This study was carried out to obtain the information needed in the development of forward speed control system and the improvement of combine performance. The effects of variety, grain moisture content and forward speed on the combine load characteristics were investigated through experiments. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. A data acquisition system was developed to measure the engine speed and the torques and speeds of the threshing cylinder, dean-grain auger and tailings-return auger. The system consisted of transducers, signal conditioner, interface board and microcomputer. The system accuracy is better than ${pm}2.3%$ full scale. 2. Linear regression equations were obtained for the torque, speed and power requirement of threshing cylinder for different paddy varieties, grain moisture contents and feed rates. 3. The maximum value of relative frequency for threshing cylinder torque decreased as the increase in feed rate and moisture content. The range of torque fluctuation was 1.2~3.7 and 1.2~1.9 times the average and maximum torque, respectively. The maximum value of power spectrum density (PSD) appeared to be about 11 Hz regardless of paddy variety, grain moisture content and feed rate. 4. The speed of tailings return thrower decreased rapidly at below 900rpm, and it fell to near zero about 3 seconds after that time. When the travelling of combine harvester was stopped immediately after sensing the overload, it took about 7 seconds for a full recovery of the no-load speed of tailings return thrower.