Hillco Technologies

FAQs: Tractor Air Flow Systems

Tired of constant clogs and looking to increase the useful life of your tractor’s air filter, BUT want to know more before upgrading? 

Here we will address our most frequently asked questions about our tractor Air Flow Systems.

I use my tractor on a grain cart. Will I need the optional, low-profile pre-screen when I upgrade to this Air Flow System?

In certain applications we have found that our optional, low-profile pre-screen mesh is helpful on tractor kits. The grain cart tractor generally approaches the combine from behind resulting in excess chaff blown on the tractor. Hence, our optional pre-screen adds an additional layer of protection.

How does it work?

The tractor’s engine draws air into the intake, which spins a set of impellers inside the pre-cleaner. The centrifugal force of the spinning impeller expels the heavier “dirty” particles out of the discharge louver. The left-over clean air is what then enters the intake.

Does my local dealer carry these? 

Case IH dealers can order and sell them.

What are the warranty parameters? 

We provide a lifetime warranty on the pre-cleaner top and one year on the rest of the components.

What improvement in air filter life can be expected after upgrading to this system?

The amount of improvement you will see depends entirely on the conditions.  Generally, we see about a 10X increase in filter life if it had been plugging frequently before installation.  For example, some customers are dealing with clogging air filters every couple of hours. In a situation like that, the Hillco kit may extend filter life so that they are only addressing a clog every 3-4 days.  In less severe circumstances they can run much longer after installation.  Hillco recommends never exceeding the OEM air filter replacement schedule.

How do I order a kit?

Call Hillco’s sales team at 800-937-2461 or place an order online here.     

After an order is placed, how long will it take to ship?

If the kit is in stock it will usually ship from either Idaho or Wisconsin, the next business day.

How long does it take to install a Hillco Air Flow kit? 

Installation time varies by model. However, the average time required is 30-90 minutes.

Is the tractor or combine’s original air filter removed when a Hillco pre-cleaner is installed? 

No, the original pre-cleaner stays in place.  We recommend that our customers verify the Case IH pre-cleaner is clean and the venturi suction tube from the exhaust is also free of debris before installation.

What tractors and combines does Hillco have kits developed for?

What if my tractor or combine model is not listed? 

Please call the Hillco sales department.  They will have ideas that will assist you and insight into kits that are under development. They may also have an existing kit that, with some modification, will suit your needs. 

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Return on Investment Calculator

This calculator is designed to determine the return on investment for a Hillco leveling system equipped combine versus a non-leveling combine operating in sloping conditions.

Crop Type
Wheat       Corn and Soybean
Acreage Information

Crop Information

Enter your operation's statistics and estimates.
Wheat
Corn
Soybeans

Acreage / Slope Information

Estimate the percentage of total harvested acres that lay within the various slope ranges in your farming operation.
For all Wheat Acreage
See Slope reference chart
Percentage slope values must equal 100%
100%
Your Harvest Speeds and Machine Harvested Yield (MHY)

Non-Leveling Ground Speed in MPH

Enter the average harvesting speed for your non-leveling combine in the various slope ranges at the average yield entered in the Crop Information section above.

Slope Reference Graph
Wheat
Corn
Soy

Reduction in Machine Harvested Yield (bu/acre)

Estimate the reduction of Machine Harvested Yield (MHY) for each slope range if you were harvesting at the speed you entered for 0-3% slopes. (The calcultor will then project expected reductions in MHY for each slope range at your previously estimated ground speeds.)

You may opt to enter the test data which was determined by actual field testing by Hillco (based on 5 mph harvesting speed).

Reduction in MHY is used in these calculations rather than field loss. Reduction in MHY is a more accurate guage of combine harvesting efficiency because it can be determined by actually weighing the harvested yield rather than estimating the amount of yield lost to the ground.

Use test data or your own
Corn
Soy
Your Combine and Header Information
Enter your expected combine harvesting efficiency. Typically a combine operates at approximately 70% efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too small you may want to decrease the combine efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too large you may want to increase the combine efficiency.
Wheat head width in feet
Corn head width in feet
Flex header width in feet
Combine Field Efficiency (Typically 70%)
(Must enter value other than 0%)
Your Operational Costs
This total should include additional cost of benefits and taxes. If you wish to include the grain cart operator's cost add the hourly wage to the combine operator hourly labor costs.
Combine Operator Labor Cost (per hour, including taxes and benefits)
Combine Fuel Cost

If you wish to include added grain cart fuel add hourly grain cart fuel usage to the combine fuel usage.

Combine Fuel Consumption (Hourly - Typically 11-13 gph)

Cost per added separator hour usually runs approximately $180 per hour for new combines to $30 per hour for older used combines. If you don't want to consider the added benefit of lower separator hours enter $0.

Cost Per Separator Hour
(How much does your combine devalue for each added separator hour of use?)

Use example prices below or obtain a quote from your local dealership.

List price examples for leveling systems used on John Deere combines:
Leveling System Model 2955S for -- 9560-70 STS combine dual tire, w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,960.00 List Price

Leveling System Model 2970S for -- 96-97-9860-70 STS combine,dual tire w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,085.00 List Price

List price examples for leveling systems used on Case-IH combines:
Leveling System Model 2800 for -- 2577-88 combine, dual tire w/Hillco Leveler, Installed = $42,210.00 List Price


See examples or call your local dealership for a quote.
(On Leveling System Financing)

Enter the number of years (from 1 to 5, whole number) for the desired calculation period.

Market value at the end of 5 years regardless of the length of the calculation period.

Used in net present value calculation

Cash Flows (Totals for Calculation Period)
Positive Cash Flows
Labor Savings
0
Fuel and Lubcriation Savings
0
Increased Income from Machine Harvested Yield
0
Residual Value of Leveling System (At end of Calculation Period)
0
Increased Combine Value Due to Reduced Separator Hours
0
Total Positive Cash Flows
0
Negative Cash Flows
Leveling System Cost (Total Principle & Interest Payments)
-0
Remaining Principle Balance On 5 Year Note
-0
Leveling System Maintenance Cost (Annual 2% of Purchase Price)
-0
Total Negative Cash Flows
-0
Total Net Cash Flow (Positive - Negative)
0
Investment Analysis
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (without leveling system)
0
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (with leveling system)
0
Average Annual Separator Hour Savings
0
Total Separator Hour Savings as % of Total Separator Hours
0
Average Payback Period (in years)
The length of time it takes for an investment to recover its initial cost.
0
Total Net Present Value of Cash Flows
NPV compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account.
0
Internal Rate of Return
The internal rate of return (IRR) method allows you to consider the time value of money. It is the interest rate that is equivalent to the dollar returns you expect from your project. Once you know the rate, you can compare it to the rates you could earn by investing your money in other projects or investments. Usually a business owner will insist that in order to be acceptable, a project must be expected to earn an IRR that is at least several percentage points higher than the cost of borrowing, to compensate the company for its risk, time, and trouble associated with the project.
0