Pöttinger upgrades TOP 842 C rake Case IH’s new RB5 round balers

A fully integrated moisture sensor and a better display monitor will improve productivity and bale quality in Case IH’s new RB5 round balers

Flowtast an innovative feature on the Top 842 C

A new glide bar helps ensure Pöttinger’s hay rake keeps forage contamination to a minimum

Smooth operator

Ag-tech specialist Pöttinger has upgraded its Top 842 C centre-swath rake with an innovative feature it says will improve ground tracking in the field.

Now available as an option, the new Flowtast glide bar offers a replacement to jockey wheels, tracking the ground close to the tines across the ground’s entire surface.

Making its debut in Germany at Agritechnica 2019, the bar is designed to glide over wet and peaty soils, even those with deep marks and holes in the ground.

During development, Pöttinger says it paid close attention to situations in the field where a wheeled chassis reaches its limit, such as on wet, peaty soils and when working with whole crop forage where the sward does not provide full surface cover.

“If the wheels sink in, the tines inevitably scrape the ground and the forage becomes contaminated,” the company says.

From this, the Flowtast was developed. The technology was able to glide smoothly over problem areas – with its load-bearing capacities improved by the large ground contact area.

The addition of a hydraulic cylinder has further alleviated the weight of the Top 842 C rotor unit on the soil; resulting in a low ground pressure of only approximately 200kg.

The subsequent reduced wear and lower stress on the rake’s frame also helps to minimise repair work and downtime on the rake.

During testing, Pöttinger engineers tested various materials for the application and settled on a special plastic – PE 1000 – which possesses significant resistance to wear and abrasion.

Each glide bar consists of five individual and exchangeable 15mm-thick plates. The glide bar has also been installed close to the tines to provide ideal ground tracking and tine guidance.

Pöttinger’s Multitast jockey wheel system can be fitted as an optional for additional ground tracking in conjunction with using the Flowtast guide bar.

Sensitive type

Case IH has made improvements to its round baler series as the 2020–21 hay season approaches and demand for balers remains high.

The series, comprising the RB455 and RB465 variable chamber balers, will now have the option of a fully-integrated moisture sensor included in the range – a first for Case IH round balers.

The integrated moisture sensors enable operators to use moisture information during operation in order to make more informed decisions on the quality of the crop as well as storage options.

“This new feature provides real-time information on the moisture of the crop being baled,” says Case IH product manager – hay and harvest Australia & New Zealand, Tim Slater.

“There’s no need to stop baling to probe the bales, as would previously have been the case with a hand-held moisture sensor.”

The addition of an AFS Pro 700 display monitor has also been made with the upgraded technology now standard on Case IH’s round baler offerings. The larger screen provides operators with a clearer view of baler functions such as bale core size, bale and core density and overall size and shape of the bales.

Case IH has also revised the shape of the pickup end flare to improve edge feeding.

The diameter of the windguard roller has also been made larger, plus the ability to adjust the device to a lower position for improved feeding in all crop conditions.

“This new design resists stalling and ploughing of the windrow when compared to narrower diameter rollers, further enhancing the performance of the baler and reducing down-time for producers,” says Slater.

“These updates are what our customers have been looking for, assisting with greater productivity and enhancing bale quality.”

Flexible bale size can be achieved with the RB5 Series, given the balers have always featured the variable chamber, meaning operators can alternate sizes depending on crop and storage requirements.

Baler adjustments can be made without leaving the tractor using Case IH’s standardised software and operator interface with all essential set-up and

With integrated sensors there is no need to stop work to monitor moisture

operating data available at the operator’s fingertips. Data available includes number of bales produced during the day and whether the bales are chopped or unchopped.

A self-diagnostic alarm system will provide operators with all information should any problem arise in the field.

Four settings are pre-programmed into the bale’s performance monitor which can be selected based on crop type and conditions. A fifth programmable setting is available to suit individual bale wrapping conditions.

“Our round balers get the job done quickly, efficiently and with a high degree of precision, keeping the crop where it needs to be: in the bale and not left on the ground,” says Slater.