Buyer’s Guide to the John Deere S690 Combine Harvester

Buying a combine harvester, such as the John Deere S690, is a big purchasing decision. So it’s important to make the right choice. With this in mind, we’ve created this buyer’s guide to see how the S690 stacks up, and if it’s the machine for you.

But first, you need to set expectations about what you’re getting from your harvester. After all, they are an investment that can cost up to 500K!

So, your harvester should deliver:

• A timely harvest
• Maximum grain in the bin
• Quality harvested products
• Least amount of harvest losses
• Economical and reliable operation

For each of these points John Deere delivers. They are the industry leader for agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturing, and are one of the big 4 combine brands to choose from.

What to Expect from the John Deere S690 Combine?

The S690 is the largest model in the John Deere S-Series combine harvester range. It outranks the S680 with greater horsepower and a larger clean grain system.

This combine harvester is best suited to agricultural harvesting of wheat, rice, barley, oats, peas, soya, canola and maize. The high performance of John Deere’s S-Series combines boils down to the front-end equipment that has greater harvesting capacity than earlier models thanks to the 14,100 L grain tank.

So, if you’re looking for a machine suited to large commercial-scale harvesting, the S690 is a combine to seriously consider.

The S690 in Action

Take a look at how 11 S690 combine harvesters tackle wheat harvesting

Disclaimer: The combine harvester in this clip may be an overseas model. The Australian model may vary from above.

John Deere S690 Price

Machines4U data shows that used John Deere S690 models range between $260,000 and $460,350, which averages at $355,436. The current average cost comes in at $334,091* depending on the condition, age and hours of the machine.

With a big brand name, comes a high price tag, which is why a brand new machine can set you back more than $600,000.

S690 Specs Overview

Engine: John Deere PowerTech PSS Engine

Cylinders: 6

Max Power: 543 HP

Conveyor Width: 1,397 mm

Conveyor Length: 1,727 mm

Fuel Capacity: 1,250 L

Grain Tank Capacity: 14,096 L

Unloading Rate: 135 L/s

Operating Weight: 19,221.5 kg

See the full specs of the John Deere S690 here.

Pros & Cons of the S690 Combine Harvester

There are a number of benefits and things to consider when looking at the S690 combine harvester. We’ve found some of the main points and listed them below.

Benefits

A few of the main features include:

• CommandTouch™ multi-speed feederhouse drive—this feature provides extra high-torque drive capacity, and allows users to easily match ground speed to crop conditions on the go.
• High-performance S-Series EvenMax cleaning system—provides reduced slope sensitivity and delivers results with a multi-levelled shoe design.
• Isochronus engine governor—provides constant engine speed resulting in increased overall capacity and efficiency, as well as reduced fuel usage.
• Closed-center hydraulics system—runs cooler than open-center hydraulics, uses less horsepower and allows for an easier engine start.
• ProDrive™ propulsion system—maintains high productivity on all terrain as the system automatically shifts between two speed ranges as the ground changes.
• Flexible cab options—choose from the standard, deluxe or premium cab options which all feature unsurpassed visibility and operator comfort.

Things to Consider

As with every machine, there are things to note, including:

• Expense—as mentioned, the S690 is more expensive to buy than previous models. Used models go for anywhere from $260,000 to $460,000. So, it’s important to consider whether you need the new technology.
• Tech maintenance—with newer technology comes regular maintenance and the possibility of downtime when problems do occur. If the tech does play up, you will require a diagnosis and often re-calibration to get things back up and running.
• Loud cab—According to anecdotal feedback, the cab is louder than other models and brands of combine harvester, which can be a dealbreaker for some.
• High fuel consumption—some users note that the S690 has a high fuel consumption rate, but it’s impossible to know what circumstances operators experienced to cause this.

So, is the S690 for you? If so, you can find a range of used John Deere S690 combines for sale here.

Sources: The Combine Forum, John Deere brochures, deere.com.au

*Prices are based on Machines4U listing data provided by sellers/advertisers and are an approximation only. Data is correct up to and at the time of publishing. Prices may change and need to be verified with individual sellers.