Probably the funnest thing I had happen in the 70s, I left home with a 3 cylinder behind a bobtail truck, I had a very nice guy with me. I went a little way and a brand new Chevy gets behind me driven by a couple of young guys, I guess I was dusting them a little and I had to go a ways before I could pull over. Somehow they got around me and stoped not very far in front of me I did get it stopped in time thank god I didn’t hit them, they got out of the car and came back to us and said we’re going to whip both of your a————es for dusting us!!!! My helper was ahead of me and grabbed a piece of pipe we used to knock tires and told the boys go for it but I am going plant this pipe across one of your heads!! He knew how to fight it would not have been pretty! They got in their car and left we went about our way You just never know what you will get into! 17afarmer. Mike

Railforlife. While I agree the 48 standard are nice machines. The Big. Bertha solved some problems that the standards had, one was getting to the cylinders. Digging it out if it plugged! , I liked the straw rack and sand screen drive much better. better balanced , I liked having the shoe on the rear of the machine and not having the cross auger and the elevator to have to take it to the top shoe, I put 7 inch auger and speeded the elevator up to stop the plugging . The 18 bar front cylinder is nice! Plus they are a little wider. We had Cat 3160 engine and finally had to put in 2 7/16 shafts in the front cylinders to hold the power plus heavier cutter shafts. The 48 was a Good machine but could never equal a Bertha, as far as moving them the length and width is close to the same I could not see any difference, in California the Biggest DOG wins out and you have to drive accordingly even though you don’t like too. California drivers are not kind to people moving equipment as I said I took my half out of the middle if had too. IF enough beans were still being grown I would absolutely still be running a Machine the best times of my life I DO miss it . 17afarmer. Mike