Popular large tractor line-up gains a new agship

Popular large tractor line-up gains a new flagship

New Holland’s popular T7 large tractor series has gained a new agship with more power and a completely new cab. The public debut was at the French Sima Show in November, but Farmers Guide enjoyed an early opportunity to nd out how it performs in the eld. David Williams reports.

T7-series models are a rm favourite with larger mixed and arable farms as well as contractors. The current line-up includes long-wheelbase (LWB) models of 230, 245, 260 and 270 maximum horsepower, and the slightly larger T7 HD-series consists of three models of 275, 290 and 315hp. The new T7.300 model slots in at the top of the T7 LWB series and provides a cross-over with larger T7 HD models, with 280hp rated and 300hp maximum, giving a powerto-weight ratio of 28.3kg/hp. Maximum torque is impressive at 1,249Nm.

The pre-series demonstration tractor was on 710/70R42 rear tyres and 600/70R30 fronts. The current T7.270 can only take tyres up to 1.95m diameter, but the new model can be equipped with 2.05m Group 48 tyres which increase traction and improve ride comfort.

High-spec package

The engine is similar to existing T7 and T7 HD models, but it is the only model in the T7 line-up with an electronically controlled variable-geometry turbocharger.

The advanced turbo helps achieve an extended at torque curve, and as it is considerably bigger than the standard turbo the new T7.300 has a ‘power bulge’ on one side of the bonnet.

Stage 5 emissions standards are met using a larger SCR chamber, and extra cooling for the more powerful engine is provided by a new mesh design in the bonnet slats.

Engine service intervals are 750 hours.

The diesel tank capacity is 465 litres, and up to 54 litres of AdBlue can be carried.

Standard CVT transmission

The new model is only available with AutoCommand CVT transmission and the latest design features improvements over earlier versions including a revised gear cut angle and nish for reduced noise. The electronic parking brake is relocated to the rear axle, reducing noise during activation.

There is a larger front axle with heavy duty hubs, and the front axle suspension can be adjusted in three stages for a rm or softer ride. The new axle will eventually be tted to T7.260 and T7.270 LWB models too.

The adjustable front suspension o ers advantages when attaching and removing front ballast. Pressing and holding the external linkage control button lowers the front linkage to its base position, then releasing the button and pressing it again drops the front of the tractor even further – in e ect extending the travel of the front linkage so that weights or implements can be lowered completely to the ground. As soon as the tractor pulls away again, the front suspension automatically rises to its working position.

Hydraulics and PTO

Rear linkage capacity is 10,464kg and optional hydraulic stabilisers can be adjusted from the cab. The front linkage has been upgraded to 6t capacity. Higher speci cation rear spools come with lever release. The front-end casting is new, with integrated hydraulic pipework and couplers which improves the appearance and reduces the risk of damage.

Hydraulic oil ow of 150 litres/min is standard and an upgrade option increases it to 170 litres.

Electronic control of the PTO speed replaces the previous rotary mechanical selector.

Upgraded cab

Apart from the new T7.300 decals, the most obvious indication that the model is new is the cab. The Horizon Ultra cab was introduced for the updated T7 HD-series earlier this year, and it features many improvements over the previous T7 cab which was already highly rated.

“The oor area is larger with more room for tall operators, plus extra space for the passenger improving ride comfort,” explained New Holland tractor product specialist David Redman. “It’s been well received on T7 HD models, and one of the most frequent questions we have had this year from existing T7 users is when the new cab will be available for the T7 LWB-series too.”

The T7.300 can be equipped with larger 2.05m rear tyres for maximum traction. The front axle is new with improved suspension and heavy-duty drive hubs and the front casting houses and protects the hydraulic components.

The cab has 11% more glass area. A new cab roof pro le provides space to stow the sun visor out of sight to avoid restricting the view through the screen. The front wiper is relocated from the top to the bottom of the screen with a wider 240-degree arc, and an extra sweep is made a few seconds after it is switched o , ensuring the screen is clear.

The all-around view from the seat is improved. A steeper mudguard angle makes it easier to monitor the area immediately next to the rear wheels, and the modi ed mudguards have provided space for larger doors improving cab access.

There is also a better view of front- and rear-mounted hitches and implements, and a front grillemounted camera is standard. A new light package with up to 24 LEDs can be speci ed, with activation in groups to suit di erent applications. The rear work lights can be set to operate automatically when reverse is selected.

Extra comfort

The cab is among the quietest in the industry with an interior noise level of only 66db. Heating and air conditioning air ow is increased, and zone selection allows the air to be directed where it is needed through vents all around the cab. Nine front console vents keep the windscreen mist-free in colder weather, while the operator’s feet are kept warm at the same time. The top of the range Auto Comfort seat features lateral suspension and climate control, and an even better ride is available through optional hydraulic cab suspension which allows the user to adjust the damping in three stages from the seat.

A media system with two speakers is standard but an upgrade to four speakers with a sub- oor-mounted woofer is an option.

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Practical

The ignition switch is relocated below the right-hand-side window. An optional remote fob is available which unlocks the cab and provides key-less starting. If the fob is faulty, then the cab can be unlocked manually, and a PIN code entered to start the engine.

Another upgrade is extra storage. “Customers told us that they wanted more storage, and the new cab includes a 30-litre space behind the seat, a covered compartment behind the passenger seat with an integral USB charging point and a mains voltage socket, and there are also open storage trays on the right side of the cab, and a netted storage bin within the roof bezel,” stressed David.

“There is a 12-litre fridge below the passenger seat with a shelf and room for two 2.5-litre drink bottles, and the option of an extra oor-mounted fridge powered from a socket in the foot throttle housing.”

User-friendly controls

Most controls are logically grouped on the SideWinder Ultra armrest, and task set-up and monitoring are through the user-friendly IntelliView 12, 12in display. Eight armrest-mounted con gurable switches have LED colour coding, so that when functions are changed the colours also change to avoid errors or confusion. Options include programming joystickmounted buttons for headland management sequences so that the user doesn’t have to move his hand from the control. Advanced connectivity allows operators to connect mobile devices to the tractor display and operate them with buttons on the armrest.

A pad of 15 rubber-faced buttons located by the main joystick includes quick-keys to select menus for speci c areas on the screen. Other options for menu selection include direct touch to the screen, or a handy scroll selector and button.

Exclusive New Holland functionality

Top level Isobus Claas 3 with Tractor Implement Management can be added. Many T7.300 tractors will operate large square balers, and an exclusive feature introduced on the new tractor allows the tractor to ‘learn’ the plunger stroke and inject extra fuel an instant before the plunger strikes the bale. This provides much smoother operation, and trials have also demonstrated improved fuel economy with savings up to 12%. The front axle suspension reacts automatically too with each plunger stroke, reducing the rocking motion.

Steering wheel display

The optional CentreView steering wheel-mounted display was tted to the test tractor. It was introduced as a new option for the latest T7 HD models, and David Redman said that many operators who have speci ed it so far wouldn’t want to be without it now, but the bene ts aren’t obvious until it has been tried.

Versatile controls

The main multi-function joystick has gained a new ‘kill-switch’, increasing safety. Pressing it disengages the PTO and deactivates the hydraulics. An additional upgrade is engine exhaust brake activation from the joystick, but this can also be programmed to activate automatically when the foot brake is depressed.

An additional ‘mouse’-joystick on the armrest is an option to operate the front and rear linkage.

A small joystick can also be added and is ideal for tasks such as buckraking on a silage clamp – allowing one-handed operation of forward and reverse shuttling plus hydraulic linkage and spools while the other hand steers.

The new SideWinder Ultra armrest with the IntelliView 12 12in display. The CentreView display provides all the essential operating information directly in the line of sight in the centre of the steering wheel.

Engine Power 6-cyl, 6,728cc, Stage 5 260hp @ 2,100rpm (rated) 300hp (max)

Maximum torque Transmission

Max speed 1,250Nm @ 1,500rpm AutoCommand CVT 40kph Eco or 50kph Eco and with 4 response settings 56kph

Front suspension

Terraglide Rear axle Bar type Tyres tted to demo tractor Rear 710/70R42 Front 600/70R30 Rear linkage capacity 10,464kg Front linkage capacity 5,925kg Hydraulic ow 150 litres/min std. 170 litres/min opt Controls SideWinder Ultra armrest. Intelliview 12 display with Next Generation PLM Intelligence. PLM Connect

Wheelbase

2,884mm Shipping weight 8,900kg Max gross vehicle weight 15,000kg Fuel tank capacity 465 litres AdBlue capacity 54 litres

Test drive

The test drive on an Essex mixed farm provided an opportunity to try the new T7.300 cultivating heavy land stubble with a set of 6m discs.

First impressions regarding the new cab are excellent. The Horizon Ultra cab was a big improvement when it was added to T7 HD models, and it is just as impressive on the T7 LWB. There is plenty of room, the view all around is superb, and the quality nish and control arrangement make it an attractive place to work.

New Holland’s quoted noise level of 66db will mean little to most potential users, but even using maximum power in the eld it remains really quiet. Whether idling or at full throttle it is easy to have a conversation with a passenger in the cab.

The CentreView steering wheel screen is clear and easy to use. It displays all the essential operating information including the ground speed, as well as the three memorised cruise control speeds. Engine revs, fuel and AdBlue levels are also shown, and the system can be set to show the rear camera image when reverse is selected.

There was limited space on the angled headland for turns, but the big tractor proved very manoeuvrable.

The disc harrows were lifted and lowered using the hydraulic spools, and the large thumb levers with their colour coded functionality became quickly familiar.

The T7.300 is a very user-friendly tractor, and it will be popular in a competitive market.

“For customers needing the extra pulling capability of the heavier T7 HD series, those models will remain the preferred option,” continued David Redman. “But there are many situations where a tractor the size and weight of the current T7 LWB models is ideal, but where additional power might allow use with a wider range of large implements for increased productivity, and that is where we expect the new T7.300 to prove especially popular.

“For heavy transport work, the extra power will be an advantage too. The latest cab is superb, and users of the current T7 series will notice a big di erence in terms of comfort and ease of operation.” FG

New innovation allows farms to re-use onsite rubble

Recognising a gap in the market, Auger Torque launched the Cone Crusher Bucket to o er a simple, e cient and cost-e ective way to reprocess and recycle small volume construction rubble and debris into useable aggregate and hardcore.

The new product has saved customers money, time and hassle by re-using their onsite rubble – so much so that one customer says he is saving up to £1,000 per day on his farm, Auger Torque says. The company is currently in the midst of a UK-wide demo roadshow.

The Cone Crusher Bucket is engineered to work with and has been tried and tested on; excavators (3–10 tonne), skid steers, backhoes, mini loaders and telehandlers. It provides a simple, e cient, and cost-e ective way to reprocess and/or recycle small volume construction rubble and debris into useable aggregate. With an output of 5–10t per hour (depending on your material), it saves on transport costs of removing onsite waste and material costs of importing hardcore to site – with minimal site tra c, delays and hassle.

From general clay construction brick, light concrete walling blocks, hollow concrete ‘breeze blocks’, concrete pavers, asphalt and more, the Auger Torque Cone Crusher Bucket can crush to an output produced material size of up to 70mm. Ideal for use in applications including: track and yard surfacing, landscaping, roadways and farm roads, foundations or using as a base layer below poured concrete or lling a disposal skip most e ciently.

Key features:

• Easy to use and compact for small working sites as a single person operation – compatible with excavator, backhoe skidsteer, telehandler and mini loader machines • Bucket mouth for e ective

scooping and sorting • Seven-sided rotating cone inside a cylindrical drum • Grinding faces made in steel and tungsten carbide • Output material from dust to 70mm • Built around a series 3.5 sub gearbox • Auger Torque’s industry-leading warranty.

Matt Hencher, global engineering manager, says: “The Cone Crusher Bucket is a great product to add to our portfolio, perfect for construction, agriculture, farming, estates and so on. It removes the hassle factor of arranging skips to take rubble away and waiting for hardcore to be delivered. With sales already in the UK and Europe, and 60,000 views of our video on TikTok, we’re really excited for the opportunities this product presents across all our locations.”

If you’re interested in the demo roadshow or require more information, contact Auger Torque directly, or watch the video on the company’s YouTube or TikTok channels: • https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=o7uajB9VUv0 • https://vm.tiktok.com/

ZMFdW8YCV/ FG

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THE CONE CRUSHER BUCKET FROM AUGER TORQUE A simple, efficient and cost-effective way to reprocess and/or recycle small volume construction rubble and debris, into useable aggregate/hardcore. For more information and to find out about our upcoming demo roadshow - contact us today!!

New potato harvester model o ers additional cleaning

AVR’s new trailed, two-row o set potato harvester, the Spirit 7200, can now be optionally equipped with the Clean & Go bunker.

The new Clean & Go bunker provides additional cleaning by means of a cleaning roller mounted between the bunker oor and the elevator. Opting for a rod web as an elevator web also brings additional sieving capacity.

Non-stop harvesting o ers huge logistical advantages. With the Clean & Go bunker, AVR combines the best of both worlds, AVR reckons. First of all, there is the 6.5-tonne bunker, which provides enough of a bu er to continue harvesting if the trailer is not yet present, and ensures smooth deployment in the eld. Secondly, there is the option to unload while driving, which saves a lot of time. There is no longer a need to stop, raise the bunker and manoeuvre around the trailer to be able to unload.

As the elevator can rotate independently of the bunker oor, the bunker can be used at full capacity.

The new Clean & Go has a capacity control function for unloading the bunker. To be able to empty the bunker as e ciently as possible, the speed of the elevator is automatically adjusted based on the product ow in the elevator. This increases ease of use when unloading while harvesting.

Thanks to the three articulations in the elevator, it is possible to unload deep inside the trailer. If desired, an optional shock absorber can be installed to further break the fall or for lling crates while driving. Technical speci cations: • 6.5t bunker with elevator • Hydraulically driven bunker oor • Hydraulically driven elevator • Hexagonal transition/cleaning roller (18mm spacing) • Sieving web with pitch 35/star

PVC panelling 16mm • Elevator sieving surface = 1.65m x 4.55m = 7.5m2.

The Spirit 7200 with Clean & Go bunker was on display for the rst time at SIMA Paris from 6–10th November in Paris, followed by the Belgian Interpom trade show from 27–29th November at Kortrijk Xpo.

Visit www.avr.be/en for more information about the Spirit 7200 and its unique haulm separation system using a haulm roller right before the in-line pintle belt. FG

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