43and making it like a brand new wheel.
32:44We've got crops to bring in, mate.
32:48Today's the day I've been dreading,
32:50but so looking forward to
32:51when I get to test my harvesting skills.
32:54OK, so today, the sun is shining on most of the righteous
32:59and we, Skidler, are going to go combining.
33:03Can I just say?
33:04What?
33:05We've got everything on this
33:07and there's your gateway.
33:09Oh, mate, that is just the start of the problem.
33:11Yeah.
33:11Is it going to be wide enough?
33:12We don't know.
33:13Secondly, there is a bridge further down there.
33:15Yeah.
33:15I've no idea whether this will get across.
33:18Thirdly, there are undulations on the way to the field
33:21which I'm worried this might get caught in.
33:24The major endeavour really is to get to the field
33:26rather than combining.
33:27I think I'm underdressed.
33:28You've got overalls.
33:29Yeah.
33:29He's got dungarees.
33:30I'm in jeans and a t-shirt.
33:31I know, mate.
33:32We're on the combine.
33:32I can lend you a neckerchief.
33:34Oh, no, I don't need that.
33:35Oh, OK.
33:35We're on the combine.
33:37OK, so consequently, we need to look the part.
33:40Yeah.
33:40OK, so let the festivities begin, right?
33:42All we've got to do now is get through that gate.
33:46Yeah.
33:47Bit of throttle.
33:48Let's see if it starts.
33:51Oh, yes, we're in.
33:53Just remember, we've got no forward-facing cameras,
33:57no parking sensors and no mirrors.
34:00That's it.
34:00Line your rail up.
34:02What about that?
34:04Well, what will be will be.
34:07The gate is 12ft wide.
34:09The combine 10.
34:11Yikes.
34:12How are we doing?
34:13This side.
34:14We're OK.
34:15We're all right.
34:15We're all right.
34:16All right, yippee.
34:17Yes.
34:18First thing's through.
34:20We're going harvesting.
34:22After that first bit of success,
34:24we bulldoze our way down my drive.
34:30We're OK.
34:31Hold on.
34:33All right.
34:36I think we're through, yeah.
34:38Heading for the field at the end.
34:41Now, this is the next thing to get over,
34:43which is a bit of a dip.
34:45Now, watch out for that hump.
34:48You always get the hump.
34:49I'm going to go sideways.
34:50Just watch out for it.
34:51Well, yeah, just lean.
34:54See, a bit of leaning.
34:55Come on.
34:56I don't want to fall off this end.
34:57Oh, blimey.
34:58After that, there's one more hump.
35:04There we go.
35:05There we are.
35:06Oh, yeah.
35:07I think we've got that.
35:08All right, right, right, right.
35:09Probably with a foot to clear.
35:11We're OK.
35:11Yeah, no, mate.
35:12This is great, brother.
35:13Well done.
35:13The final obstacle is a small bridge at the other end.
35:18Yeah, the bus through there.
35:21There's a bus driver.
35:23Yeah.
35:24We're through.
35:24Are we through?
35:25We're through.
35:25Yeah, yeah.
35:27Hold on.
35:28Yes.
35:29We're absolutely through.
35:30Yes.
35:31Plane's hailing all the way.
35:32Now we're OK, boys.
35:33Yes.
35:33Originally, we were going to harvest the wheat field at the end of my drive.
35:38But because of the weather, it had to be cut earlier.
35:42So instead, we're going back to the huge field where Frank has left a square for us to finish off.
35:49Pete, one of my mates, is bringing one more essential bit of kit.
35:54Pete's here.
35:55He's got a pepper grinder.
35:57Yeah.
35:57What is it, Pete?
35:58It's a moisture meter because you need to make sure it's dry before you begin.
36:01All right, so what have we got to do?
36:03If you pick five or six heads.
36:04OK.
36:05I'll rub them together.
36:06Yeah, go on then.
36:06OK.
36:07Yeah, go on then.
36:08Blow all the chaff out.
36:09Chaff, chaff.
36:10And we'll need to fill 10 mil.
36:1210 mil of that.
36:13To put in here.
36:14We'll grind it up, compress it, and it checks the moisture to make sure it's fit to.
36:19Once we've gathered enough wheat and Pete has blown away the chaff, he pops it into the grinder
36:25and lets the moisture checker do its business.
36:30That's it.
36:30It's no grinding.
36:31Yeah, no noise at all.
36:32That means...
36:32So that compresses it.
36:33Yeah.
36:34Yeah.
36:3515.3.
36:36Good to go.
36:38Pete's brought along a much larger grain cart in case Skid's dung putt gets overwhelmed.
36:44But before we get ahead of ourselves, time to go harvesting.
36:48Here we go then, boys.
36:50Need a hand?
36:50I think I need more than a hand fuzzer.
36:54Right.
36:55OK.
36:56I'm a bit nervous.
36:57Skiddler.
36:58Now, you're going to go down here and cut this.
37:00Yes.
37:01I'm not following you the whole time, am I?
37:03Oh, I see what you mean.
37:04No, no.
37:04You'll be called in when need of assistance.
37:06And when you put the grain in my trailer, are we going to be moving or static?
37:12I think we should try perhaps a bit of both.
37:15Perhaps we'll do one static.
37:17Yes.
37:17Just to get in the vibe.
37:18And then we'll do a second on the move like professionals.
37:22Right, come on.
37:23Now, I want to see a straight line here.
37:25So, we lower the header.
37:28That'll do.
37:29Let's do it.
37:31And engage the reels.
37:34This is it, fuzz.
37:37You've got to think of a combine harvester as a kind of mobile factory combining three processes.
37:44Cutting or reaping the wheat.
37:47Threshing it to separate off the grain and depositing it in the hopper.
37:51And then winnowing it to spit out the chaff.
37:56It's coming out the back, fuzz.
37:59Oh, no.
38:01Yes.
38:04It's a little bit combining.
38:08Compared to last week's huge John Deere, this is tiny, but it feels pretty big from up here.
38:15Do you want to go?
38:16No.
38:17You carry on.
38:19You've got the technique at the moment.
38:22After half an hour, there's just about enough grain to try our first unload under the watchful eye of Will, who's just turned up.
38:31Hey, Skidder, come on in, mate.
38:33Get underneath the auger.
38:35Let's get the grain in.
38:36Yeah, let's do it.
38:37OK, this is it, lads.
38:44Switch off.
38:48This is it.
38:49At the bottom of the housing, there's a large spiral screw, which acts like a conveyor belt, forcing the grain up the pipe, until, hey presto...
38:58There it comes, look!
38:59There you have it. Half an acre of wheat, converted into almost a tonne of grain.
39:06This is amazing.
39:07It's great, man.
39:08This is amazing.
39:09It's great, man.
39:11Oh, no.
39:12Oh, we've got a leak.
39:13What's that?
39:14It's a leak.
39:15Our harvest is leaking!
39:20Our trailer is designed to collect dung, not grain.
39:24But once the lining is adjusted, it fills up rapidly.
39:29This is excellent news.
39:31I thought there was going to be more than that.
39:34I've got to tell you, mate.
39:36I couldn't resist it.
39:37That's why we haven't got a huge amount, mainly because I wanted to decant before we were full.
39:41But that is clean.
39:42Is that clean?
39:43That is clean.
39:44There's no bits of head on it at all.
39:47No chaff.
39:48That is clean.
39:49That is amazing, isn't it?
39:50Yeah, I'm going to come down.
39:51Look, that looks really lovely.
39:53That's done a great job, then, Will.
39:55To be fair, there's some new equipment.
39:57There's some newer combines.
39:58Can't get it that clean.
39:59Hey, Pete, come on.
40:00Give us your professional opinion.
40:02What do you reckon?
40:03That's a lovely sample, isn't it?
40:05Oh, great.
40:06Well, if you pros are happy, then I'm happy.
40:08Also, good driving, Henry.
40:10Yeah, really?
40:11Good driving.
40:12Honestly, I think that is one of the most splendid results of anything that I've ever been involved in.
40:19Really?
40:20It's just a lovely thing, isn't it?
40:24Our second challenge is a lot tougher.
40:26I've just about mastered the art of harvesting, but achieving a mobile offload without any high-tech is a different level.
40:36Skid is on my old Ferguson grey gold.
40:39We need our speeds to match precisely.
40:43First attempt.
40:44Not so good.
40:46Second attempt.
40:51Could do better.
40:56Third attempt.
40:58Stay there!
40:59Stay there!
41:00Stay there!
41:01Bingo!
41:02We've run out!
41:03Come on, Skidder.
41:04Now...
41:05How was my catching?
41:06I think the decant started off quite badly over your head.
41:07It's only skirmished me, but look, the trailer's quite full.
41:12Yeah.
41:13Mate, I have to tell you, I cannot believe how well this has gone, actually.
41:18I'm surprised as well.
41:19I really am.
41:20This thing's worked great.
41:21Nearly 60 years old.
41:22It's done very well, I think.
41:23And…
41:24And, the byproduct as well…
41:37Henry Cole wigs!
41:38Ha, ha, ha!
41:39That suits you, Garz.
41:43You have to grow your hair again.
41:44Thank you very much.
41:45He's just wrecked the moment there.
41:46So, can we crack off?
41:47He's wrecked the moment, yes says.
41:48Ha!
41:49Wooi!
41:50He's snagged the moment after!
41:52the moment no no no that's just too honestly no it's gone so you can get a couple of hundred out
41:57of this fantastic but can we make any money on the combine next day chopper roy comes a calling
42:08usually we're selling him cars or bikes so what's he gonna make of this we wanted to buy something
42:13big and agricultural so we found ourselves acquiring this yes didn't we yeah and i hope
42:20you had a look at the trailer by the way we have actually carted grain in that cart yeah yeah
42:26that's a grand every day of the week you couldn't build it for that could you so that's 100 quid
42:31profit okay okay right let's talk combine so 1967 yeah yeah oh you've got the right t-shirt on mate
42:39and it is totally original and it's unrestored in a way it's got new belts we've fully serviced it
42:45look it says that you've got it on your chest some parts still in working order yeah yeah
42:50well that's exactly right so how much what it took a bit of digging to find something to compare it but
43:01three and a half grand well we paid fuzzer and i we paid 2750 for it and you've done some work in
43:07yeah yeah we put some work in and we bought some belts yeah so call that it's 500 quid yeah profit yeah
43:14plus 100 quid for the cart that's 600 quid yeah potential profit and we had a load of fun well
43:22most especially it may be 600 quid profit but the bottom line is we had a lovely day didn't we we did
43:29yes i could quite get into farming yeah i loved it yeah oh mine's a combine
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