Specialist repairers since 2011
Header Front Repair — Structural Repair & Refurbishment
We cut out the damage and structurally repair MacDon, John Deere and all major fronts — never just bend them back straight — so your machine is back working reliably in the paddock. Insurance claims handled from the first call.
Accident damage
Have you damaged your front?
Most header front damage happens in a split second — a hidden fence post, a tree line, a stump buried in stubble, or a collision on the headland. Whatever happened, we've seen it and fixed it.
Frame bent, knife drive cracked, drapers shredded. We assess the full structural damage before quoting.
Impact damage to the reel, cutterbar and frame is common. We straighten and rebuild to spec.
Major structural damage. We inspect the front in person, provide an official quote for your insurer, and bring it back to field-ready condition.
Send us photos — we'll give you an honest estimate of the damage and what it'll take to fix it.
Most front damage is an insurance job. How we support your claim →
Insurance claims
Insurance claim?
You'll need a claim number from your insurer to get things moving — once you have it, we handle the repair side. We inspect the front in person and provide an official quote for your insurer. If an assessor is involved, we can clarify our quote and repair scope with them.
Repair scope
What we repair
Structural repair, straightening and full refurbishment of combine harvester header fronts — all front types, all brands.
Front types
- Draper fronts — MacDon, John Deere, Honey Bee
- Rigid / tin fronts
- Flex fronts
- Pickup fronts
- Windrower fronts
What we fix
- Frame & structural straightening
- Knife drive & knife sections
- Reel & reel components
- Draper belts & guides
- Front extensions & widening
- Full structural refurbishment
Brands serviced
- MacDon
- John Deere
- Case IH
- New Holland
- Claas
- Honey Bee
- All other makes
Harvest emergency
Broke down mid-harvest?
In-season breakdowns can't wait. We prioritise harvest-emergency repairs and turn fronts around as fast as possible — call us first, before you look anywhere else.
Call direct — answered in-season.
Our method
Why we don't bend it straight
Pulling a bent front straight is a backyard fix. It's the quick answer you'll find online — chain it to a tractor, pull the frame back into line, weld a brace across it — and it's the opposite of how we work.
The impact has already compromised the steel. Pulling it straight puts that same steel under stress a second time: it doesn't get its strength back, and it never comes out truly straight. So we cut the damaged section out, replace it with new, straight steel, and sleeve the joint for reinforcement — a structural repair, not a patch.
The process
From damage to back in the paddock
- Send photos & details
Use the estimator to upload details and photos of your damaged front. Show us the full extent of the damage — more photos means a sharper estimate.
Open the estimator → - We assess & call you
Our team reviews the damage and calls you with an initial estimate within 48 hours — ballpark price and a clear plan before anything is touched.
- We repair & rebuild
Structural straightening, refurbishment and rebuild — getting your front operating reliably again. If it's a claim, we provide an official quote for your insurer — and if an assessor is involved, we can clarify our quote and repair scope with them.
- Returned to you
Pickup and delivery across SA, VIC, NSW and QLD. Your front back in the paddock, repaired right.
What contractors say
"You'd never pick where they'd cut it — it looks like a brand new MacDon front. We went from a 40ft to a 42ft front, it runs beautifully and our clients are over the moon."
Common questions
Header front repair questions, answered
How do I get my header front fixed?
- Tell us what happened. Use the estimator to send the incident details — what happened and where it hit — plus your front and machine details and photos of the damage. Or call 0483 964 118.
- Initial estimate within 48 hours. We call you with a ballpark price and a plan — no cost, no obligation.
- Assessment on the machine. The front comes to our Swan Hill workshop — pickup available across SA, VIC, NSW and QLD, charged separately — and we assess it in person and confirm the quote.
- Approval and parts. Once you, or your insurer, approve the job, parts are ordered.
- Repair. Damaged steel is cut out and replaced with new, straight steel, then sleeved for reinforcement. Most repairs take 5–9 working days once work starts; some take 3.
- Back in the paddock. We deliver the front back to you.
How much does it cost to fix a header front?
It depends on how much structural damage there is. Damage confined to the cutter-bar is a smaller job than damage that runs into the back frame as well — the deeper it goes into the structure, the more the repair involves. Send photos through the estimator and we'll call with an initial estimate within 48 hours. No cost, no obligation; final price confirmed after inspection.
Open the estimator →How long does a header front repair take?
Every job is different. Once the repair starts, some fronts are done in 3 working days; most take 5–9. Before that, the job needs approval from the owner, or the insurer (and assessor, if one is involved), and parts are ordered once approval is in place — some come from overseas, which can add time. We prioritise according to urgency. Send photos through the estimator for an initial estimate within 48 hours.
Open the estimator →Is my header front worth repairing, or is it a write-off?
Whether to repair is the owner's economic decision; our job is to tell you honestly whether the front can be repaired. Some damage — severe fire damage, for example — can put a front beyond repair. When an insurer writes a front off, it may offer to sell the damaged front back to you. If the front is repairable, buying it back and having it repaired can cost less than replacing it — we'll give you a repair estimate to weigh against the insurer's offer. Send photos through the estimator for an initial estimate within 48 hours; repairability is confirmed by an assessment in person, on the machine.
Open the estimator →Do you pick up and deliver header fronts?
Yes — we can pick up and deliver across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, to and from our workshop in Swan Hill, Victoria. Pickup and delivery are charged separately from the repair. Let us know you need it when you send your details through the estimator.
Open the estimator →Can I just pull my header front straight?
We don't recommend it. A crash or impact has already compromised the steel — pulling it straight stresses it a second time, doesn't restore its strength, and never gets it truly straight. We cut the damaged section out, replace it with new, straight steel and sleeve the joint for reinforcement, so the repaired front is structurally sound. Send your details through the estimator for an initial estimate within 48 hours.
Open the estimator →Get started
Ready to get an estimate?
Upload a few photos and details — we'll call with an initial estimate within 48 hours. No cost, no obligation. Final price confirmed after inspection.
Or call us direct: 0483 964 118