FMJ OCT 20 SAMPLE

MODERN MACHINES FOR FARMERS & CONTRACTORS

October 2020 // Issue 78 // £4.20

www.farmmachineryjournal.co.uk

FIRST LOOK

New Lexions

How Claas took its straw walker combines to a new level

TRAILED FORAGERS

WHY MORE FARMS ARE INVESTING IN DIY SILAGE METHODS

BACKWARDS STEP

THE REVERSE DRIVE TRACTORS HELPING CONTRACTORS GO FORWARD FASTER MODERN UPGRADES

HOW TO MAKE OLDER TRACTORS WORK WITH ISOBUS EQUIPMENT

GRAIN GIANTS

FIRST UK JOHN DEERE X9 COMBINES TAKE ON TOUGH BRITISH HARVEST

NEW MACHINERY

OPERATORS RATE GRANGE TOOLBARS, TANCO MOWERS & PÖTTINGER DRILL

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22/06/2020 17:39

ED'S LETTER

MODERN MACHINES FOR FARMERS & CONTRACTORS

October 2020 // Issue 78 // £4.20

www.farmmachineryjournal.co.uk

FIRST LOOK

New Lexions

How Claas took its straw walker combines to a new level

TRAILED FORAGERS

EDITOR Peter Skilton peter@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk CONSULTANT EDITOR Mick Roberts mick@mwrmedia.co.uk ART DIRECTOR David ‘Spike’ McCormack DESIGNERS Sarah-Jane Mortimer, Claire Trent RETOUCHER Linda Duong ADVERTISEMENT SALES Alex Cronin 020 8639 4405 ADMINISTRATOR Martin Attis 020 8639 4409 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Paul Cosgrove 020 8639 4401 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Franciosy, David Laley, David Pullen, Eoghan Daly, Graeme Kirk, Howard Sherren, Jonathan Theobald, Jonathan Wheeler, Ken Topham, Simon Henley, Stuart Gibbard Farm Machinery Journal is published by Sundial Magazines Ltd, Sundial House, 17 Wickham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 5JS TEL 020 8639 4400 FAX 020 8639 4411 EMAIL info@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk WEB www.farmmachineryjournal.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Farm Machinery Journal subscriptions Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Wethersfield, Essex, CM7 4AY TEL +44 (0)1371 853634 EMAIL farmmachineryjournal@escosubs.co.uk NEWSTRADE Seymour Distribution 2 East Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT TEL 020 7429 4000 REPRO Design & Printing Solutions Ltd Unit 45C, Joseph Wilson Industrial Estate, Whitstable, Kent CT5 3PS TEL 01227 770034 PRINTING GD Web Offset Ltd Brookfields Way, Manvers, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham, South Yorks, S63 5DL COPYRIGHT Sundial Magazines Ltd 2020. All rights reserved.

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CONDITIONS FOR ADVERTISING All advertisements are accepted subject to the publisher’s standard conditions of insertion. For a copy of advertising terms & conditions, please write to Paul Cosgrove at Sundial Magazines Ltd, Sundial House, 17 Wickham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 5JS

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Farm Machinery Journal is available on the second Friday of each month

WHY MORE FARMS ARE INVESTING IN DIY SILAGE METHODS

BACKWARDS STEP

THE REVERSE DRIVE TRACTORS HELPING CONTRACTORS GO FORWARD FASTER MODERN UPGRADES

HOW TO MAKE OLDER TRACTORS WORK WITH ISOBUS EQUIPMENT

GRAIN GIANTS

FIRST UK JOHN DEERE X9 COMBINES TAKE ON TOUGH BRITISH HARVEST

NEW MACHINERY

OPERATORS RATE GRANGE TOOLBARS, TANCO MOWERS & PÖTTINGER DRILL

October 2020 Issue 78 COVER IMAGE Farm Machinery Journal

Welcome

to Farm Machinery Journal, the monthly magazine dedicated to modern agricultural equipment.

Try explaining to non-farming folk about modern machinery and the conversation usually comes down to two subjects: the size and the price. It’s the scale of the latest high-powered tractors and harvesters that impresses most people and the cost that shocks them. “That’s more than my house,” they’ll exclaim.

So try explaining to someone with no prior knowledge of farming why John Deere’s new X9 1100 combine harvester costs over £850,000. Fortunately the new X9s offer the kind of performance figures that help make its retail price a bit easier to swallow. For a start, it’s said to be able to consume a whopping 100t of grain per hour in good conditions and it’s been working until 2:30am some nights this harvest, long after other combines have been parked.

For farmers and contractors this perhaps goes some way to justifying the price. For the city dwellers they’d probably still prefer to have an Aston Martin on the driveway.

John Deere hasn’t been the only one pushing new machinery this month, with AGCO’s brands continuing to unveil new kit at all scales. Hot on the heels of MF’s new 8S tractors, Fendt has topped the power tables with its most powerful twin-track ever – the 673hp 1167 Vario MT – and Valtra has snuck in at the smaller end of the scale, unveiling its 105-135hp G-Series tractors. We’re hoping to get behind the wheel of both before the end of the year, but if we’ve learned anything in 2020 it’s that making plans is fraught with danger. Regardless, we’ll endeavour to bring you our first impressions whatever happens.

Peter Skilton, Editor OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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CONTENTS OCTOBER 2020 // ISSUE 78

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32

28

Front Link

47 MODERN FARMING

76 PRODUCT TEST

7 14 BIG PICTURE

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17 FIRST IMPRESSION

57 RUNNING REPORT

83 CONTINENTAL TYRES

62

RUNNING REPORT

89 Q&A

67

OPINION

NEWS

The top machinery stories this month

At work with the only Ploeger AT4103 spreader of its kind in the UK

In the field with the latest fiveand six-walker Claas Lexion combines

23 FIRST IMPRESSION

John Deere's X9 combines have landed in the UK. Here's our early verdict

28 FIRST IMPRESSION

Why Irish manufacturer Tanco has reinvented the butterfly mower concept

32

FIRST IMPRESSION

FMJ visits a Pottinger Terrasem C4 Fertiliser Pro seed drill in Leicestershire

Features

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BEHIND THE SCENES

How the British-built Grange Machinery toolbars have filled a void

41 FOCUS ON…

Four farms show us their feeding equipment, from trailed to self-propelled

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As more farms revert to trailed foragers, Ashley Davies explains why he invested in a 2006 Reco Mengele SH40N

FLEET PROFILE

Over in Ireland, this trailed forager specialist is seeing a surge in demand for second-hand JF and Kongskilde machines

In the first of two special features, this Valtra T194 Direct shows why reverse drive tractors are well suited to silage

Reverse drive isn't just for the clamp. This Massey Ferguson 8740 has been converted for high-speed mowing

With heat waves more frequent, here's how to keep herd hygiene in check

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PICK-UP, 4X4 & ATV NEWS

It's all change in the pick-up market – here's what new vehicles to expect from the likes of Ineos, Isuzu and Toyota in 2021

We got hands-on with a new app designed to aid machinery safety checks

Technical

79 RETROFIT ISOBUS

How a tractor was updated to run a Kverneland mounted sprayer using ISObus

What the German tyre giant's return to the market means for farm machinery

Your machinery problems solved

Rear Link

92 MODEL ZONE 94 GAME CHANGERS 106 READERS' PHOTOS

New scale models to buy now

How Matbro pioneered pivot-steers

Send in your photos of farm machinery to see them printed in FMJ !

Buying

71 USED BUYING GUIDE

What to look for when purchasing a second-hand Fiat F-Series tractor

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FIN PAG M D G E 100 A D E EQ C A RE U HINLS O AT IP E N M R EN Y & T

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Available on All MLT and MLA-T models 3 year 3,000 hour warranty**

Choose the payment terms that best suit your cash flow: 1 + 2 annual payments @ 0.49% flat rate Maximum advance £45,000 Deposit and VAT due on signing

OR

3+33 monthly payment @ 0.99% flat rate Maximum advance £45,000 3 advance payments and VAT due on signing Limited offer for business users only, terms & conditions apply*

*Terms and Conditions: Available for business purposes only, subject to acceptance and affordability checks. United Kingdom only. Applicants must be 18 or over. Available on new models specified only, and valid for units delivered to the end customer between 01-08-2020 and 31-10-2020. Purchase must be completed by October 31st 2020. The finance products available under this promotion are Hire Purchase and Finance Lease. For Hire Purchase, full VAT is due on signing. An option-to purchase fee of £100 (plus VAT) will be collected with the final payment. You will own the machine when all payments have been made. For Finance Lease, VAT is due with each rental payment, return conditions apply and you will not own the equipment at the end of the agreement.

A documentation fee of £100 will be collected with the first rental. Alternative finance products are available, terms and conditions apply. The offer is subject to a maximum balance to finance of £45,000. The offer is only available on the new models specified. Images are for illustrative purposes only and specifications may vary. Finance provided by Manitou Finance Limited, Northern Cross, Basingstoke, RG21 4HL. Registered in England No. 2308212. ** 3 year warranty available on acceptance of 3 year Telematics agreement .

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04/08/2020 11:35 09:37 27/08/2020

NEWSDESK

The latest machinery developments, launches and updates

Front Link News

NEW TRACTO RS!

Tracked Fendts land in North America GCO took another step in making the Fendt brand more prominent in North America in August with the announcement of seven Fendt twin-track tractors in two ranges: the 900 Vario MT and 1100 Vario MT. Until now, the AGCO line of two-track tractors available in North America has only worn the Challenger brand name, with Fendt-branded twin-tracks already on sale.

While this might not seem revolutionary, one model stands out that is new to all markets.

The four Fendt 1100 Vario MT models will cover the 511 to 673hp range, with the new flagship 1167 model topping out the line, previewed in North America ahead of its European introduction at a press event in Germany this month. Unlike the three smaller models, which rely on a MAN 15.2-litre diesel for power, the 1167 will get a 16.2-litre, six-cylinder engine under its bonnet. It will have the same Fendt iD slow revving, high torque characteristics, hitting peak torque at a leisurely 1100rpm.

Caterpillar before AGCO purchased Behind the big MAN engine, the 1167 will Challenger roughly two decades ago, stick with the Fendt stepless VarioDrive moving the hardbar on the transmission. The Tractor suspension closer to the Management System will front of the chassis and coordinate the engine and giving the tractors a longer Fendt 1167 transmission settings to ensure wheelbase. But the new Vario MT all the necessary horsepower 1100s add the Smart Ride Engine MAN is delivered with the lowest Plus load levelling system 16.2-litre, possible fuel consumption. to that list of suspension six-cylinder Underneath, the chassis on and undercarriage Power 673hp all 1100 models will cater to the improvements.

Transmission row-crop track spacing options The Smart Ride hydraulic Fendt VarioDrive CVT that are so critical in the North system works with the front American market, offering suspension springs to adjust the Suspension Smart Ride Plus standard gauge settings from 88 tractor height, keeping the chassis Tracks Four to 102in (223.5-259.1cm), wide level to maintain the correct angle widths, 18-36in gauge settings of 88 to 128in between the tractor hitch and rear Hydraulics 220L/ implements. It also keeps the (223.5-325.1cm) and three track min single pump tractor level when operating styles in four widths from 18 to or 440L/min 36in (45.7-91.4cm). heavy front- or rear-mounted dual pump, dual Over the years, AGCO engineers attachments, which improves ride circuit have tweaked the Mobil-Trac track comfort as an added benefit. The Base weight 18,915kg system originally designed by self-levelling hydraulics can also

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TECHSPECS

be used to raise or lower the front of the tractor to make attaching or removing the front mono-block ballasting weight easier.

At the rear, a new hydraulically controlled swinging drawbar or steerable three-point hitch will provide more implement control on headland turns.

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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Front Link News

Next generation Valtra unveiled he brand-new Valtra G Series has been launched. The new tractor sits between the A and N Series with five models from 105 to 135hp, but can be packed with technology, including the SmartTouch controls, Connect telemetry and full precision farming capabilities found on Valtra’s N and T Series tractors.

Under the bonnet is AGCO’s 4.4-litre, four-cylinder engine, with boost offering an additional 5-10hp depending on model,

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paired with a 24F/24R powershift transmission with four ranges and six gears.

As with previous Valtras, three spec levels are offered: HiTech, Active and Versu, with four levels of equipment from Basic to Comfort, Technology and Technology Pro. Custom models will be available through Valtra’s Unlimited studio.

HiTech models have an open hydraulic system that produces 100 litres per minute, while Active and Versu models have 110-litres-per-minute load-sensing hydraulics.

Up to four valves are available at both the front and rear, except for Versu models, which can be specified with up to five rear valves.

A front linkage and PTO are also available.

The G Series is designed for loader work, which is integrated with the chassis. The cab has 5.7m2 of glass for visibility, including a panoramic roof, plus suspension, heated mirrors and air conditioning.

Production has already begun, and the G-Series is now available to UK customers via online reservation and through dealers.

CLAAS BRINGS AXION 800s UP TO DATE

While giving its Axion 800 tractors a Stage V-compliant engine, Claas has introduced a number of other upgrades. An FPT 6.7-litre, six-cylinder engine remains and power outputs are the same – from 205hp for the Axion 800 to 295hp for the Axion 870 – but the move to Stage V has given more low-down torque. There’s also a 205-litres-per-minute hydraulic option.

In the cab all Axion 800s get the Cebis Touch terminal for ISObus implement control, plus a USB port for importing and exporting data and the ability to view external cameras. There is also the option of a leather steering wheel and an upgraded heated and cooled seat. Twin brake pedals and a tinted rear window come as standard, as do LED flashing lights and a flexible bottom step.

BIG BUD GETS NEW TYRES Goodyear has solved the conundrum of finding suitable tyres for the biggest tractor in the world.

Eight of the company’s Low Sidewall (LSW) 1400/30R46s have been fitted to new rims on the 1100hp Big Bud 16V-747. It is thought to be the first time the tyres have been changed since the tractor was built in 1977 and Big Bud now sits at 25ft (7.62m) wide. The LSW 1400/30R46s tyres are the largest agricultural tyres in the world but are not currently available in Europe.

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WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

CR REVELATION WITH INTELLISENSE™ SYSTEM

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Innovative. CR Revelation models are available with Intellisense™, the proactive user-friendly automation system that continuously monitors every 20 seconds, to ensure real-time adjustments - to ensure the best grain quality and capacity possible.

Supported. Long established and specialized dealer network, backed by the New Holland Uptime guarantee. Contact your local dealer XSHE] XS ½RH SYX QSVI NEW HOLLAND TOP SERVICE 00800 64 111 111 24/7 SUPPORT AND INFORMATION. The call is free from a land line. Check in advance with your Mobile Operator if you will be charged.

www.newholland.com/uk * Terms and conditions apply. Engine, Driveline and After Treatment Extended Warranty applicable to new units only retail sold between 6th July 2020 – 30th June 2021.

Images are for illustrative purposes only.

New Holland FP.indd 1

25/08/2020 12:08

Front Link News

Tractor driver reaches final of Miss England competition

farmer’s daughter and tractor pulling contestant has reached the final of the 2020 Miss England competition. Ellie Pacey, 19, from Northamptonshire is not your typical beauty pageant contestant, though. Ellie’s father Mark Pacey is well known on the tractor pulling scene so it was no surprise that his daughter followed in his footsteps.

She currently pilots On the Limit, a light-modified puller running two methanol-fuelled supercharged Chevrolet V8 engines with a total of 3800hp. But when she’s not competing, Ellie is hard at work for Mercedes-AMG HPP, which develops race engines for Formula 1 teams.

“I want other young women to know you can work all day dressed in overalls, whether it’s farming or engineering, without losing your identity as a woman.

The Miss England pageant is a wonderful platform from which to get this message across and I’m very proud to have made it this far,” she says.

The final is scheduled to take place in October.

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WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

KUHN ADDS TO PLOUGH LINE

MICHELIN UNVEILS NEW TYRE INFLATION SYSTEM

The Multi-Master L extends Kuhn Farm Machinery’s Master mounted plough range, sitting between the Master 153 and 183 models. Available with four, five or six bodies, it is suitable for in-furrow or on-land ploughing with tractors from 200 to 300hp. Furrow width can be set at 35, 40, 45 or 50cm without removing any bolts. Traction bolt or non-stop hydraulic safety are available, as is an integrated adjustable press arm.

The Multi-Leader XT has been added to the semi-mounted single-wheel plough range, with either seven or eight bodies and suited to tractors up to 400hp. Both in-furrow and on-land versions are available.

On both ranges the on-land versions can also be set up to work in-furrow, and all ploughs benefit from tool-free adjustments to allow quick and simple set-up, minimising down-time and increasing performance in the field.

The Zen@Terra system for high-powered tractors has been launched by Michelin, which enables tyre pressures to be easily adjusted for road and field work. The system is designed to work in combination with a central tyre inflation system and Michelin’s Ultraflex tyre range, although it can be used with other Michelin tyres. Zen@Terra connects into the tractor’s ISObus system and enables a switch between low pressures for soil protection and higher pressures for the road in minutes via an in-cab touch-screen display. Users can tailor pressures depending on implements and for empty, half or full loads. It will be fitted exclusively in the UK by approved supplier TractAir.

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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Front Link News

No-show for Fendt, MF and Valtra s manufacturers adapt to new approaches in response to the coronavirus pandemic, AGCO has announced that it will not participate in next year’s EIMA show in Italy in February. The company says it is shifting its marketing approach to a mix of virtual and hybrid events. “We are

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NEWSINBRIEF Somerset sale

suspending our participation in light of a still rapidly-evolving coronavirus pandemic,” said Torsten Dehner, senior vice-president, general manager, Europe/Middle East. However, the announcement has thrown into doubt the participation of the company’s brands at other 2021 events, as well as that of other major manufacturers.

ADF MILKING WINS TOP ROYAL AWARD

NEW ERA FOR STOCKS AG Stocks Ag Limited has been purchased by James Woolway, managing director and owner of OPICO. The manufacturer has supplied wheels, tyres and applicators to farmers worldwide for over 40 years and will continue to run as a separate company to OPICO, with their own products, sales teams and distribution channels.

James Woolway was brought up on his family’s farm and has worked in the agricultural machinery industry since 1994. However, while his experience lies in sales, marketing and management, he has always been driven to get involved in the manufacture of British agricultural machinery.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2020: International Trade has been awarded to ADF Milking Limited. The Automatic Dipping & Flushing system has been helping dairy farmers around the world improve the health of their herds, save money on vet bills and improve parlour efficiency since 2008. The ADF System effectively dips cows teats immediately after milking. The liner is then flushed with a sanitising solution to prevent mastitis being passed from cow to cow.

STRIMECH EXTENDS SHEARGRAB RANGE Strimech has redesigned its sheargrab range, with updates including strengthened pivot points with plated high-tensile pins. There are now 22 options across two- or three-ram versions, some with centre blades, and a variety of widths. A flexible bolt-on fixing system allows for easier transfer between machines.

Strimech’s focus on increased versatility for multi-use attachments will also see a number of shear buckets added to the range. These flexible, multi-purpose products aim to reduce operator downtime, enable ease of switching between jobs and increase value for money.

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WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

Cheffins will host an on-site dispersal sale on behalf of vegetable grower KS Coles Ltd in Somerset on 29 September at the family farm near Wellington. The sale will include over 600 lots, including tractors and a vast array of other vegetablegrowing equipment.

New dealer for Horsch

Horsch has partnered with Johnsons of Cheadle to provide its full range of cultivators, drills and sprayers to customers in Staffordshire. Johnsons has two branches, one at Cheadle and one at Eccleshall.

Shake up for Cornish machinery dealers

Former John Deere dealer Cornwall Farm Machinery has been appointed as a new Case IH dealer covering the whole of Cornwall. “This change of brand represents a new and exciting chapter for Cornwall Farm Machinery,” says general manager, Rob Hattam.

Cornish void filled

John Deere has announced that Smallridge Bros Ltd will expand its sales area into mid and west Cornwall from 1 November. The dealer currently has three depots and will open a new location in the county soon.

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21/08/2020 10:30

THREE-WHEELED TRAILBLAZER

When it comes to embracing new ideas, GJ Orford & Partners have history of being early adopters of pioneering technology. The Norfolk-based farmers and contractors ran MercedesBenz MB-tracs before trialling one of the first prototype JCB Fastracs in the early 1990s. When production started in 1991 John Orford had two of JCBs first tractors on order.

So it should come as no surprise that the contractors have become the first to operate a three-wheeled Ploeger AT4103 self-propelled fertiliser spreader, currently the only one of its kind in the UK. Although other models of this new machine can be seen working on British soil, they are five-wheeled models with different bodies for liquid application and muck-spreading, explains Ploeger UK sales manager Tony Hewitt.

Power comes from a 400hp Scania 9.3-litre, five-cylinder diesel engine mated to a CVT from transmission experts ZF, giving a top speed of 40kph. The rear axle is driven mechanically and the front wheel driven hydraulically. Not only does its three-wheel layout with 1050/50R32 Michelin tyres minimise soil compaction but it also offers an unbeatable turning radius and better performance in wet conditions than a tractor and trailed spreader.

The fertiliser body is sourced from Danish specialist Bredal and attached at Ploeger’s factory in the Netherlands. With the Claas Vista cab mounted at the front, this allows a capacity of 14t at the rear.

Since joining the Orford fleet last year the Ploeger has been put to work spreading fertiliser and lime across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and with previous punts on new ideas proving successful, this too could prove to be a combination that really takes off.

IMAGE FARMINGPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

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Front Link Big Picture // Ploeger AT4103

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Front Link First Impression // Claas Lexion 5000 & 6000

Walk the walk Claas has launched two new ranges of straw walker Lexion combines, which are now available in the UK. FMJ went to see if they perform as well as the company claims WORDS AND IMAGES PETER SKILTON

hile flagship combines steal the headlines with recordbreaking output and ever-increasing engine powers, smaller harvesters continue to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what might be expected from these lower capacity machines. It’s no secret that the combine market isn’t what it used to be. In 2008 there were 1146 combines sold, and annual sales have only exceeding 1000 twice since – in 2011 and 2012. Last year the market saw 623 sales, 269 of which were Claas machines, giving the company a 43.2 per cent market share.

Within these sales, customer preferences are shifting too, and Claas UK chief customer officer Jeremy Wiggins pointed to a shift in orders. “The market is weighted 70:30 towards hybrids over straw walker machines now. Three years ago that was 55:45,” he explains.

Yet despite this swing, Claas has spent a significant amount of time developing its new premium fiveand six-walker Lexion combines, which replace the outgoing Lexion 600 Series. In Europe this substitution

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has already taken place, the combines previously being launched at Agritechnica last year. As a result some models are already in operation on the continent, but UK buyers can place their orders now for delivery in time for next year’s harvest.

As their names would suggest, the 5000 and 6000 Lexions are five- and six-walker combines respectively.

At the top of the range are two new models, the 6800 and 6900, which Claas says will rival some of the smaller hybrid combines for output without compromising straw quality.

And as straw supplies look like they might be an issue and more farmers decide to bale their straw and sell it rather than chop and incorporate it into the soil to return nutrients, this could be important. Straw prices paid by merchants are up more than £10 per tonne on average this year, higher in areas where demand is greater such as the south-west of England.

Multiple models The Lexion 5000 range features three models with five walkers (5300, 5400 and 5500 TT) all powered by Mercedes-Benz six-cylinder engines.

“Higher power outputs see the new models overlap with Claas’s hybrid combines”

Above: The Convio is a draper header suited to low-growing crops or difficult conditions that require flat cutting

Below: The new 5500 TT leads out the larger 6700 TT as they make their first cuts in this field neighbouring Claas UK’s Saxham HQ

For the 5300 and 5400 that’s a 7.7-litre engine that kicks out 313hp and 354hp, while the 5500 TT gets a more capacious 10.7-litre engine and 408hp as a result. The same engines are used in all but one of the four six-walker machines too. The 6600 gets the 7.7-litre unit for 354hp, while 408hp and 462hp are extracted from the 10.7-litre engine in the 6700 and 6800 respectively.

The flagship 6900 bucks the trend and its 507hp output comes courtesy of a 13-litre MAN six-cylinder. These higher power outputs see the new models overlap with Claas’s hybrid combines more than ever, and Claas

COVER STORY OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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Front Link First Impression // Claas Lexion 5000 & 6000

The redesigned cab is not only more spacious but also gives a more commanding view over the header

also claims that the output of its most powerful six-walkers can rival the smaller hybrids too, all without compromising the straw quality.

Performance figures for the two side by side aren’t yet available but we’d be interested to test these declarations, especially given that the flagship 6900 also has a 13,500-litre grain tank and can unload at 180-litres-per-second.

All engines feature Dynamic Power, an intelligent engine management system that automatically adjusts engine output depending on the load. While the combine will try and set the power and torque curves to reduce fuel consumption wherever possible, if more power is needed for unloading or chopping straw it will automatically increase the power, all while maintaining the engine revs at 1900rpm, at which all these new Lexions harvest. This function can of course be turned off, however machines working in Germany are said to be seeing savings of around 15 to 20 per cent with it turned on.

Our time in the field with the new Lexions allowed us to witness two of the new models in action.

Representing the five-walkers here is a 5500, the largest of the three models, and the first five-walker to offer customers the Claas Terra Trac option. The straw walker market is predominantly tyres and the smaller 5300 and 5400 come only on wheels, however the 5500 is tracks only.

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“If more power is needed for unloading it will automatically increase”

For 6000 Series Lexions tracks can be fitted on all but the 6600. If wheels are your preference there’s now the option of fitting 42in rims with 680 tyres, keeping even the 6900 at the 3.5m width for transport, the same as tracked models. Tyre choices can extend up to 2.15m diameter on a 42in rim at the front and 1.75m diameter on 30in rims at the back. Whether fitted with tracks or wheels, all of these new Lexions get the option of upgrading to a 40kph transport speed, if desired, otherwise 30kph is standard. All wheeled models now get the option of a diff lock too.

Better output Under the side panels the two combines utilise almost identical internals. The 5000 models are built on a 1.42m-wide platform while the threshing system of the 6000s is wider at 1.7m. And as Claas observes a growing demand for straw yields while also offering high capacity for grain, there’s been a significant redesign to the APS threshing system.

It now goes by the name of APS Synflow and includes four drums as opposed to the three found on previous models.

First up is the accelerator drum, although the highlight of this system is a larger diameter main drum, up from 600mm to 755mm. There are 10 rasp bars, up from eight. Behind this is a 600mm secondary drum, behind which is an impeller that aids the flow

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

of straw to the walkers.

The greater diameter of the drums makes the concave wrap angle shallower – 132 and 116 degrees – for the main and separating drums respectively, which in turn makes the straw flow flatter and gentler.

This has two benefits – better straw quality and lower power demand from the threshing system, which subsequently saves fuel. The wider diameter and higher centrifugal speed of the rasp bars has seen the speed of drums reduced. It’s now infinitely variable using a new touch-screen Cebis monitor from in the cab, with speeds from 330 to 930rpm synchronised across all four drums.

To handle the demands of the

Above inset: The rear wall of the cab has been moved back to give the operator more space. Note the larger rear window too

Below: Feeder housing options include belt or chain drive. A dust extractor on top aids visibility

Front Link First Impression // Claas Lexion 5000 & 6000

TECHSPECS CLAAS LEXION 5000 & 6000 Model

LEXION 6900/ LEXION 6900 TT 6-walker

Threshing drum (mm)

Separator drum (mm)

Concave area (m2)

Total sieve area (m2)

Grain tank (litres)

Max unloading speed (l/s)

Max power (hp)

1700 x 755

1700 x 600

1.55

6.20

13,500 / 12,000

180 / 130

507

LEXION 6800/ LEXION 6800 TT

1700 x 755

1700 x 600

1.55

6.20

12,500 / 11,000

130 / 110

462

LEXION 6700/ LEXION 6700 TT

1700 x 755

1700 x 600

1.55

6.20

11,000 / 10,000

130 / 110

408

LEXION 6600

1700 x 755

1700 x 600

1.55

6.20

10,000 / 9000

110

354

LEXION 5500 TT 5-walker

1420 x 755

1420 x 600

1.30

5.10

11,000 / 10,000

130 / 110

408

LEXION 5400

1420 x 755

1420 x 600

1.30

5.10

10,000

110

354

LEXION 5300

1420 x 755

1420 x 600

1.30

5.10

10,000 / 9000

110

313

heavier drums Claas has beefed up the driveline. There’s now pretensioning of the belts using a clutch system when the machine starts up, a feature carried over from the Jaguar forage harvester range where it’s been proved to prolong the life of belts.

There are fewer belts too, thanks to the straight-line design of the drive system, and there’s a belt overload system.

Total concave area has increased on both models too. On the five walkers it’s now 1.3m2, up from 1.06m2, making it larger than the outgoing six-walker Lexion 670. The new six walkers have jumped from 1.26m2 to 1.55m2. The concaves are also adjustable using Cebis for fine-tuning to ensure an even flow through the threshing system, proven to be more gentle on straw as it passes through.

Forty per cent of the main concave can be removed and exchanged for a different size, for harvesting beans for example. This also makes it easier for cleaning. Additional features include a hydraulically pivoting concave bar between the pre-separation concave and the main concave, engaged using the Cebis terminal when additional threshing power is needed.

Trickle-down tech As Claas’s premium specification continues to trickle down through the ranges, the Jet Stream cleaning system finds itself on a straw walker combine for the first time. Previously

reserved only for hybrid machines, the larger sieve area means faster air is required. On the 5000s this means the 5.1m2 sieves get six turbine fans while the 6000s, with 6.2m2 of sieve area, use eight turbines. Fan speed is hydraulically variable, and like the top and bottom sieve settings they too are adjustable from inside the cab.

The new straw walker Lexions utilise more advanced technology than ever.

The pivoting concave bar, sycnhronised drum speed and concave adjustments are all integrated into the Cemos Auto-Threshing system, which uses information from the grain quality camera and Quantimeter yield measuring system to automatically adjust the concave settings and drum speed. If Cemos Auto-Cleaning is fitted the fan speed and sieve settings are also taken care of. Auto Crop Flow can monitor the flow and load through the combine, restricting crop without intervention should it detect a potential blockage.

The Lexions also include a new Field Scanner sensor option that can monitor the edge of crops and steer to tramlines from its position on the

Below inset: Cebis display can be shifted to the side to give a complete view over the header Bottom: The cab includes a new multi-function armrest as well as the Cebis touch-screen terminal

Below far left: Wide-opening side panels reveal the internals, which now include four drums Below centre: Key to preserving belt life is a pre-tensioning system Below: Drive for the header consists of a mechanical drive for the intake auger and knife bar while hydraulics drive the side belts, centre belt, reel and side knives

cab roof. Previously seen on Lexion 7000s and 8000s, it sits between the more basic Laser Pilot system, of which it is more accurate, and all-out GPS capability. But Claas says there is still demand for its entry-level Laser Pilot due to its familiarity and cost, and as a result it won’t yet be phased out in favour of the more extensive, and expensive, alternatives.

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Front Link First Impression // Claas Lexion 5000 & 6000 Urgent unloading Higher output brings larger grain tanks and the range extends from 9000 litres on the smallest models in each range, topping out at 13,500 litres on the 6900. The unloading auger now folds out further forward to make it easier to see. Depending on the model and auger diameter, unload speeds of up to 180 litres per second are possible, emptying the 6900’s tank in just 75 seconds. This speed can be halved for topping off trailers.

Grain elevator speeds are increased at 59 or 80 litres per second depending on model, while the returns elevator now runs at 15 litres per second.

Customers get a choice of feeder houses up front, prompted by some operators’ need to get the cutter bar closer to the ground. This includes belt or chain drive. There’s also a new dust extractor at the front end to make it easier to see the header.

The extensive redesign of the combine includes the cab. The back wall has been moved back to give more space and there’s a bigger rear window for an improved view into the grain tank, even though Claas can also incorporate a camera to monitor returns.

One of the most radical overhauls is the previously mentioned Cebis terminal, which shows all the combine settings on one screen, aided by a simple combine silhouette that makes it easy to see what is going on throughout the machine. If such a big screen sounds like it might

Right: Proven Terra Trac system makes its way to a five-walker Lexion for the first time on the 5500.

It’s available on all six-walker models

Above: Alliance 500/85R30 tyres on the back on the new Lexion. Maximum diameter for rear tyres is 1.75m Right: Pivoting side steps make for easy access, with a flexible bottom rung to the ladder Far right: Claas has improved access to the tank for cleaning and maintenance

Below: For these combines leaving a good swath of straw is as important as the grain in the tank

“Depending on the model, unload speeds of up to 180 litres per second are possible”

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hamper visibility, Claas has made it fully movable to get it out of the line of sight of the header. There’s also a new multi-function armrest for adjusting functions with switches.

As the Lexion 600 Series is now off sale, Claas is taking orders for the new 5000 and 6000 Lexions. At the time of going to press, list prices were unavailable, but you can expect a

jump on those of the outgoing models. But if performance is anything to go by then it’s a price worth paying. The new straw walker models are a leap ahead of the old models and have put themselves in reach of the hybrids for output, all while ensuring decent straw quality, which could be a vital asset all in itself.

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25/08/2020 13:14

COMBINE SALES & HIRE Trading for over 20 years, we at Kevin Kirby Ltd specialise in buying and selling used combine harvesters, as well as hiring out new/used combines – fully maintained using your local dealer service.

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27/08/2020 16:30

Front Link First Impression // John Deere X9 1100 combine

Century break John Deere has launched its highest capacity combines to date. Two new X-Series models boast outputs of up to 100 tonnes per hour and less than one per cent grain loss. FMJ went to see the range-topping X9 1100 in action WORDS AND IMAGES SIMON HENLEY

he last few years have seen an influx of new high-capacity combines.

Last year we had the new Claas Lexion range and the year before saw AGCO unveil its Ideal combine.

Now it is John Deere’s turn.

The new John Deere X9 Series combines have been in development for more than a decade. New from the tyre treads upwards, they share many design features previously proven in other Deere combines, yet the new X Series is an all-new design that shares none of its internal components with any other Deere & Co offering.

The X9 models feature a wider body for increased throughput, a new STS rotor design, a larger Dyna-Flo XL cleaning shoe, a new 13.6-litre PowrTech engine, a new ProDrive XL

T

transmission and a new cab. The completely revised harvesting system’s drive train has larger pulleys and longer, heavy-duty belts to provide up to 95 per cent operational efficiency.

Where the range-topping 700hp X9 1100 is concerned, these design improvements add up to a throughput of 100 tonnes per hour in standing wheat and less than one per cent grain loss. That’s a truly phenomenal amount of grain.

Fifty years ago, back when a 14ft (4.2m) cutting table was considered huge, the average output for a big combine was around 10 tonnes per hour. In 1970 the highest capacity combine available in Britain was the Lely Victory, which boasted an 18ft cut. Output was rated at an

Above: The new HDX hinged draper cutting tables have widths from 10.7-13.7m

unprecedented 17 tonnes per hour.

Like the John Deere X9, the Lely combine was also a ground-breaker.

One of its most outstanding features was its hinged header design, which conveniently links us to the introduction of the John Deere HDX draper cutting tables.

Hinged draper technology

Below: Two new John Deere X9 models comprise the X9 1000 (639hp) and the X9 1100 (700hp)

The new HDX cutting tables have been developed specifically for European harvesting conditions.

Available in widths ranging from 10.7-13.7m (35-45ft), they feature a preset memory feature for a quick transition from field to field when harvesting different crops and

“Design improvements add up to a throughput of 100 tonnes per hour”

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

23

incorporate hour tracking to monitor component life. The HDX header coupling remains a singlepoint manual operation.

In terms of its cutting performance, the HDX (Hinged Draper Xtended) header table is described as being ideal for small grains and oilseed rape growers who want to maximise their combine’s performance across a wide range of crops by simultaneously increasing crop throughput and reducing precombine losses, specifically while working in changing conditions and/or across undulating terrain.

The header is hinged to enable it to follow fluctuations in the ground level and the table itself uses independently controlled, hydraulically operated gauge wheels to maintain a constant height. Two wheels are positioned on either side of the combine to carry each wing/ section of the split header.

The centre hinge frame is a parallel link design, which provides up to 10 per cent of total wing tip travel between the left and right side of the cutting table. That’s 150cm upwards or downwards of wing-tip travel on either side of the hinge frame at any one time, while constantly maintaining an even crop flow to the feeder intake.

Another improved feature of the HDX cutting table is the extra-deep

belt design, which at 120cm offers 12 per cent more than its nearest competitor. The HDX draper belts feature a patented grain-saver pattern design, which has been developed to prevent small grains and seeds rolling back down towards the cutterbar.

Together with the fingered top augers, John Deere states these belts can reduce cutterbar and pod shatter losses in crops like OSR and beans by up to 25 per cent when compared with traditional draper systems.

The HDX headers continue to use the tried and tested 4.0in double-cut HydraFlex cutterbar. A necessity for high-throughput combines, the new HDX headers feature a knife system that provides 1980 cuts per minute and a flex range of 190mm.

Big mouth, big body Having one of the most advanced cutting tables available is no good if the combine cannot process the crop it is gathering. That’s not a problem with the new X9 models, which now boast the widest feeder housing in the industry, measuring an impressive 1720mm in width. And this width is retained throughout the entire length of the combine right back to the straw chopper.

As the crop passes through the feeder housing it is split into three directions (left, right and downwards) by a new chevron design two-speed

“A 1250-litre fuel tank provides up to 14 hours of combining”

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WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

fast feed accelerator and stone trap, which pushes the crop towards the rotors at a 270-degree spread.

The new Dual Separator (XDS) twin rotors are narrower and longer with larger flights, providing the largest active threshing and separation area John Deere has ever offered in a combine. In the X9, the crop passes through the 3.51m XDS rotors in just nine revolutions.

Above: The new X9 cab offers three trim levels including Select, Premium and Ultimate Below: The X9 1000 grain tank holds 14,800 litres and the X9 1100 up to 16,200 litres, and provide unloading rates of up to 186 litres per second

Front Link First Impression // John Deere X9 1100 combine Below and left inset: Working with an HDX draper header, the view from inside the cab shows a bow-wave of wheat being inhaled into the feeder housing

Above: Cab equipment options include leather seats with integrated heating and ventilation and a massage function

Right inset: The X9 has a super-wide, 1.72m feeder housing Below right inset: Three load cells in the grain tank utilise self-learning artificial intelligence technology to calibrate grain weight

The XDS rotors have been developed from the modular principle featured on the S Series combines, with dedicated sections for threshing and separation, and active concave isolation that keeps the concave rigid at all times.

Alongside the traditional threshing elements, the separation area also utilises a finger design to tease the last grains from the crop mat.

The idea of this is to improve the threshing performance

Left: The HDX header uses independently controlled, hydraulically operated gauge wheels to maintain a constant height

in conditions that are less than ideal, for example when harvesting at night after the dew rises, or trying to snag late spring crops when straw isn’t quite ripe.

Behind the rotors is the new Dyna-Flo XL cleaning shoe, which now features a front step pan, relinquishing the requirement for shoe augers. Supported by a new turbine fan system with 85 per cent more airflow, the colossal 7.0m2 shoe increases the cleaning capacity of the X9 by 45 per cent over the largest S Series combine. The X9 also features full-width shoe loss sensing and active tailings return.

Besides improving crop throughput, John Deere engineers have gone to great lengths to improve the airflow through the combine by creating a large open area behind the sieves to reduce air pressure within the threshing system. This saves fuel by reducing the power requirement needed to pass crops through the combine.

New engine and gearbox Powering the X9 combines is an all-new John Deere Powrtech 13.6-litre, six-cylinder engine capable of delivering up to 700hp at a rated

TECHSPECS John Deere X9 1100 Engine John Deere PowrTech13.6-litre, six-cylinder Power 700hp @ 1900rpm Transmission Pro-Drive XL (40kph) Cutting width 10.7m-13.7m (HDX) or 10.7m-15.2m Channel width 1.72m (from feeder housing) Rotor length 3.51m (x2) Threshing area 4.0m2 Separation area 22.5m2 Cleaning shoe area 7.0m2 Max. throughput 100t/hour Grain tank 16,200 litres Unloading auger 186L/second Fuel tank 1250 litres Retail price £725,908 + £124,420 for HDX cutting table (MRP)

speed of 1900rpm. A 1250-litre fuel tank provides up to 14 hours of combining and a refill capability of 550 litres per minute.

The new engine delivers its power through John Deere’s HarvestMotion belt drive system. Developed for the 9000 Series forage harvesters, this robust belt drive delivers up to 30 per cent more torque for 20 per cent less diesel.

Delivering the power to the wheels is the new ProDrive XL transmission, which features a double-pump hydrostatic system. As the combine pulls away, both pumps engage to ensure maximum torque is available up to 12kph. As the forward speed increases the second pump is phased out gradually to decrease both the power and fuel requirements. Top speed is 40kph at 1700rpm.

The real deal The X9 press launch was hosted

by Kayleigh Farms Ltd at Market Downham, which runs a fleet of four John Deere S690 combines and has been involved with customer focus groups and field trials of the X9 combines for several years.

Farm manager Scott Melton has seen the X9 continually develop and was keen to share some of the data he has collected while the farm has been using the pre-production X9 1100.

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25

Front Link First Impression // John Deere X9 1100 combine “This is an impressive combine,” he claims. “I’m not just saying this but it can literally blow anything else I have ever driven out of the water.

We had it working in a 35ha field of oilseed rape alongside two of our S690s. When the field was finished the X9 had combined 17.4ha, the two S690s had combined 17.6ha.

“On 11 August we were combining spring barley.

At around 7.30pm when the dew came up the S690 combines were forced to stop cutting. The X9 1100 carried on combining until 2.30am, travelling consistently at speeds of 8 to 10kph. I have never seen a combine go through spring barley like that without any effect on grain quality or an increase in losses.”

The demo X9 1100 combine was equipped with a 40ft HDX cutting table. Working in a crop yielding around 10t/ha, the combine had no problem maintaining a forward speed of 8kph, with very little effect on the engine load.

From the cab, watching a 40ft swath of wheat being forced into the feed elevator at this speed is like watching an ocean liner cut through the sea. The wheat is literally forced into a bow wave as the draper belts deliver it to the feeder housing, where it is sucked up at a relentless rate to the fast feed accelerator and delivered to the rotors.

The new Ultimate cab interior is

Right: The 13.6-litre engine is a six-cylinder developed for the X9 Below: Cameras fitted to the clean grain and returns elevators monitor grain quality and loss

furnished like a hotel suite.

Inside it features beautifully trimmed, air-conditioned leather seats, a soft-shut door (relegating the need for any catch-wrecking slamming), a DAB radio, climate control and a useful 25-litre fridge.

Above right and above inset: Exceptional 100t per hour throughput performance of the X9 1100 is aided by the cavernous space behind the sieves Below: Both X9 models are available on wheels or tracks with a transport width below 3.5m

Sound of progress The loudest noise you can hear is the crop passing underneath. It’s the kind of noise you would normally heed as a warning to back off before you blocked an old CTS combine, but on the new X9 1100 this noise means it’s happy. Once you’re rolling it is the drop in engine speed that dictates

whether the combine is approaching its limits.

Our time with the X9 1100 was all too brief but judging by what we saw you can’t help but feel John Deere has done a hell of a job developing this machine. Has John Deere reinvented the wheel? No, but they’ve given a great deal of thought on how to improve the way it spins. And this is what makes the performance of the X9 really stand out.

The only snag is the price tag. At £725,908, plus £124,420 for the HDX header, the John Deere X9 1100 needs to be the highest capacity combine on the planet to earn its keep.

“The X9 1100 carried on combining until 2.30am, travelling consistently at 8 to 10kph”

26

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

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21/08/2020 11:18

Front Link First Impression // Tanco mower combination

Triple threat

Tanco’s new mower combination sets out to offer the output of a butterfly mower on a trailed platform with lower power requirements, but will the idea catch on? FMJ went to find out WORDS AND IMAGES EOGHAN DALY

or new entrants to achieve success in the highly competitive mower market, the offering of a new machine unlike anything else is the only route. With this philosophy in mind, the start of production of a new mower concept

by Irish manufacturer Tanco serves to fill a previously unexplored void in the market with an innovative machine that has had the benefit of extensive testing under typical working conditions.

F

28

Tanco’s new mower is a trailed alternative to the more traditional mounted butterfly mower. Its accompanying front-mounted unit has been designed to address a number of key shortcomings of the mounted alternatives already on the market. The most notable of these is significantly more modest power requirements from the host tractor.

While Tanco is proud to put its name to the machine as the concept enters production, its development

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

Above: The folded position makes transport easy, while it is also possible to conduct maintenance on the mowers while detached from a tractor

from initial concept through to the first pre-production variants was at the hands of Stealth Manufacturing.

Founder John Kennedy used his experience as a renowned innovator and agricultural contractor to design and build the machine.

From initial design in 2011, the first working prototype entered service in 2013 and Tanco became involved three years ago. “We have done comprehensive testing of the machines and are confident the concept is now ready to enter the production phase,” says Michael Dollard, Tanco marketing manager.

“All Tanco products carry a very strong innovative theme. Our approach is not to offer standard machines that would lead to direct

An intensive demonstration programme during 2020 impressed silage contractors

TECHSPECS Tanco MRF-HD7DC/ MRT-HD9DC

(MRF-HD7DC front mounted mower conditioner and MRT-HD9DC rear trailed twin mower conditioner)

competition with other manufacturers. Instead we offer equipment that fills a void in the market and the mower concept is like nothing else previously available.”

Mowers in action Running in tandem with the commencement of production has been an active demonstration programme throughout Ireland. The largest available mower combination was mounted on a Case IH Puma 240 CVX tractor with demonstration driver Kevin Igoe behind the wheel.

Offering an impressive cutting width of 10.36m, the demo combination comprises a frontmounted Tanco MRF-HD7DC mower conditioner while the rear trailed machine is an MRT-HD9DC mower conditioner with nine cutting discs per side.

The first examples of the combination entered active service In Ireland in time for the 2020 silage harvest and owner feedback has been impressive, suggesting this is one of the biggest developments in the evolution of mowers for many years.

While this may seem a bold claim, assessment of the machine clearly shows how it differs from anything else in the same cutting width class.

One of the most obvious and immediately recognisable differences is the machine’s wheeled configuration, which is the basis for its modest power requirements and ability to function on lower powered tractors than a standard mounted butterfly mower combination.

“My own silage contracting operation was the basis for designing the trailed butterfly mowers, as I needed a large cutting width but without having to invest in a higher power, long-wheelbase tractor,” says John Kennedy. “Users of mounted butterfly mowers typically need over 250hp long-wheelbase tractors, which are hard to justify as they have limited

uses outside of the silage season.

That is why I decided an alternative mower design with a lower power requirement was the best route to take.”

However, despite its modest power requirements being one of the central arguments in the mower’s favour, it clearly has many other benefits to offer. One of these is the transport position, which sees a horizontal folding position applied instead of the vertical arrangement of most mounted machines, as visibility for the tractor driver is far superior on the road. The horizontal folding position also allows maintenance and blade changing to be conducted while the mower is off the tractor.

Set-up times are cut greatly, as the settings remain the same every time the mower is reattached to the tractor.

Even though the horizontal folding position and wheeled format give the combination a significantly greater overall length compared with frontand rear-mounted triples, it remains essentially manoeuvrable thanks to steerable wheels. The mowing unit’s elevating and folding sequence in

“All Tanco products carry a very strong innovative theme” turn activates transport mode for the mower’s steering, of which there are two modes. The steering works faster in field mode with the mowing beds lowered and changes to a slower activation turning in field headlands and on roads.

Combined cutting width 9.8m Front mower width 2.8m Front mower weight 1250kg Rear mower transport width 2.6m Rear mower weight 3450kg Height folded 1.68m Length 5.4m Cutting discs Front 7, rear 9 (per side) Power requirement 250hp

Strong following The front-mounted mower is a seven-disc machine with a patented design for following ground contours. The bed is mounted to a track frame with a hydraulic suspension system that gives comprehensive movement forwards and backwards, with left and right oscillation for 12 degrees movement in all directions. The rear mower units run on independent

Above: Cutting depth is adjusted by these bed angle adjustment handles, which lock away securely Below: The mower is quickly and easily attached to the tractor with no adjustment required

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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Front Link First Impression // Tanco mower combination

hydro-pneumatic suspension systems, which, coupled with the benefit of the trailed design, ensure the suspension can work to maximum effect due to being mounted on a chassis.

The mowers use Comer mowing beds throughout, who supply similar units for many other manufacturers’ machines. Altering the cutting depth is achieved by changing the position of the bed angle, made possible through a fold-down handle on the top of each rear mowing unit. Side handles on the front mower change the position of skid plates on each side of the machine to alter the cutting depth.

The weight distribution ratio between the tractor linkage and the mower wheels has been considered for stability and safety. Of the total

Above: Standard rear mower discs require bolt-on cutting blade attachments but quick-change blade holders will be introduced in the future

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Above right: Hydraulic elements are easily accessed despite the adequate protection

3450kg weight of the trailed machine, the weight distribution in the working position sees 1450kg directed towards the tractor linkage while the remaining 2000kg is handled by the mower wheel.

While the machine is now in production, further

Right: The front mower has been developed to work in tandem with the trailed units

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

“We have our technical staff working on making the mowers ISObus compatible”

Left inset: During the recent demonstration programme the Tanco combination was operated by product specialist Kevin Igoe

evolution continues as Tanco continues to work on the catalogue of options that can be offered to widen the appeal of the concept.

ISObus option “We have our technical staff working on making the mowers ISObus compatible, which will be made available as an option in the future,” says Michael Dollard. “This will offer even more user-friendly control and is something we see as being essential as users expect high-end operating systems from modern machines.”

Despite ambitions to enhance its offering, Tanco’s initial production machine is still an impressive performer and its designer’s original objectives are central to the appeal it is generating on the demonstration circuit.

A LONG WAY

TOGETHER

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO No matter how challenging your needs, AGRIMAX V-FLECTO is your best ally when it comes to soil tillage and haulage applications. The tyre features excellent traction along with enhanced driving comfort both in the fields and on the road. With the exclusive VF technology, AGRIMAX V-FLECTO can carry very heavy loads with a lower inflating pressure even at high speeds providing reduced soil compaction, best self-cleaning properties as well as fuel economy.

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO is BKT’s response in terms of both technology and performance for highpower tractors.

IMPORTER FOR THE UK

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27/08/2020 11:41

Front Link First Impression // Pöttinger Terrasem C4 Fertiliser Pro seed drill

Doubling up

The Pöttinger Terrasem C4 seed drill has direct fertilisation capability, however its versatility extends beyond its ability to simultaneously sow seed and fertiliser in a single pass, as FMJ discovered WORDS AND IMAGES SIMON HENLEY

artin Brandreth and his father Joe manage a 140-cow organic dairy herd on their 500-acre farm near Bedworth in Warwickshire. Since 2011 the Brandreth team have expanded their business portfolio by establishing themselves as purveyors of high-quality hay and straw, selling into the agricultural, domestic and equine markets.

Last year, FMJ joined Martin Brandreth in the field during the demonstration of a Pöttinger Novacat A10 triple mower-

M

Below inset: Martin Brandreth farms 500 acres with his father Joe at Bedworth, Warwickshire. Strictly organic, they milk 140 cows in addition to baling and selling high-quality hay and straw

Built at Bernberg in Germany, Pöttinger’s Terrasem Fertiliser seed drills are available in working widths of 3-9m in the rigid Terrasem R3 and R4 and folding Terrasem C4, C6, C8 and C9 models

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conditioner with the new A10 Crossflow system. The demonstration had been inspired by a trial undertaken in conjunction with Pöttinger UK to grow 12ha (30 acres) of an oats and lucerne mix to use for whole crop silage.

The idea behind the demonstration of the Novacat A10 Crossflow was to identify whether the mower could increase the efficiency of

the Brandreths’ grass harvesting operations. The trial crop they were harvesting at the time had been drilled with a Pöttinger Terrasem C4 fertiliser drill, which had been set up to drill the oats and lucerne simultaneously using the fertiliser coulters to plant the oat seed.

Since our last visit to the Brandreths’ farm two things have happened. Firstly, having previously relied on a Pöttinger Novacat mower set-up for several years, Martin and his father upgraded their existing mower to a new A10 Crossflow

“The Terrasem produced the highest seed germination rates we have ever seen”

Above: The Brandreths’ Terrasem C4 is equipped with the Artis Plus ISObus-compatible control system, operated through the Fendt’s terminal

version supplied by Catley Engineering Ltd at Desford in Leicestershire. The family also upgraded their seeding equipment, having recently purchased a new Pöttinger Terrasem C4 fertiliser seed drill.

“Our decision was based on the result of last year’s trial,” concedes Martin. “The Pöttinger Terrasem C4 we had on demo produced the highest seed germination rates we have ever seen. For organic farmers like us this is extremely important.

“Although we grow grass and whole

crop mixes for silage to feed the cows, we are now planting over 40ha (100 acres) of crop leys specifically for organic hay production. Organic crop production relies on meticulous ground preparation and drill timings, and the Terrasem fertiliser drill delivers the accuracy to drill two crops simultaneously and the flexibility to

work in a variety of soil types and conditions.”

Decent dimensions Categorised as a minimum tillage mulch drill capable of conventional or direct drilling, the Pöttinger Terrasem C4 fertiliser seed drill is 3.0m wide and 2.8m high when packed for transport. It’s 8.0m in length and tips the scales at 6.5t before you’ve even put a kilo of seed into its 4000-litre foldingpartition hopper.

Like all folding Terrasem C-series drills, it’s a triple-frame design with two hydraulically folding outer frames that are designed to float when positioned in work mode so they can follow the exact lie of the land in fields with undulating contours. In short, it’s a big machine and as we would expect from Pöttinger, it’s well constructed to a very high standard of fit and finish.

The Brandreths’ drill is the Fertiliser Pro version, with the optional row spacing of 12.5cm as opposed to the optional 16.7cm, and a maximum coulter pressure that increases from 120kg to 180kg. It also has a larger disc coulter diameter of 420mm, additional shear bolts on each coulter arm and hydraulic depth adjustment as standard.

The concept behind this type of seed drill is that it enables the simultaneous use of a disc harrow for tillage, trash burial or mulching while applying both the seed and fertiliser.

This avoids multiple passes, reduces soil compaction and promotes cost-efficient farming.

The direct fertilisation system enables fertiliser to be applied at the same time as seed, thanks to the Pöttinger Fertiliser Pro coulters located behind the cultivation discs.

Above and inset left: Using a rear linkage-mounted drawbar attachment the length adjustable drawbar (for tractors with dual wheels) offers a 90-degree turning angle for tight turns on the headlands

TECHSPECS Pöttinger Terrasem C4 Fertiliser Pro Working width 4.0m Drill coulters 32 Row spacing 125mm Disc coulter diameter 380mm Harrow coulters 30 Harrow disc diameter 420mm Distributors Single Tyres 8 x 425/55 R17 Power required 160hp

Left and above left: The C4 is supported by all eight wheels with a chassis frame that remains in-situ as the disc harrow and coulter rails lift.

Each wheel is independently suspended to prevent headland smearing

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Front Link First Impression // Pöttinger Terrasem C4 Fertiliser Pro seed drill

Why grow lucerne?

In countries like the USA and Australia, lucerne (or alfalfa as it’s also known) is extensively grown for hay production. But it’s not a crop that lends itself naturally to the unpredictable British climate, which makes high-quality lucerne hay both a nutritionally and financially valuable crop.

Lucerne must be rotated and cannot be successfully mono cropped.

By rotating lucerne with a clover/high-protein grass mix, for example, the cycle of disease associated with lucerne is broken and nutrient leaching of trace elements such as sulphur and potassium is eased.

In warmer climates it’s possible to get six cuts per season, but here in the UK four or five cuts (mowing every six weeks) would be acceptable.

Harvesting the crop for hay requires it to be mown and baled at around 40-50 per cent moisture to preserve the integrity of the crop leaf and then barn-dried down to 15 per cent. Typically a crop with 12t of dry matter per hectare will represent a good yield.

“Our Fendt 828 has the power and technology to take full advantage of the Terrasem” This places the fertiliser in a ‘double-shoot’ between every second seed row. The placement depth of the fertiliser can be adjusted hydraulically within a 10cm range independently of both the cultivating and seed sowing depth.

Cutting chemicals This all sounds great, but what does an organic farmer want with a seed drill that applies chemical fertiliser?

This is where it gets interesting because instead of applying fertiliser, as we hinted earlier, you can use the

Terrasem Fertiliser Pro coulters for planting a second crop.

“We are using the drill for reseeding and establishing four-year leys with two specific seed mixes,” explains Martin. The first of these is a mix of lucerne and oats at a rate of 20kg/ha and 50kg/ha respectively, which are drilled simultaneously.

We undersow the lucerne with oats so we can harvest the crop in late summer for whole-crop silage. The lucerne is then left to re-establish over the winter and harvested for hay the following year.

This picture and inset bottom right: Lucerne crops sown in June/July are undersown with oats so they can be harvested in September for whole crop silage. The lucerne will then be used for making hay the following year

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Above: The Pöttinger Terrasem C4 uses a single distributor. All Terrasem units are subjected to a distribution analysis test. Measured values are then archived in the machine database

“The second crop mix we use is one that consists of clover and a mixture of high-protein grasses, which is pre-mixed by the seed company and sown at 38kg/ha.

This is used as a break crop to replace leys that have previously been drilled with lucerne.

“Producing organic crops by re-seeding existing leys requires us to kill and re-establish as many weeds and volunteers as possible prior to planting, without the aid of chemicals such as glyphosate. To do this we typically cultivate the ground three times at 10-day intervals with a Simba Solo 380 disc harrow.

“We specced our Terrasem C4 with conventional straight-cut discs.

Pöttinger does offer scalloped discs or what it calls wave discs, which, unlike conventional discs running at an angle in the soil, are mounted so they cut straight downwards and shatter the soil, each disc being positioned directly in line with a seed coulter.

“Having seen these on the demo drill we felt that the cutting action of the conventional discs was better suited to organic applications.

This was because of their ability to chop and kill the

This picture and inset bottom right: Soil preparation is taken care of by a two-gang disc harrow, with the option of smooth, scalloped or Pöttinger wave discs, all of which are mounted on maintenance- free bearings

Terrasem Fertiliser drills come with a 4000-litre hopper as standard with a folding partition that can be set at 40:60, 50:50 or 60:40. A heavy-duty loading gantry and roll-over tarpaulin are also standard

weeds while creating a suitable tilth for planting, even though there is arguably more soil disturbance than you would get with the wave disc.

“So far we have been very impressed with the Terrasem C4,” concludes Martin. “We had a minor problem with one of the metering units but this was replaced immediately under warranty. Since then, by using digital scales to check the seed rate accuracy, we’ve determined the metering units are now working to within one per cent

of the programmed seed rate.

“It is a large drill for the acreage we currently farm, however our Fendt 828 has the power and technology in place to take full advantage of the Terrasem C4’s control systems and operational capability. Honestly, our crops have never looked so good.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Martin and Joe Brandreth, and Colin Catley at Catley Engineering Ltd (01455 698087) for their assistance with this feature.

How the Pöttinger Fertiliser Pro coulter system works According to Pöttinger, the increasing need for direct fertilisation is spawned by the necessity for precision fertiliser management, thanks to increasing fertiliser prices, new fertiliser regulations and environmental legislation.

With the Terrasem C4 fertiliser seed drill, seedbed preparation is taken care of by the disc harrow cultivation

system integrated into the front of the seed drill. Fertiliser is then placed into the ground by the Fertiliser Pro coulters, which are located behind the discs ahead of the packer wheels. The packer wheels then consolidate the soil surface across the whole width of the drill.

Once the soil is consolidated the seed is then

planted and sealed in the seed trench by the seed coulter press wheels. The Fertiliser Pro coulter is designed to place a deposit of fertiliser in a position where it can nourish the roots of the emerging plants. This is claimed to promote faster development of the root mass and contribute to long-term optimum yield.

Above: The C4 disc coulters are guided by a pressure wheel to ensure uniform seed placement and depth. Depth control is adjusted mechanically, while the coulter pressure is applied hydraulically

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LET LOOSE

Rhun Jones went against the trend of the last 20 years, which have seen many UK machinery manufacturers close, and start a new business making implements in Britain WORDS JONATHAN THEOBALD IMAGES FARMINGPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK

R

hun Jones grew up on a working farm in North Wales. Later in life he worked for a major tractor manufacturer and then a business selling a loosening device that worked in front of Vaderstad drills.

“I looked at the concept and knew it was right, however it seemed to me that equipment designed to be used with drills from just one manufacturer was too bespoke and didn’t offer enough versatility,” he says.

In 2016 Rhun founded Grange Machinery. His concept was to build equipment to enhance the establishment of crops and the Low Disturbance Toolbar, or LDT, was the result. It is mounted on the tractor’s lift arms and loosens the soil for the following drill – a drill of any make.

“We started with 3m and 4m working width machines,” explains Rhun. “They could be used with a wide range of equipment that farmers already Below: Grange owned and used. It was our core Machinery was product and its success opened established in 2016 doors and avenues that allowed to supply soil-loosening equipment that would us to broaden our product range help with crop quite quickly over the following establishment and four years.” blackgrass control

“Success opened doors and avenues that allowed us to broaden our product range”

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Farming foundations Grange Machinery is a family business run from the 500-acre arable farm owned and run by his wife Lucy’s parents, which also has just over 4000 fattening pigs.

Grange’s office, parts store and machinery shed, as well as demonstration machines, are all based there. The farm, called Sproatley Grange, also gave the company its name.

“When I set up the business I thought we had a path we could go down supplying equipment other manufacturers weren’t offering. There is a market out there where blackgrass has been a driving force,” he explains. “This has forced farmers across the UK, and in Europe, to change their methods of farming and I thought that there was a market for equipment that could help with this.”

Since its launch in 2016 Grange Machinery has

Below inset: The Track Eradicator removes wheelings in controlled traffic farming systems. Two or three tines can be positioned to match tractor wheel centres

Left: Low Disturbance Looseners and Toolbars from Grange Machinery are manufactured in Doncaster Below: The legs create a disturbed strip for strip drilling or they loosen the soil in front of other types of drill

BEHINDTHESCENES GRANGE MACHINERY

specialised in offering a range of soil loosening equipment.

Some can be used in front of conventional strip till and direct drills while other machines are designed as stand-alone implements. The company also offers equipment for applying liquid fertiliser.

Low Disturbance Toolbar

Above: The 4m LDT was the first implement developed

by Grange Machinery.

Legs shatter the soil below the surface Right: The LDT can be used to tow a drill, cultivator or press Below: The 6m Low Disturbance Toolbar has wings that are folded for headland turns. This keeps the combined turning circle as tight as possible

The 3m and 4m Low Disturbance Toolbars, or LDTs, were the first machines offered by Grange. This toolbar loosens the soil in front of following, towed equipment such as a drill, cultivator or press.

They are carried on the tractor’s three-point linkage and have a row of discs followed by a row of loosening tines. Either can be raised or lowered into work hydraulically.

The row of discs minimises the bursting of the following legs by cutting a slot in the surface. They also cut through any trash to avoid it being caught up in the leg. These discs work at a range of depths, usually around 50mm.

All the hydraulic connections and services, and hitches, usually found on the rear of a tractor have been transferred to the rear of the toolbar to tow and operate any following equipment. The range of hitches includes a link arm attachment, a heavy-duty clevis drawbar, Scharmuller K80 balls and other ball hitches. They are held by a rack system and can be interchanged.

The LDT can be used on its own as well as with trailed implements.

“This will enhance the range of cultivating and seeding equipment farmers already own,” says Rhun.

“The LDT adds a soil loosening element.

“We’ve gone down the low disturbance route in that we want maximum shatter below the surface with minimum disturbance on the surface. We’re selling more and more of these toolbars to farmers who are direct drilling. These farmers have spent a lot of time enhancing their soil structure and they don’t want to bring large lumps to the surface.”

Working depth The toolbars will work to 300mm depth but they are usually set between 180mm and 250mm, around plough pan depth.

The 4m LDT was Grange’s first implement but the 6m version is now the most popular. Prototypes of the wider model first appeared towards the end of 2017 and it was launched early the following year.

It is rather more than simply a wider version of the smaller LDTs because Rhun wanted to build something that did not reduce the tractor’s turning circle at the headlands.

To achieve this it was given two wings. When the tractor turns the whole toolbar is lifted and the wings folded.

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BEHINDTHESCENES GRANGE MACHINERY

This leaves room for the following drawbar. The lifting and folding are integrated into the tractor’s headland management system but can also be controlled manually.

“We developed this further into an 8m toolbar during 2018 and a prototype was delivered in 2019. Development is continuing and the first production models will be available this autumn,” he says.

Low Disturbance Loosener The Low Disturbance Loosener, or LDL, was developed mainly for direct drilling customers and is a stand-alone implement. Basically, it is a low disturbance toolbar with the addition of a rear packer, but without the rear hitch and hydraulic services.

Most direct drills have a disc coulter that needs some consolidation for it to bite and turn. The LDL was designed to leave a suitable surface to achieve this. “We’ve integrated the toolbar working elements of the disc and tine and added a consolidation roller on the back, which has created a new product range for us,” Rhun explains.

“Some direct drill customers have asked if they could remove the rear packer and replace it with a floating hitch to trail a direct drill, if needed. This can now be done with a bolt-on clevis hitch or floating linkage. Within reason this turns an LDL into an LDT although the mechanics are not quite the same,” he adds.

With the converted LDL the operator lifts it out of work at headlands with the tractor link arms and the floating linkage on the back maintains the towing height for the drill, whereas the LDT is lifted out of work using hydraulics rather than the link arms.

Seeders These can be added to all Grange looseners and this is becoming increasingly popular. It uses Stocks AG hoppers, metering units, distribution pipes and seeders. An access platform is also added. Seed is dropped directly behind each leg and both a main crop, or main and companion crop can be sown.

The seeding equipment and access platform can be removed when not required, which returns the unit to a standard loosener.

Track eradicator The heavy-duty track eradicator shares the same frame and headstock as the 3m and 4m LDT. They are mainly for controlled traffic farming customers using large, heavy tractors trailing 8m, 10m and 12m implements and loosen wheeling compaction between the tramlines. These eradicators share the same features as an LDT so have all the hydraulic services and an interchangeable rear hitch.

Usually two or three legs are fitted to each side of the machine.

Liquid fertiliser application This has been offered from the early days of the company and the equipment can be used with either LDTs towing drills or equipment from other manufacturers. Tank sizes are 1000, 1500 or 2000 litres. Hydraulic pumps, automatic rate controllers and a wide range of outlet manifolds and application systems are offered. They include band spraying and coulter injection The legs on an LDT can be targeted with a three-element nozzle. One takes fertiliser down the slot created by the loosening leg while the others jet fertiliser into a band

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Above: The LDL is predominantly a shallow subsoiler or loosener. The 5m and 6m machines cannot be adapted to tow because of their design. The packer can be removed and replaced with a hitch only on the 3m and 4m versions Right: The position of the legs on the Track Eradicator can be altered to match the wheel centres of the tractor being used Below: The LDT leaves a surface suitable for conventional drilling, strip drilling or direct drilling

“We intend to do more with strip tillage systems for maize, sugar beet and oilseed rape”

Below: The discs and tines of the LDTs can be lifted out of work hydraulically rather than on the tractor’s lift arms

around 30mm to 40mm each side of the leg. The seed is placed within the fertilised band and as the roots grow they meet the fertiliser dropped down the loosening line created by the leg.

Close-coupled toolbar

Above: The LDL is lifted out of work by the tractor lift arms.

Only the 3m and 4m versions can be adapted for towing following equipment

The close-coupled toolbar (CCT) has been designed for maize and sugar beet growers who want to establish a crop using a strip till system. It has a hydraulic three-point linkage on the rear so following, mounted equipment can be attached.

A PTO drive option through the machine is also available so the CCT can be used with power harrow combinations. “The key element is that it is very short so its weight, and the weight of the mounted equipment, is kept as close to the tractor as possible,” says Rhun.

“The future is looking bright for Grange Machinery,” he adds. “We intend looking at the vegetable growing market and to do more with strip tillage systems, particularly for maize, sugar beet and oilseed rape. We’ve also made a number of sales of our existing implements to Eastern Europe and will be expanding our international market.”

The farmers’ verdicts Simon Ashworth

3m Low Disturbance Toolbar Simon Ashworth farms about 800 acres of mainly dry, sandy ground on Romney Marsh. Crops include winter and spring wheat, soya beans, maize, peas and brassicas and grass for seed.

“It’s the best thing I‘ve bought for a long time,” he says. “I put it on the front of a 12-year-old Vaderstad drill and it’s exceptional. I use the tines around 125mm to 150mm deep in stubble. This stirs things up just enough for the drill to sow, and then everything is packed down again. The combination gives excellent germination; last autumn my brassicas and oilseed rape popped like a rocket and had a perfect stance. It’s a wonderful tool.”

Ed King

6m Low Disturbance Toolbar Ed King manages 1000ha for Century, which operates through a variety of farming agreements on land running east from the A1 to Norfolk.

The fields cover a wide variety of soil types.

“The LDT gives us great flexibility,” he says. “We have a 6m Vaderstad Carrier so we have the option to use the Toolbar and Carrier early. We just tickle the top with the Carrier and use the toolbar to remove any compaction without mixing in blackgrass seeds. We then return later with a John Deere drill to sow without moving any soil. But if conditions are right we put the toolbar in front of the drill or, if there’s no compaction, we use the drill on its own.

“On the blowing sands in Norfolk we can put an Amazone 6m conventional drill on the back of the LDT and sow the main crop and cover crop in one pass.”

Harry Grant

6m Low Disturbance Loosener with a packer roller Harry Grant farms around 800 acres of arable with his father Mick in East Yorkshire.

Crops include winter wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape and vining peas. Soil varies from heavy clay through to lighter land.

“We are trying to change our cultivation strategy to a lower disturbance system with fewer passes,” Harry explains. “The 6m LDL with a packer roller on the back arrived at the beginning of the year. Our idea was to use a Vaderstad Carrier first followed by the Loosener, then possibly leaving it to weather before drilling.

“We used it this spring and got on very well with it. It just lifted the land a little to allow it to breathe and did a very good job.”

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‘Click and collect’ service

EFFICIENT FEEDING PARTS WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST

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Easy access via mykuhn.kuhn.com • Order parts on-line from your KUHN dealer • Access our interactive parts catalogue • Check out your operator’s manual

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FOCUSON…

A need for

feed

FEEDER WAGONS

Below: Feeding into troughs means a conveyor is needed but the VA ejects feed comfortably

When it comes to feeding equipment there’s a wide range of machinery to choose from.

FMJ visited four dairy farms to find out what they use and why WORDS AND IMAGES KEN TOPHAM

W

hen it comes to dairy farms one of the hardest working machines is the feeder wagon, often working 365 days a year.

But just like every other machine there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to feeding livestock.

To find out what criteria farms take into consideration when choosing a feeder, FMJ visited four dairy farms in the north-west of England to find out what feeding equipment they are currently using, what made their decision to buy the machine, and whether it’s worked out as expected. Our visits took in a broad spectrum of farms, with different herd sizes and levels of feeding precision, the availability of which is impressive.

As manufacturers have had to meet the demands of modern dairy farming, data management and

It’s been a learning curve but we’re really happy with how it’s worked

reporting, along with mechanically reliable machines that will work 365 days a year have become increasingly important in running a successful business.

Keenan VA2-21

Below: The Keenan InTouch system shows what element of the ration to load and in what order

Lancashire dairy farmer Phil Halhead and head herdsman Nick Haigh use a Keenan VA2-21 to help with cost control on the 300-cow farm. Keenan teamed up with Italian manufacturer Storti to offer customers a vertical auger machine, which is matched to the Alltech InTouch interface and has revolutionised the financial picture Nick and Phil see from the TMR system.

Nick works with dietician Heffin Richards who can

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41

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FOCUSON… FEEDER WAGONS

The output is excellent, the amount of time it’s saving is fantastic

access the farm’s InTouch account and tweak it to Nick’s feedback. For Nick the InTouch is the key to getting the best from the cows while also giving excellent control of the cost of production. Nick praises the fact that as well as the screen, the mobile phone app reflects the information on the wagon controller, so loading in bright sun or on the other side of the machine is easy. The auto-stop function has added more consistency and over processing rations has been eradicated.

Ration ingredients are displayed clearly and weights are resolved to single kilogram accuracy, making costing very accurate. “The system works well,” says Nick. “It’s been a learning curve but we’re really happy with how it’s worked so far. The data we get in weekly reports is very useful and collating that with the dairy reports gives us a very clear picture.”

Above: The Siloking has a rear conveyor for troughs but can also feed out front and back on both sides

Right inset: James Cummings says the Siloking was a bit of a learning curve but he’s now mastered it

Farm facts H&C Pickervance Above: The meal and mineral blends are made up with a trailed Keenan, which the Siloking practically hoovers up for the main ration

Farm facts R.T. & P.R. Halhead Location Cockerham, Lancashire Machine Keenan VA 2-21 Capacity 21m3 Power requirement 90hp Purchased May 2020 Operator Nick Haigh Milking cows 240 Feed TMR diet

accurate and it will also pick up off the floor very well.

We usually pre-mix the minerals and grains with our Keenan then pick it up with the Siloking.

“Depreciation is a concern but if we can get five years without any big bills it will pay for itself,” Tom says. “We don’t expect the wear in the augers and tub to be as much as a trailed machine because of the reduced processing time. The output is excellent, and the amount of time it’s saving is fantastic and taking a loader and tractor out of the system is a bonus.”

Above: Nick Haigh is head herdsman and frequent operator of the Keenan

when taking into account the cow numbers, which would really need a triple-auger machine and capable tractor and loader to match.

The Siloking has reduced the feeding routine by over 1.5 hours per day, freeing up operator James Cummings to prepare feed blends for the farm’s TMR system and have some spare capacity in his day.

The processes of each load are faster than a trailed machine due to the milling head, explains Tom Pickervance. “The rotors run much less than a trailed machine and the head processes most of the load. It can be half full before you switch the augers on, just to stir it usually. Loading is very

Location Kirkham, Lancashire Machine Siloking SelfLine 4.0 System 500+ 2519 Capacity 22m3 Power requirement 218hp Purchased March 2020 Operator James Cummings Milking cows 700 Feed TMR diet

BvL V-Mix 22-2S Halton Farms Ltd currently milk 550 cows and their three-way cross of Holstein, Montbéliarde and Swedish Red make a well-rounded herd, supplying milk to the public and dairy.

The farm chose a BvL 22-2S feeder in 2019 and build quality and local support from RVW Pugh were A screen in the loader cab makes loading in bright conditions easy

Siloking SelfLine 4.0 System 500+ 2519 H&C Pickervance have expanded their milking operation dramatically in recent years to a current 700 Holsteins. This, plus other factors, saw the farm upgrade its trailed feeder to a self-propelled Siloking.

The 22m3 machine was a considerable investment for the farm but the figures stacked up

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FOCUSON… FEEDER WAGONS

key factors in the decision. The twin-auger machine was built to the farm’s spec, with a 3m height, tandem axle with passive steering, and sliding cross conveyor, topped off with a distinctive cow livery.

For ration and diet management, the Haltons purchased the CowConnect system, which was fitted to their previous Siloking feeder. The plug-and-play box transferred to the BvL with minimal changes and the interface is through a tablet mounted in the loader, so rations can be precisely loaded to 5kg increments. A phone in the feeder tractor monitors weights fed out.

The farm’s dietician can access the CowConnect account and change rations depending on dairy reports and feedback from the farm. The feeder operator only needs to manage the head count on the day.

Feeding forage wagon silage has been straightforward, says Jack Halton. “We like the longer chop and the BvL makes a good sample.

We pre-chop straw with a Rotogrind processor so we’re not heavily processing the ration and the CowConnect tells us how accurate we are with the ration we load and what we should be feeding – it’s usually between 96-98 per cent.”

As well as feeding the milking herd twice a day, the BvL is also used to mix blends and feed 300 followers.

CowConnect tells us how accurate we are with the ration we load

Above inset: Jack Halton is the regular operator of the farm’s BvL feeder

Below: Craig Lovatt carefully dispenses the ration to a welcoming audience

A tandem axle and small diameter wheels got the BvL under 3m to suit the yard layout

Kuhn Profile 13.1 DL two years ago, only two years into their dairy enterprise. The family knew they would need to process round bale silage effectively and also feed into troughs, so a tub mixer and conveyor were pre-requisites. The only addition to a mostly grass diet is a premixed blend bought in bulk and added to the silage. The cows also get a ration of nuts during milking but very little is used in the way of concentrates.

Chris Lovatt comments that the Kuhn feeder is very well specified,

Halton Farms Ltd

Kuhn Profile 13.1 DL The Lovatt family farm on the Cheshire-Staffordshire border at the smaller end of the dairy scale.

They run an incredibly efficient 70-cow mixed Friesian-Holstein herd, milked by Lely robots, and were runners up in a 2019 dairy efficiency competition, jumping from an average of 7000 litres per cow per year to 9000 litres. A change to frequent multi-cut silage harvesting and tweaking diet was the main driver in the improvement.

The family bought an ex-demo

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Farm facts CC & CJ Lovatt Location Macclesfield, Cheshire Machine Kuhn Profile 13.1 DL Capacity 13m3 Power requirement 80hp Purchased July 2018 Operator Craig Lovatt Milking cows 70 Feed Grass silage diet

We don’t weigh precisely as we try to feed complete bales to prevent waste

Farm facts Location Congleton, Cheshire Machine BvL V-Mix 22-2S Capacity 22m3 Power requirement 90hp Purchased August 2019 Operator Jack Halton Milking cows 550 Feed TMR diet

including scales. “Counter knives are useful when you feed bales, as they can occasionally get bridged, so having something to get them moving is useful,” he adds. “We don’t weigh precisely as we try to feed complete bales to prevent waste. We don’t currently split the bales as the processing is good and our contractor uses knives in his baler so they generally fall apart quite well.”

Left inset: Three generations of the Lovatt family: Chris, George and Craig

The Lovatts feed round bale silage, loaded with their 2020 New Holland T6.180

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WHEN FARMING MEANS BUSINESS OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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MODERNFARMING TRAILED FORAGE HARVESTERS

It was a case of wanting to slow things down so we could improve the quality

Pictured chopping first cut silage in May, Ashley Davies’ Mengele SH40N trailed harvester was powered by local contractor Pete Cormack’s Fendt 724 Vario

One step

back ‘I

Leicestershire farmer and contractor Ashley Davies recently turned the clock back when it came to silage making on his farm, purchasing a 2006 Mengele SH40N trailed forage harvester. Here’s why he’s made what might be considered a backward step

t is necessary sometimes to take one step backwards to take two steps forwards’ said Vladimir Lenin to demonstrate the necessity for reflection, when occasionally the need transpires for an individual to find the courage to take a step away and refocus before moving forward again.

WORDS AND IMAGES SIMON HENLEY Farming is going through some tough times and there’s arguably never been a better time to re-evaluate the way you are managing your farm. In recent years it could be argued we have been caught up in the notion that bigger is better. The bigger the parlour, the more cows we can milk. The bigger the tractor the more ground we can cover. The bigger the tanker the more slurry we can inject and the bigger the forager, the more grass we can harvest in a shorter time. And so it goes on.

For contractors who need to cover large acreages to maximise profitability, bigger and faster is a solution, but where forage harvesters are concerned bigger and faster are not always conducive to improving quality of the silage you are going to feed your livestock. This particularly applies if the tipping and Above: Described as being notoriously awkward to grease, the Mengele SH40N has numerous clamping facilities of a specific farm are incapable of handling short drive shafts and chains tucked away in hard-to-reach places under the sheet metal

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the high volume of material that a high-output forage harvester feeding a fleet of hungry trailers is capable of delivering.

Like many mid-sized farmers with a suckler beef herd rearing calves through to finishing weight, for many years FMJ field tester Ashley Davies has always relied on contractors for harvesting grass for silage.

Ashley generally takes two cuts from around 140 acres, however despite receiving excellent service from the contractors he’s used in the past, last year he made the decision unwittingly to follow Lenin’s advice and take a step back.

“I suppose the idea was to re-evaluate how I could retake control of making silage,” he confessed. “It wasn’t a case of me thinking our grass harvesting costs were too high, it was more a case of wanting to slow things down so we could improve the quality of the silage we are making.

“For me that meant buying our own forage harvester, but even a second-hand self-propelled machine was simply out of my price range. Instead I opted for a trailed forage harvester, and eventually located a wellmaintained 2006 Reco Mengele SH40N, which cost me £6500.

“From an onlooker’s perspective I suppose you could

I liked the Mengele harvesters because they were ruggedly built and never any trouble

The Mengele SH40N is a disc-rotor forage harvester. This 2006 version is a 10-knife model with a rated capacity of 90t per hour chopping at a length of approximately 25mm

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Above and right inset: Mengele SH40N intake system features a hydraulic-shifting selector gearbox, with forward, neutral and reverse settings.

Pick-up wheels are stored on mounts located above the crop guard

MODERNFARMING TRAILED FORAGE HARVESTERS

1000 acres of grass a year, which doesn’t sound much now, but remember at best we were averaging 40 acres a day back then. I always liked the Mengele harvesters, firstly because they were ruggedly built and secondly because they were never any trouble.

“The Mengele is a flywheel machine as opposed to a drum-type harvester like the JF or New Holland models. Flywheel machines don’t quite have the output of a drum harvester but they are far more durable and resistant to damage should a rock or lump of metal pass through the machine.”

With Pete Cormack on the team, Ashley wanted the veteran contractor to share his advice on servicing the harvester and preparing it for the upcoming first cut.

Servicing and setting the machine up started by removing all the panels so they could locate the grease fittings buried inside the guts of the machine, then adjust and lubricate the chains.

The next job was the pick-up reel, which required a few new tines and a minor repair to the drive sprocket to get it running smoothly. Once this was completed, Pete spent about an hour carefully setting up the knives and paddles on the flywheel, before giving the Above: Numbering the knives will help knives a good pre-season identify one that is out of adjustment and sharpening. indicate the point at which you started “When I’m cutting I will touch the knives up three times a day,” explains Pete.

“Sharpening should take no more than 10 minutes and I usually do it first thing in the morning, at lunchtime and then if we’re working late I sharpen again at tea time.

“With the harvester running at just above idle speed the idea is to wind in the circular sharpening stone until it just touches the knives. You know you’ve got the right pressure when the stone starts to hover or just slightly rotates.

The sharpening stones are very expensive and too much pressure will cause them to wear unevenly.”

TECH SPECS

Above: With no wide-angle PTO option, negotiating tight headland turns with the Mengele frequently required shunting and/or disengaging the PTO. A wide-angle PTO shaft will be purchased next season

Above: The disc-rotor is completely enclosed by a guard, which folds up out of the way to allow maintenance

2006 Reco Mengele SH40 N Type Disc-rotor (Flywheel) Knives 12, 10, 6 or 4 Fan blades 6 Rotor speeds 527rpm/700rpm/976rpm at rated PTO speed Rated capacity 90t/hour Power demand 80hp grass, 120hp maize Mounting Length-adjustable swinging drawbar PTO speed 1000rpm Pick-up width 1850mm Intake width 450mm Intake rollers 4 Cutting lengths 5mm-28mm Chute rotation 280 degrees (total) Weight 1700kg

Above: When inspecting and/or adjusting knives and paddles, it is advisable to number them with a marker pen or paint

say we didn’t just take a step back, we took a leap back,” he admitted. “By investing in my own trailed forage harvester I was turning the clock back 30 years, but I was also giving myself complete control of the harvesting process, starting from when we mowed the first field to when we sheeted up the clamp.”

Local knowledge To make the transition from harvesting 140 acres of grass in one day to a three-day operation seamless, Ashley turned to local contractor Pete Cormack, who had established his reputation as a silage contractor in the early 1980s with Reco Mengele forage harvesters.

“I bought my first Mengele forager in 1985,” remembers Pete. “At the time they were preparing to ban straw burning so I had it fitted with a straw spout with the intention of using it to chop straw behind the combine, since very few combines had straw choppers at the time.

“In the late 1980s I was chopping

Below: Pete Cormack started contracting with Mengele harvesters in the 1980s. He has set up other Mengele harvesters in the area including one owned by Nuneaton farmer Terry Preston (inset)

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MODERNFARMING TRAILED FORAGE HARVESTERS

Plenty of power With Ashley working on the clamp Pete Cormack opted to use his Fendt 724 Vario to power the chopper. In terms of its power output the 240hp Fendt is more than adequate for the job.

“This particular SH40N is a ten-knife model,” states Pete. “We have left all the knives in situ to achieve the optimum chop length, which should be around 25mm.

The problem facing us with first cut this year is that although the grass quality is very good, the dry matter is high and the crop is wilting to a haylage consistency almost as fast as you mow it.

“A short-stem dry crop will make a fluffy and inconsistent swath, which is harder for the forager to chop and consumes more power.

Below: Electro-hydraulic spout rotation To prevent the grass is operated remotely from the cab in 90-degree increments from wilting too much the man on the rake is literally following behind the mower and we are following behind the rake as it rows up the grass. We are using a 6.0m rake, which puts two 3.0m swaths into one. In a normal season this would be plenty of grass for a trailed machine of this size.”

The photos of Pete at work identify two things. Firstly, that he prefers chopping with the trailers on the nearside of the harvester. This is because it is necessary for the trailer drivers to keep in very close proximity with the tractor on the harvester, and it helps to prevent mishaps.

“I would rather have a trailer driver accidentally bump into my nearside back wheel than run into the pick-up reel on the harvester,” Pete explains.

“This is how I have always chopped grass. These days my neck is a bit stiffer than it used to be so I use a remote camera to see into the trailer.”

Eagle-eyed readers may also have noticed one of the trailers being used is a 16.0t grain trailer. Having previously relied on a silage contractor with trailers, it was necessary to borrow a couple of silage trailers from neighbours for first cut.

On the fields farthest from the farm, where it was necessary for four trailers to cart the grass, the Mengele harvester’s spout height was a perfect match for the 16t Bailey grain trailer, which even though it could have used a taller tailgate, made a useful substitute with the greedy-board side extensions attached.

Flawless foraging So how well did the harvester perform during first cut silage? Believe it or not, it went very well. Thanks to a meticulous pre-season maintenance routine and Pete Cormack’s experience piloting Mengele trailed machines the harvester chopped 177 acres in four days, packing approximately 1500

Above: Asked why he prefers to load trailers on the nearside, Pete Cormack says he would rather have a trailer driver bump into the back wheel than run into the pick-up reel Left: The Mengele chute offers adjustable rotation, which can be set up for left, right and rear loading

Left: Harvesting with a Fendt 724 Vario was horsepower overkill, however the controllability of the Fendt Vario gearbox made easy work of adjusting forward speed to keep the harvester full Right: The harvester drawbar must be set up so the PTO shaft runs level with the tractor’s PTO outlet.

On the Fendt 724 Vario it was necessary to make a dowel to match the diameter of the harvester’s drawbar peg

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tonnes of grass into three different silage clamps without a single breakdown or unscheduled blockage.

“It actually went very well,” states Ashley. “We need to make a few minor changes and a couple of upgrades to the harvester but it never missed a beat. The grass yields were lower than we would have liked, however the sugar levels were very high and the grass clamped very nicely. From my perspective as the man on the buck-rake the trailers came in at a steady uninterrupted flow all day, giving me time to roll each load as it was clamped.

“In terms of cost, I would say using a trailed machine is arguably no cheaper. The Fendt 724 Vario on the harvester burned around 800 litres of fuel in total and labour costs on trailers would have been marginally higher because we required an additional trailer driver for three days.

However, by chopping not just my grass but around 40

The beauty of a trailed machine is that it was very cheap to buy

Below: Pete Cormack is pictured adjusting the sharpening stone

acres for my wife’s family too, we have been able to split the cost between us. They mow and rake my grass, I chop, cart and clamp their silage.

Good quality silage “The thing to remember is we are not breaking any records here. This is not about packing as much grass as we can in the clamp in the shortest possible time. This is about making good quality silage, and although we’ve yet to nutritionally test it, I believe this is what we have achieved.

What I would also say is that I have really enjoyed silage making this year. It has been a slower, more relaxed pace and I have actually found it less stressful.

“The beauty of a trailed machine like the Mengele is that in comparison to a second-hand self-propelled machine it was very cheap to buy. With careful maintenance it should keep going for several years to come. At the end of the day, if we have a situation in the future whereby it is more practical to hire a contractor then the Mengele can stay in the shed for a season.

“In today’s agricultural economy, having affordable options and the flexibility to face any situation is an important key to managing a farm business. With the recent changing weather patterns, an unstable post-Brexit economy, and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, taking some time to re-evaluate what we are doing has been a very worthwhile exercise.”

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FLEETPROFILE GETHINGS CONTRACTORS

TRAILED AUTHORITY

As well as running a trailed forager in his contracting fleet, Alan Gethings’ experience of the harvesters extends to a successful machinery sales and repair business.

Here’s why he still rates the tow-along machines

T

WORDS AND IMAGES EOGHAN DALY

he philosophy of ‘bigger does not always mean better’ is an approach to agricultural contracting adopted by County Offaly-based Gethings Contractors.

They preserve the values of running a manageable operation with responsible purchase costs.

It’s clearly a model that works and the long tradition in contracting now spans four generations of the Gethings family. The manageable scale of their operation sees a Kongskilde FCT1060 trailed forage harvester at the core of operations, harvesting 700 acres annually.

“I’ve always thought, if a job is worth doing

it’s worth doing properly,” says Alan Gethings. “Contractors using the latest self-propelled harvesters face extreme costs and short working windows given by typical Irish summer weather, which means they are always trying to play catch-up and still have a very short harvesting season to make their equipment pay for itself. I prefer to concentrate on a smaller number of customers and keep costs down and then everything is at a much more manageable scale.”

Despite Alan’s dedication to contracting, he has also established a successful farm machinery sales and service operation that centres around the reconditioning and supply of used JF trailed forage harvesters.

“Even though I also run the JF Centre, which complements the contracting side very well, the simplicity of the equipment we are using means it has minimal running costs and only requires a small amount of routine maintenance and replacement of common wear parts at the start of the working season to keep things running at their peak,” he says.

Simple and affordable This is a model that also makes the trailed harvester a very appealing option for farmers in the market for a simple and affordable harvesting solution to harvest their own silage. “With the JF Centre farmers are our main customers and in the lead up

“The simplicity of the equipment we are using means it has minimal running costs” This picture: The core of the Gethings Contractors fleet and host of the trailed forager is this Case IH CVX1195

Below inset: Alan’s nephew Neville Gethings is the fourth generation of the family to be involved with agri contracting, pictured here with Philip Gill and David Gethings

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FLEETPROFILE GETHINGS CONTRACTORS

Case IH CS150 discharging its grass haul with the firm’s JCB TM320S in waiting

Above: The FCT1060 shares its design with its JF predecessor, and despite its electric functions it remains simple to work on. The drum design feeds its appetite for grass

“To pass on a competitive rate to the farmer I couldn’t justify running a second tractor” to this year’s silage season we supplied 16 machines and reconditioned a further 20 for their owners.

“It all started off by accident really.

I had qualified as a mechanic with a local machinery dealership and worked on JF machines there.

From that I was running our own contracting business and I just started repairing JF harvesters for local farmers and began to build a stock of spares for JF machines. Work started to increase and I could see there was a good opportunity to establish a business around serving JF users for the supply of reconditioned machines but also the supply of parts.”

Korean customers Having built up the business over the years, Alan now has over 2500 JF user customers on his books and regularly sends parts to customers abroad, including a recent delivery to South Korea.

“The JF Centre may have grown beyond all initial expectations for us,

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Below right: Case IH CS130 tractor paired to Talex 420 Spyder single-rotor rake preparing grass for the forager Below inset: The FCT1060’s appetite for grass is demonstrated by its ability to handle these heavy six-metre swaths

as we continue to serve a growing customer base, but despite this I would never give up contracting because of the family tradition in the business. Both my grandfathers were involved with contracting and with my nephew Neville Gethings now involved it is a fourth generation contracting operation. It is also a big help to our

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

JF Centre business as we can test machines and know what we are selling, which is a big reassurance to the customer.”

Alan supplies a considerable number of reconditioned harvesters to farmer customers on an annual basis and they represent a very affordable working solution for the annual acreage they are harvesting.

For his own contracting operation he relies on a more recent machine of the same lineage. As JF has subsequently been taken over by

Below: Right: The Kongskilde FCT 1060 is seen to be an effective performer and presents a good balance of sophistication and essential simplicity

Kongskilde – now part of the CNH Group – the machine of choice is a 2017 FCT1060 precision chop unit.

“The Kongskilde FCT1060 is exactly like the previous generation JF which had already included many nice features to make it a very user friendly, high performance harvester.

Its appetite for grass is helped by its new drum design, which is excellent and gives a massive blast to keep the crop moving through the machine.

Electronics are comprehensive on the machine but it’s still not over complex, like the feature to reverse feed out material in the event of a blockage. It’s also not very demanding on the tractor as the CVX1195 runs at 1500rpm in the 1000 Eco PTO and still draws the trailer too.”

Basing the silage operation around the Kongskilde FCT 1060 trailed harvester may be central to keeping costs down to sensible levels but the way in which it and the associated tractor and trailer combinations are run in tandem assists in achieving even greater efficiencies. In areas where haul distances from the field to the clamp are relatively short, the

Farm Facts Gethings Contractors Location Tullamore, County Offaly Business Contractors and trailer forager harvester specialists (JF Centre)

Core fleet ● ● ● ● ●

true measure of how efficiently silage can be harvested by this type of operation begins to emerge. In a high number of situations the approach sees just a single tractor working with the harvester and a total of two trailers.

“To pass on a competitive rate to the farmer I couldn’t justify side filling and running a second tractor for trailer work,” Alan explains. “The work flow is ideal in this way and the harvester is continuously occupied.

Even over long hauls where we’ve done a 14-mile round trip and used five tractors with seven trailers, the secret is keeping the harvester going all of the time.”

Above: Raking and foraging simultaneously during the 2020 silage harvest Top inset: The 2017 Kongskilde FCT1060 trailed forager harvests over 700 acres per year

Perfect pairing In the hands of experienced operator Neville Gethings, getting the most from the one-man approach is ensured as a trailed harvester such as this certainly builds an extremely high load density when filled from the front. Competence of the operator may be a major factor but the task is also eased by the host tractor, which

Left: Alan Gethings (right) with Evan Gill who serves as the driver on the CVX1155 on mowing operations

2017 Kongskilde FCT1060 2005 Case IH CVX1155 2006 Case IH CVX1195 2003 Case IH CS130 2003 Case IH CS150 x 2

sees a Case IH CVX1195 assigned to forager duties. As the largest tractor on the fleet, the power it delivers together with its large stature ensures it is an ideal match.

The choice of the CVX1195 follows the operation of a long line of tractors from Case IH, which is affirmed by the presence of the CVX1155 on mowing duties and three CS series models, comprising two CS150s and a lower powered CS130. While this may suggest a strong sense of loyalty to Case IH, the performance and reliability coupled with the high degree of satisfaction derived from their operation is not necessarily attributed to their brand identity but to a larger extent their Steyr lineage.

“I’m often accused of being a little obsessed with Case CS series tractors,” admits Alan, “but they really were machines that were ahead of their time with the technology they offered. After getting the first CS150 we have got to know the tractors well and standardising on a single marque only makes sense for the common parts we need to carry.”

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RUNNINGREPORT VALTRA T194 DIRECT

“It saved the driver neck ache from operating a tractor in reverse all of the time”

MACHINE VALTRA T194 DIRECT

Reversing the trend

Above: Following a show-down between Fendt and Valtra, Alec Lunn plumped for a reverse-drive Valtra T194 Direct

After several demonstrations, North Yorkshire contractor Alec Lunn took delivery of a reverse-drive Valtra T194 Direct. FMJ went to find out if it was the right decision WORDS AND IMAGES DAVID LALEY

S

ilage making has been a core service of contractor Alec Lunn’s business ever since he bought a trailed New Holland 550 almost 20 years ago, and various trailed foragers have been used by Alec up until 2008 when he invested in his first self-propelled machine.

“The trailed machines helped me expand the business in its early years and enabled me to take on a lot more work over the summer months,” he says. “While my tractor fleet was gradually increasing, I initially relied upon customers’ tractors to use with my Grays 8ft and 10ft buck-rakes.

However, as the business grew it was clear I needed to upgrade to a self-propelled forager and review my clamping services too.”

A John Deere 6810 was the first of a trio of second-hand self-propelled foragers Alec ran, followed by a 7300 and 7350i Pro Drive. During this period Alec began looking at ways to make clamping more efficient and easier on his operators.

“In 2015 I moved away from a rear linkage-mounted buck-rake and decided to fit one to a heavy-duty MX T412 front loader and mount it on to a New Holland TM120,” says Alec, who also equipped the TM120 with dual wheels on the front and rear axles and hung a counterweight from the rear linkage.

“The outfit achieved many things: it saved the driver neck ache from operating a tractor in reverse all of the time, and was compact and

Left: Alec has constructed his own silage compactor from an old Sumo grassland subsoiler

Profile

JA Lunn Agricultural Contractor Location Wilton, North Yorkshire Machine Valtra T194 Direct Year 2020 Used for Six months Operator Alec Lunn

Left: Alec Lunn has been impressed with his Valtra T194 Direct as a dedicated reverse-drive clamping tractor and for land work

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Far left inset: The T194 features a compact 5.2t front linkage with a neat set of external controls and two remote services

Tech specs

2020 Valtra T194 Direct Reverse Drive Engine AGCO Power 7.4-litre, six-cylinder turbocharged, Stage V Power 195hp Max power 210hp @1900rpm Transmission Direct CVT, 50kph Front linkage capacity 5.2t Rear linkage capacity 9.7t Hydraulics 200L/min Front tyres Trelleborg TM1060 600/60R28 Rear tyres Trelleborg TM1060 710/60R38 Wheelbase 3m Turning radius 5.25m

Left: Since it arrived in the spring, Alec has completed other tasks with the Valtra, including baling with this McHale V660 Below inset: Alec has been impressed with Valtra’s SmartTouch screen, which he says is very straightforward to operate

powerful enough to match the output of the larger forager, especially on farms where silage was led into narrow shed clamps,” says Alec.

“However, the combination of dual wheels and a large fork on a front loader over time led to reliability issues and placed strain on the TM120’s front differential.

“I swapped the loader on to a New Holland TM140 without front duals but soon came to the conclusion it wasn’t going to be worth the repair

bills in the future. While the business continued to grow I was still of the opinion I couldn’t justify a dedicated handler or loading shovel purely for clamping. So I bought a 9ft Strimech buck-rake and tried it on both the front and rear linkages of my New Holland T7.190 and T7.235 tractors,” he explains.

“It worked well on both tractors, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

While access to the cab is excellent, the additional reverse-drive controls and a large passenger seat mean there’s not much floor space

Left: The T194’s additional reversedrive controls include an adjustable steering wheel and column, shuttle lever and a second set of pedals Far left: Climate controls, digital radio and CB all fall easily to hand in the roof of the Valtra’s cab

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The T7.190 was nimble and had the power, but the buck-rake wasn’t suited to the tractor’s 3.5t front linkage. The T7.235’s 5.5t capacity front linkage was the ideal match, again saved the operator from straining his neck and back, but was nowhere near as manoeuvrable in the smaller clamps,” he continues.

Matching the forager Alec’s desire for more clamp pushing power, greater manoeuvrability and an additional tractor to cope with an increased workloa in other areas of his business was heightened in 2019 with the arrival of a higher capacity 585hp Claas Jaguar 870 forager.

“I felt it was going to be more beneficial and financially sustainable to invest in an extra tractor for potato work, baling, maize drilling and cultivations that could also double up as a dedicated clamping tractor,” Alec says. “This meant one thing: assessing and demonstrating a reverse-drive tractor.”

“Initially I tried a large Valtra S-series and once I’d got used to the tractor’s stepless transmission I was really impressed with its credentials and ease at which you could switch to reverse drive, despite it being too large for my requirements. Later in 2019 I tried a reverse-drive Fendt 828 Vario, which was incredibly comfortable to operate, with a much more spacious cab, but the rear mudguards impeded the view of the buck-rake and I preferred the Valtra’s control layout,” he explains.

“While all of the Fendt’s controls could swivel round from front to rear

RUNNINGREPORT VALTRA T194 DIRECT

Strain on the front axle of the TM120 led Alec to switch the loader and duals to this New Holland TM140 in 2016, but he abandoned the idea a year later

“The Direct transmission is a major highlight of the tractor”

compared to Valtra’s TwinTrac system, which incorporates an additional steering wheel and set of pedals, I still felt it was less cumbersome to switch between drive modes on the Valtra despite there being less space.”

Two other factors also swayed Alec towards ordering a Valtra: the price, which was significantly cheaper than the smallest Fendt 800 Vario available with reverse drive; and Valtra also offered reverse drive on tractors between 105hp and 405hp.

“Ultimately, despite the Fendt 828 Vario’s comfort levels, it was still too big and expensive, whereas I could specify a smaller Valtra tailored

Above and inset: Trelleborg TM1060 710/60 R38 rear tyres were specified over R42s to improve the centre of gravity for clamp work. They are matched to 600/60 R28 front tyres (inset)

precisely to my needs at a fraction of the cost,” he explains.

In the end he plumped for a 195hp T194 equipped with Valtra’s Smart Touch screen, GPS, and Direct CVT, supplied

by AGCO dealer Wilfred Scruton Ltd. Alec also specified the tractor with a heavy-duty hydraulic top link for use with his Strimech buck-rake, and had the T194 Direct shod on Trelleborg TM1060 tyres.

AGCO Power Alec’s Valtra T194 is fitted with AGCO Power’s 7.4-litre, six-cylinder

turbocharged engine rated at 195hp, which boosts to 210hp for PTO work.

It’s matched to Valtra’s premium Direct transmission.

“The Direct transmission is a major highlight of the tractor; it’s comfortable to use and very precise, giving you excellent speed control when working on a silage clamp.

I tend to use the foot throttle while pushing silage up,” he says.

The T194’s multi-function lever on the Smart Touch armrest controls the transmission while memory buttons located on the lever can be programmed to increase and decrease working speeds for specific tasks. Hydraulic lift toggle switches are included and a shuttle control switch incorporated at the bottom of the lever.

“While I was initially sceptical about investing in the additional technology the T194 is fitted with, Valtra’s SmartTouch screen is very

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RUNNINGREPORT VALTRA T194 DIRECT

Above inset: The SmartTouch armrest rotates in conjunction with the suspended seat and is a major highlight of the T194 Left: The T194 cab features a comprehensive lighting package, panoramic sunroof, GPS terminal and a side window wiper

straightforward to use and the memory functions are great when you’re running a tractor that’s expected to carry out lots of different tasks such as baling and drilling,” he says.

Valtra’s five-post cab includes an impressive lighting and audio package controlled from the touchscreen. Alec’s T194 is also equipped with AutoComfort pneumatic cab suspension that’s matched to a suspended and fully air-conditioned seat and pneumatic front axle suspension too.

“It’s the most advanced cab I’ve spent time in and all-around visibility is the best I’ve experienced, which is great when operating it as a reverse-drive buck-raking tractor,” he says. “That said, with the additional set of controls and large passenger seat

fitted it does feel a little cramped at times, but at least the design of the steps allows for trouble-free and safe access.”

Steering from both ends While the controls at the rear of the cab may reduce floor space, Alec has become an instant fan of the system, which utilises a smaller diameter steering wheel and column that can slide from side to side and move up and down. There’s also a clutch, brake and accelerator pedal, and a shuttle lever.

“The main steering wheel folds neatly out of the way, giving you enough space to move the seat forward and then rotate it with the armrest in place,” he explains. “It’s easy to set up with the sturdy levers located below the steering column and seat. The rear

“It’s proving to be an excellent all-rounder as well as a dedicated clamping tractor”

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Right: Alec has been running this 9ft Strimech push-off buck-rake since 2017 Below right: Beefy hydraulic top link was specified by Alec for use with his Strimech buck-rake Below: Compact dimensions, easy transmission and price were the main reasons Alec chose this Valtra T194 Direct over a Fendt

controls are smooth and the tractor is also fitted with Quick Steer that decreases steering wheel revolutions to achieve full lock, another asset when working on a clamp.”

The T194 features a 3m wheelbase and a 5.25m turning radius, while a 9.7t category three rear linkage fitted with a hydraulic top link is more than man enough to handle the buck-rake. High-capacity, loadsensing hydraulics are matched to a 200-litres-per-minute pump.

Aside from some irritating sensor issues encountered after around 50 hours use, Alec has since put a further 400 trouble-free hours on he T194 completing silage, clamping, spring drilling, baling and potato work with the tractor.

“Having always operated Ford and New Holland tractors since I began contracting, I was slightly nervous investing in a different brand but I’m very pleased I did,” he says. “It’s proving to be an excellent all-rounder, as well as a dedicated clamping tractor and Wilfred Scruton’s back-up has been fantastic too.”

r u o y ld u o h s o s , rd a h rk o You w nger engine. Keep it running lo s. rt a p e in u n e g s in rk e P h it w rkins engine, you can be sure Pe Designed specifically for your warranty on all parts. th on -m 12 um m ini m a ith w of quality

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27/08/2020 11:43

MACHINE MASSEY FERGUSON 8740

Mowing backwards

A reverse-drive Massey Ferguson has proved to be the ultimate mowing solution for one Cheshire contractor, as FMJ discovered WORDS AND IMAGES KEN TOPHAM

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heshire contractor Steve Jones runs a fairly unique mowing tractor. Massey Ferguson’s 8740 is not uncommon, but this one boasts a retrofit reverse-drive kit, which allows for backwards travel with serious progress.

Mowing grass was revolutionised with the advent of front linkage and PTO, but with increasing power, and readily available reverse-drive tractors, the attraction of having the mowers grouped together with increased output was something Steve wanted to investigate.

The road to the 8740 was a winding one, taking in a Krone BiG M 420 self-propelled mower and a Claas Xerion tractor on the way, but the versatility of both came into question, along with some limitations.

The BiG M is purely a mowing machine, which obviously limits usability, and the Xerion is not a tractor to jump on and off, as it is able to do a multitude of jobs. So at the start of 2019 Steve made the decision to buy the Massey Ferguson and get the reverse-drive kit installed.

“We’ve tried all sorts of systems but for output and versatility the reverse-drive system takes some beating,” he explains. The Claas Duo 9300 mounted on the MF 8740 takes 9.1m of grass in a swipe and with 400 horses pushing them along anything from 15 to 30kph is possible.

But, as he explains, it’s not just forward speed that is a gain. “Doing headlands and obstacles is much faster too,” he says, “and unless you turn really sharply, you don’t get the half-moon misses like a front and rear system. Moving around trees is easier too, as you can usually just go round

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Above: From behind the driver’s head, the view to the rear of the 8740 cab is good, with screens and most controls to hand Right: The armrest and Fieldstar 5 terminal turn with the seat and the controls for driving and mowers are the same as facing forwards

Below right: Operator James Eardley is the main operator of the 8740 and has been impressed with it so far

Profile

Hooftrimming Ltd Location Tarporley, Cheshire Machine Massey Ferguson 8740 Year 2018 Used for 18 months Operator James Eardley Far top right: The Dyna VT transmission negates the need for clutch and brakes, but they are there Far right: Five-tonne lift at the front isn’t stretched by the 1800kg needed to balance the Duo system

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rather than having to square them off.

We do run front and back mowers but if they go out together the reversedrive will do the headlands and awkward pieces, and we keep the front and rears working on the straight cuts.”

Sibling rivalry Two AGCO tractor brands already offer reverse drive, so why retrofit this

system to the Massey Ferguson?

First there was a £30,000 saving on the initial purchase over a Fendt equivalent, a not insignificant figure.

Also, Steve had previously owned Valtra T-Series tractors and felt they weren’t heavy enough for the Claas Duo system. It weighs just under three tonnes but the leverage of the third mower means you need

RUNNINGREPORT MASSEY FERGUSON 8740

The MF can travel faster in reverse than the firm’s previous Krone BiG M mower could forward, which is useful for lighter cuts

something hefty to hang them off.

The 8740 has 1800kg of ballast and it’s only just enough.

The MF 8740 was a cancelled order from Norway and is a pre-S series tractor, built prior to the Mother Regulation updates. The reversedrive kit was supplied by Austrian MF dealer Austro Diesel, who built the kit predominantly out of Massey parts,

“We’ve tried all sorts of systems but the reversedrive takes some beating”

along with some manufactured components. The kit costs a shade over £16,000 fitted and is mostly aimed at the forestry sector.

One of the main features of the reverse-drive kit is that it’s nondestructive as far as the base unit tractor is concerned. Sourced by Howard Sherren at dealer RVW Pugh, the kit was fitted in their workshop,

taking roughly 40 hours and leaving the owner with a box of parts to look after depending on what their replacement plan is.

The main change is that the rear lower window is removed and replaced with a footwell and pedal assembly. An MF steering column is fitted and the steering wheel has a screw hub that can be removed by

Below: Under the bonnet the 8.4-litre engine is reasonably accessible, including convenient access for level checks and inspection Bottom: Although the mowers don’t fill the cooling pack with debris it doesn’t open up for cleaning

James says the comfort isn’t as good as a Fendt but speed of turning is much faster

Roomy cab is free from clutter.

Red PTO engagement lever is situated beside the seat while the hand throttle is by the far door

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Inset below: Mirrored to the back, the forwardreverse shuttle is identical

Tech specs

2018 Massey Ferguson 8740 Hours 2690 Engine AGCO Power 8.4-litre, 6-cyl Max power 400hp (405hp + EPM) Max torque 1540Nm Transmission Dyna VT Fuel capacity 630 litres Rear linkage capacity 12t Front linkage capacity 5t Hydraulics 205L/min @ 200bar

hand. The seat is fitted with a rotating base and an armrest assembly that enables the control lever to lift out of the operator’s way when getting in and out.

As a retrofit kit it’s pretty good.

Operator James Eardley is just over six feet tall and says the cab remains comfortable, but he can catch his knee on the shuttle lever, and the seat has to be pumped up to stop the armrest catching the console. From

Right: The tractor loses the lower window where the footwell fits, but it doesn’t interfere with anything outside Far right: In forward mode the only giveaway is the wiring loom extension for the armrest Below: With guidance the 8740 can cut bouts, reducing the tight turns

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the driver’s seat the position and legroom are good. Getting in and out easy is easy, even for this writer who wasn’t shortchanged when rear-ends were handed out. The only downside is that you get the lifting your legs to your chest effect that probably all reverse-drive operators suffer because you’re over the pedals rather than behind them.

Left: Even when the mowers are lifted the visibility to the ground is good

Below left: The MF does all of the opening up if working alongside a front and rear system as it is able to take out headlands more quickly

What’s it like to drive?

For operator James, the only negative from a driver’s perspective is the lever direction. Steve also runs a Fendt 936 and comparing the two would be unfair, but everything on the Fendt reverses – controls, instruments, and the direction of the control lever. But with a difference in purchase price of roughly £30,000 you have to accept some compromises. Here the Massey Looking up to the cab, the visibility advantage is clear.

It’s much easier for the operator to scan for obstacles

RUNNINGREPORT MASSEY FERGUSON 8740

with a Starfire 6000 dome. A modular telematics gateway (MTG) module wirelessly feeds data back to the MyJohnDeere software. The Starfire dome is mounted at the back of the cab, and a secondary bracket fitted to get best functionality and accuracy.

Initially getting the auto-steering to take instruction with two orbital units in place was tricky, but with some extra plumbing the issue was rectified. Now the operator can put in A-B lines or follow them if he’s working with another mower set-up, and make the most of the 9.1m cut from the duo system using auto-steer.

“Even in the heaviest crops it will just keep going, so you need a bit of sense” only has one reverse-drive job, and mowing doesn’t require frequent direction changes or precise speed control. Pedal mode works well and mower control is mapped to the joystick.

In terms of mowing, the output can vary between 20 to 30 acres per hour depending on field size and shape.

The visibility to the outer mowers is good, and certainly the shape of the rear window means the rear cab pillars don’t obscure the field of view.

The mowers run Left: The MF has a through the hydraulic top link and can pull the ISOBbus and are mowers back controlled through making the outfit a the Fieldstar 5 bit more compact screen. Steve and Below: Negotiating James both agree trees is quick thanks that the interface is to good visibility and no missed not as slick as the slivers when turning Fendt, but it is a speeds the job up lower specification connection than its green stablemate.

Although Steve only runs one John Deere tractor, he has adopted the company’s GPS system across his fleet, running a 4240 screen on the 8740

The right direction The 8740 spends most of its time going in the ‘normal’ direction. It is an effective reverse drive mowing tractor, but the kit has no impact on the tractor’s normal function. Steve has the option to either sell the tractor as a reverse-drive or take the kit off and fit it to another 8740 in the future, or sell the kit on separately.

Justifying the 400hp tractor has been fairly easy. Steve runs a Grégoire Besson eight-furrow, semi-mounted plough along with a 4500-gallon Conor tanker with trailing shoe. With a Krone TX 460 trailer and RX 400 forage wagon to contend with, the 400hp might not be fully stretched but the traction certainly is tested.

Steve praises the tractive force the 8740 was able to put down in the sodden autumn of 2019 during a challenging maize harvest.

Getting the ‘good stuff’ out of the AGCO shop, the 8740 has the same Fendt transmission and transaxle as the 900 Vario series, mated to the AGCO Power 8.4-litre, six-cylinder engine, and both operator James and Steve are quick to comment on the grunt from the 8740. “Mowing, it won’t die,” says Steve. “Even in the heaviest crops it will keep going, so you need a bit of sense or the mowers will take a beating.”

With 5000 acres cut by the end of the season, Steve has been pleased with the Massey Ferguson and feels the conversion was worth doing. The tractor has performed well, the only shortfall being brake performance.

With no front axle system the 8740 does rely on four-wheel drive engagement for four-wheel braking, but as a draft and field tractor it has ticked all of the boxes.

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28/08/2020 16:48

FARMOPINION DAIRY DISCUSSIONS

Alison Cox

Heed herd health in hot weather Dairy farmers should address summer challenges and adapt hygiene practices to support the production of high-quality milk and animal health, both now and in the future ailing to maintain strict teat hygiene management during the summer months can lead to deteriorating skin condition as well as high bacteria loading and increased risk of mastitis.

One of the biggest challenges in warm weather is the control of flies and, importantly, knowing what product to use. Legislation changes have removed post-milking teat disinfectants containing fly repellents from the market, to a point where now there are no proven, VMDlicensed products available.

So now, to successfully navigate the summer months, a complementary set of management practices and products geared to managing teat health and hygiene should be considered. This should focus on animal housing hygiene, fly management and, above all, to ensure that teat health is paramount.

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mportantly, pre-milking and post-milking practices should be maintained. Tempting as it may be to replace a pre-milking disinfectant with a dry paper towel, given that the teats may look clean, this will not remove the dust and soil layer on the skin and, as a result, bacteria loading can remain high, particularly associated with coliform and thermoduric organisms.

The problem is then compounded for animals outside on wet days when paper towelling simply wipes the dirt around the teat, leaving a residue that can be pulled into the milk supply or massaged into the skin. This gradually reduces the skin condition over time or, worse still, lays challenge to an outbreak of mastitis.

I

Alison Cox is technical manager with hygiene specialist Deosan.

While some products containing mineral oils, such as eucalyptus oil in Deosan Teatfoam Advance, can offer some benefit in deterring a fly nuisance during its use on teats in the parlour, it should never be considered as an effective fly repellent between milkings.

Failing to maintain strict teat hygiene management during the summer months can lead to deteriorating skin condition

The slightest abrasion or roughness can begin to attract fly nuisance and further damage, which a topical high-odour teat application at milking is not going to deter for much longer than it takes to dry. ocus on a product that delivers the best hydration and skin conditioning properties for your cows’ environment. A high emollient teat disinfectant should be a high priority for those exposed to the varied weather challenges at grass.

Focus on achieving maximum teat health and minimising the risks associated with poor teat hygiene.

Small changes, which cost little, can be very effective and can make the working environment much more pleasant – both for animals and people.

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Improve parlour and dairy housekeeping and maintain an effective hygiene pre-milking routine to keep cows’ teats clean and healthy

“One of the biggest challenges in warm weather is the control of flies” OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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LOWRANGE

The latest pick-up, commercial 4x4 and utility vehicle launches & updates

Ineos Grenadier

New pick-ups on their way he pick-up market has seen a transformation in the last 12 months. Gone are MercedesBenz and Volkswagen, both of which ceased production of their commercial offerings, and killing off the only two V6-powered pick-ups in the process. Fiat’s Fullback never caught on and the Mitsubishi-based pick-up was discontinued. And now Mitsubishi itself has indicated an intention to withdraw from Europe completely (see story opposite).

But it’s not all bad news for pick-up buyers and the future holds some exciting launches, not least a few electric models that might find their way to UK shores. If you prefer your 4x4 a bit simpler, Britishbased Ineos might just have the perfect vehicle.

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Ineos Grenadier While the Grenadier may evoke feelings of nostalgia for owners of old Land Rover Defenders, one of the most promising aspects of its launch was the suggestion of a doublecab pick-up variant. As Land Rover’s new Defender doesn’t truly fill the void in its range, Ineos is promising a proper working 4x4, but with some up-to-date engineering. Under the Tesla Cybertruck

Toyota Hilux

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Isuzu D-Max

bonnet will be a choice of BMW petrol and diesel engines, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a proven 4x4 system. It’s set to go on sale in 2021.

Toyota Hilux One of the most exciting launches is scheduled for November 2020, as Toyota announces that its new Hilux will be powered by a more powerful 2.8-litre diesel engine, bucking the trend of manufacturers downsizing their engines. With Ford axing its 3.2-litre, five-cylinder, plus the aforementioned withdrawal of Mercedes and VW, this will crown the Hilux the holder of the biggest power plant, and the jump from the 150hp 2.4-litre in the outgoing engine to the new 201hp offering, plus an extra 100Nm of torque, will be a big boost for

WORKINGVEHICLE NEWS

NEWSINBRIEF

Maxus T80

Mitsubishi to withdraw from Europe

No more new Mitsubishi models will be launched in Europe and the UK. Sales will end when the current models no longer meet emissions regulations. The company says it will keep as much of the UK dealer network as it can, many being retained for parts and after-sales.

The L200 has recently been updated so expect to see it for a while yet.

An industry downturn caused by Coronavirus and operating losses are said to be deciding factors.

Volkswagen Amarok

New vehicles from Can-Am Can-Am will be expanding its 2021 line-up with the addition of some new models. The Traxter PRO DPS HD10 NRMM side-by-side and the Can-Am Outlander MAX 1000 XU+ ATV will headline the line-up, joined by the Outlander 1000DPS and Renegade 650 DPS.

buyers. It’s had a facelift on the outside and a redesigned interior too.

Isuzu D-Max The current D-Max might be considered function over form, but Isuzu is looking to address that with its new model that will look as good as it performs. There’s a new chassis, new bodywork and an updated 1.9-litre engine, which will need AdBlue to meet emissions regulations. Inside will be more refined with more modern infotainment systems, while underneath the D-Max will see a stronger construction and suspension improvements. Off-road ability will also be aided by the addition of a rear diff lock. It’s set to land early in 2021.

Maxus T80 Now under Chinese ownership, LDV has been renamed Maxus in the UK. The maker’s range includes some new light commercial vehicles, plus a pick-up, which is already on sale overseas and has been well received in Australia and New Zealand.

It’s expected that the Maxus pick-up will

be named the T70 or T80 and will be powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine with up to 214hp, combined with a double-cab layout and large load area.

The first models will arrive in the UK in 2021.

Volkswagen Amarok A new alliance with Ford will see the next generation Amarok based on the 2022 Ford Ranger. It’s expected that the two vehicles will look very different, with VW the first to throw out the first suggestion of the direction its next pick-up will take.

Tesla Cybertruck A pick-up has been in the pipeline for some time for American electric vehicle specialist Tesla. The prototype launched in November 2019 got a mixed response but the controversial design, or a toned-down production version, is due for launch in the UK, as well as America, where prices are set to start under $40,000. It has a stainless steel body, a payload of almost 1600kg and can tow over six tonnes. And it’ll go from zero to 60mph in under three seconds…

Heavy-duty 4x4 minibus unveiled

Torsus has announced its Terrastorm minibus, which will be fitted with 4x4 and is based on the Volkswagen Crafter platform. Two variants will be offered to transport cargo and up to 20 passengers over rough terrain.

Prices will start from £52,290.95 and deliveries will begin this autumn.

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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YOUR CHALLENGE

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28/08/2020 16:50

BUYING GUIDE // FIAT WINNER BUYING

Italian stallion First introduced in the early 1990s, Fiat’s F Series ‘Winner’ tractors have become a desirable classic, still capable of putting in a hard day’s work alongside modern machinery. Here’s how to buy a reliable workhorse and a sound investment

WORDS HOWARD SHERREN IMAGES HOWARD SHERREN/NEW HOLLAND

Released in 1990, the original Fiat Winner line-up spanned 100 to 130hp over four models: F100, F110, F120 and range topping F130. The range had many new features and improvements over the aging 90 Series it replaced, with more power from the Iveco engine, an improved transmission that featured a splitter and a vastly superior operator cabin.

Although sold against the Ford 40 Series, Winner tractors were often available on the same New Holland dealer forecourts. Competitors at the time included the John Deere 50

Below: The Winner Series was launched in 1990, comprising four models: F100, F110, F120 and F130

Series and the 3000 Series from Massey Ferguson. Although the tractors were of a similar specification, the Winner’s design was far superior to most, especially the cab.

As power stakes were on the increase every year, two new models were introduced in 1993 to create the Mark II Series. The mid-range F115 replaced both the F110 and F120.

The F140 sold in large numbers and became the best seller in the line-up, and its reputation has meant the range is now very popular on the secondhand market and highly sought after.

The Winner finally ceased production when they were replaced

by the M Series in 1996, which were sold in very limited numbers in comparison to its blue counterpart.

The Winner is undoubtedly a true classic, although its specification allows it to fit into many modern farming and contracting businesses as a dependable and simple power source. A thorough check and common sense should bag a good usable investment.

Standard six Fiatagri decided to stick with the 5.86-litre, six-cylinder Iveco engines for all Winner models. The naturally aspirated 8065.05 is used in the F100, F110, F115 and F120 to produce

“The Winner had a far superior design to most, especially the cab”

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between 98 and 118 horsepower, while the larger F130 and F140 models use the turbocharged 8065.25 to obtain 130 and 140hp respectively.

Both engines have the same 104mm bore, 115mm stroke and 5.861-litre capacity.

Many of the smaller F100, F110 and F115 models are turbocharged to get that little bit more out of the engine, as some considered the smaller models to be underpowered, so look out for these particular tractors. Rated engine speed is between 2250 and 2300rpm, making them quite high-revving engines compared to today’s standards. Peak torque is found at 1300rpm and many users are impressed by the low-down grunt.

The 220-litre fuel tank is possibly a bit under capacity on the larger F140 but on smaller models it’s adequate for a long day’s work. When it comes to reliability, these engines are remarkable and undoubtedly have earned themselves an impeccable reputation. A figure in excess of 20,000 hours is easily possible without any engine surgery, providing regular servicing has been carried out.

TECHSPECS Engine Iveco 5.86-litre, six-cylinder, turbocharged Power 140hp Transmission 32 x 32, four-range, four-speed with splitter Top speed 40kph Hydraulics 55 L/min Three-point linkage capacity 4693kg (6567kg optional) PTO speeds 540/1000rpm (540E) Fuel tank capacity 220 litres Length 4.15m Width 2.34m Weight 5000kg

Synchronised shifting

T TO HIN OU LO GS T F OK OR …

The Winner transmission was deemed a vast improvement over the previous units and excelled over the competition in terms of simplicity. The

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Both the 100-90 and 110-90 were sold alongside the Winners through to 1997, which is certainly a testament to the design.

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

32 forward and 32 reverse gearbox is ideal for a range of applications and has a simple and reliable design.

There are four gears in four ranges with the addition of a Hi-Lo splitter. All gears are synchronised and the clear H-pattern means changes are precise.

The three gear levers look flimsy, although little effort is required to change gear. The splitter is activated by moving the gear lever sideways on earlier tractors, or on later tractors by a thumb-operated switch in the gear knob itself. The three levers fall to hand and the closest shuttle lever is conveniently positioned. One gripe is the shuttle isn’t clutchless, which, if abused, can result in worn shuttle synchronisers that can be costly to replace.

Although many tractors are 40kph, some are 30kph and white decals on the door window often display the gearbox option fitted. These stickers are now likely to be long gone but it’s a nice touch if fitted.

The four smaller models are fitted with a 13in cerametallic single dry plate clutch, while the larger two have a 14in version. The 13in one is known not to last, so many users opt to fit the larger 14in version that can potentially last almost twice as long.

Lift-o-Matic A high lift capacity of 6567kg is achievable by fitting an extra assister

Lift-off side panels give excellent access to the Iveco engine. The fuel system, electrical system and cooling pipes are all logically laid out and access is straightforward.

ram, but the standard lift capacity of the linkage is still a respectable 4693kg. For arable machines, the assister rams are well worth looking out for. The linkage arms and stabilisers are robust and certainly up for the job. Choices of manual or electronic linkage controls are available. The majority of later tractors favour the electronic system.

The electronic controls consist of a series of dials and knobs. Although simple and straightforward to use, it is unfortunately quite expensive when it does go wrong. Watch out for faults with this panel and check all the

“The F140 sold in large numbers and became the best seller in the line-up” functions. Fiat’s useful ‘Lift-O-Matic’ is a push-button feature to allow lifting and lowering without touching the draft or position control. The mechanics of the linkage give little to worry about, while a 3.5t or 4.5t front linkage was offered as a factory-fit option, although many had this retrofitted at a later date.

Unfortunately, the open centre hydraulic system is a weak point on

The 8065.25 engine in the F140 is fitted with a turbo to produce 140hp. Upright oil filters are awkward to change but 30,000 engine hours is possible with regular servicing.

BUYING GUIDE // FIAT WINNER BUYING

FIAT WINNER

HISTORY

1990 | Fiat reveals the new F Winner range, spanning four models from 100 to 130hp to replace the aging 90 Series.

1993 | A new 115hp F115 and flagship 140hp F140 models join the range.

1996 | The Winner range makes way for New Holland’s combined Ford 60 and Fiat M Series, available in both blue and terracotta respectively.

wheels are fitted instead of solid rims.

In from the planetary gears are the oil-immersed and hydrostaticallyoperated brake discs, one per side.

The front axle gives a 50-degree steering angle, resulting in an 11m turning circle. Both 540 and 1000rpm PTO speeds are standard, and 750 ECO is available as an option on all models. the Winner and the original hydraulic pumps are known to fail. The 55 litres-per-minute main hydraulic pump that powers the linkage and 45 litres-per-minute steering pump are able to draw air in causing cavitation.

This eventually destroys a pump, which in turn ruins the other from its debris. There is a relatively easy and inexpensive solution to this problem and that is to fit replacement Bosch

These window decals on the door, if still intact, give an indication to the specification and top speed. Air conditioning was a standard feature on most models.

pumps. Up to four rear spools were available and standard on electronic hitch models, while just two were fitted to the manual models.

The rear axles have four planetary gears per side, which improve reliability and working life, and designed to take the heavy loads the linkage was capable of lifting. The wheel rims often fail first and cracked lugs are a common sight if the lugged

The later F115 and F140 use a greater amount of electronics, such as an LCD dashboard and electronic linkage control.

Sensor failures can leave the dash lit up like Blackpool.

Above: Model numbering on the bonnet denotes the engine power

Vast improvement First appearances of Fiat’s new cab give an impression that it is a vast improvement over the 90 Series, and two large wide opening doors allow very good access. Two steps are rather small and not protected from debris but are well positioned. Early tractors are fitted with mechanical seats but try to find the later air seats. Be prepared to re-cover the cushions.

The original 32F/32R transmission has the addition of a hi-lo splitter, which neatly changes from left to right, but was changed to a thumb button from 1993.

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T OU TO HIN T F LO GS OR OK …

BUYING BUYING GUIDE // FIAT WINNER

The analogue dash was taken from the 90 Series and these particular models will likely be less troublesome in years to come. Lights give a basic fault warning system.

The interior is bright and easy on the eye. Panels clean up effortlessly but they can be broken easily. The dashboard is taken from the older 90 Series on manual models and consists of a series of dials with warning lights. Electronic versions have a digital read-out with bar graphs to display the vital information. They can be lit up like a Christmas tree if there are issues.

Noise levels are a lot lower than most of the competition and a large glass area gives excellent views, although wide B-pillars hinder the visibility and the pick-up hitch is difficult to see from the seat.

Heat and air-con controls are up in the roof in front of the driver and a

The dash in later tractors was futuristic for its time, with sliding LCD bars. If poorly maintained, the warning lights can become quite erratic.

FIAT F WINNER – TYPICAL USED PRICE GUIDE Year

Model

Hours Spec

1990

F120

15,000 Very poor condition, side panels missing

F100

9500

Front weights, good tyres.

F110

5000

Front linkage and PTO, tyres poor.

F130

3000

New tyres, front weights.

F115

13,000 Front weights, 50% tyres.

F115

4900

Front weights, tyres poor

F130

6000

Loader, poor condition, tyres bald

F140

7000

Front weights, wide tyres

F140

6150

Front linkage, good tyres

1990

1991

1992

1992

1995

1995

1996

1996

“The Winner is certainly a wise investment and current resale values reflect this” handy sunroof provides a little extra airflow. Paintwork is considerably better than previous Fiat tractors but corrosion around the edges of the cab and doors can still be a problem.

Right: The F100 is the entry-level model with 100hp but it wasn’t as popular as the more powerful models

Appreciating asset The Fiat Winner is certainly a wise investment and current resale values reflect this and its subsequent popularity. The Iveco engine seems to

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Electronic hitch control is typical of the Bosch-based systems of the 1990s. It’s simple to master and issues can be simple to diagnose and repair but major problems are rare.

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

be a bombproof power source that could last forever and is unlikely to cause any major problems. Although lacking a number of modern features, this straightforward tractor would be

Price

£5500

£6500

£9000

£13,000

£10,000

£11,000 £11,000

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But demand is high, both in the UK and abroad, so don’t hang around if you spot an example for sale.

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Contact Dean Pollen on 07902 645650 or dean.pollen@abfltd.co.uk Only available in England, Wales & Scotland OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

FMJ1020_075.indd 75

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Right: The MeritAgCheck app puts daily checks in the hands of operators to help identify and report defects

“Clients wanted a simple system for recording daily checks on farm equipment”

Keeping safety to hand WORDS SIMON HENLEY IMAGES TOM CRITCHELL

A new app has been designed to take the drudgery out of performing and recording daily inspections and maintenance checks. FMJ put the new system to the test

When it comes to farming, understanding liability and negotiating your way around health and safety regulations can be difficult. This is the day and age of shared responsibility, where the line separating public liability from professional indemnity is becoming increasingly blurred. In layman’s terms, this means the man on the tractor seat is responsible both for maintaining his equipment and reporting any defects that might affect safety. It’s something we should all be doing, and now there is an app that could potentially make daily checks easier.

Oliver Dale is a farmer’s son from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, who runs Safety Revolution Ltd, a health and safety consultancy business for the agricultural industry. Last December, Oliver and his team set about

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producing what they have since named the MeritAgCheck app, which has been developed as a means of making the working environment safer and more efficient for farmers and their employees.

“We started to develop the app following discussions with some of our clients,” reports Oliver. “The outcome was they wanted a simple system for recording daily checks on their farm equipment, which was foolproof, easy to manage and easy to update.

“The law obliges the operator of any machine to inspect it on a daily basis before it is used. On many farms, particularly on large estates or in larger contracting operations, this is an established process. However, recording and/or documenting the condition or service requirements of specific machines is frequently the weak link in the chain.

“Paper checklists and note books

are frequently lost or become illegible, so what we’ve done is design a system that has been specifically engineered for farms, contractors and estates so it can be used by operators of all skill levels on whatever type of machine they are using.”

How does it work?

The first task is for farmers or farm managers to sign up for an account and operate the dashboard through the Merit Inspection Solutions website. This website can be accessed on a computer, tablet or phone.

The next task is to activate the dashboard by entering the farm’s Left: QR code stickers make it quick and easy to bring up information on a machine in the app

PRODUCT TEST // MERITAGCHECK APP BUYING

HOW THE MERITAGCHECK APP CAN IMPROVE FARM SAFETY

1

2

4

5

3

however this can be edited within the dashboard to make it more specific to a respective machine’s requirements.

When the operator has checked each item on the list, he can either mark it with a green tick stating it’s okay and functioning properly, an amber advisory to note an impending problem that does not currently affect the operational safety, or with a red cross to identify the vehicle as unsafe to operate.

Where an amber advisory or a red cross are recorded, the app will allow the operator to make a note about the defect or problem. There is also the option to upload a photo of the reported issue. The report is then signed by the operator using his finger on the screen and submitted, where it will immediately show up as a notification on the system’s dashboard. An email will also be sent to the appointed person monitoring the dashboard to advise them an operative has logged a service issue.

It is then the job of the manger to respond to the notification.

Regular maintenance

1 A website link is used to download the Dashboard programme, which can be uploaded on to a computer, tablet or smart phone

exclamation mark for a warning, and a cross for a condition rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate

2 The latest reports for each piece of machinery are posted directly on to the dashboard once they have been submitted by the operator 3 Check lists on the smart phone app feature ticks for a pass, an

machinery details in the appropriate menus, detailing the types and makes of machinery used on the farm. This includes details such as the make, model, serial and registration numbers, and whether or not the machine is currently in service.

These details are required to identify every machine on the farm.

Once the dashboard is operational a link to the system via a smart phone app is shared with the farm employees. The app provides limited access into the MeritAgCheck system, meaning employees can identify the machines they will be using but cannot make changes to the information logged in the dashboard programme.

Below: Developed by Safety Revolution Ltd the MeritAgCheck is a simple system for recording daily checks on farm equipment

4 Once a description of the problem has been made, the app will ask the operator to confirm the report and then sign and submit it 5 Having submitted the report, a notification will immediately show up on the dashboard system to alert of any further attention required

With access to the app, an operator will be asked to proceed with a safety check of their machine. In default mode, the list for a typical tractor involves about 34 different categories,

In the real world, having received a notification the farmer or manager would most likely call the operator and find out what’s going on. What is important is the outcome of this phone call and the eventual repair of the affected machine must be documented and updated on the dashboard or the machine in question will continue to be identified as inoperable to other users.

To make things even easier, the system also offers QR coding that provides a bar code that can be attached to any machine and used to identify a specific vehicle’s details by simply scanning it.

The MeritAgCheck is also very affordable. The standard version of the system is free, however if you’re going to make use of what’s on offer properly then we would suggest opting for the premium version. It costs just £4.90 per month (including VAT) for up to three users and includes over 100 types of machine with customisable check lists. More users can be added for 49p per user per month.

The days when making excuses for poorly maintained or unsafe farm equipment are fast disappearing.

For those who need the inspiration to improve their daily maintenance inspection routines and keep their records updated MeritAgCheck is a step in the right direction.

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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Complete ISOBUS Solutions • Choice of two Virtual Terminals, Raven 7” CR7 and 12” Viper 4+ • Raven RCM ISOBUS Module with a large range of options: • Application Rate control for Sprayers, Spreader, Seeders and Drills • Monitoring or controlling Slurry Application • Section Control • Individual Pesticide Metering System along with Carrier Control • Hawkeye individual Nozzle control and turn compensation

For more information please contact T: 01572 823123 M: 07801 454777 E: info@jsindustries.co.uk

Think different, think ahead

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Liquid Management

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Axle steering

Auto cleaning and liquid management with iXclean Pro

iXflow-E individual nozzle control

Ultimate boom control with Boom Guide Pro-Active

Sprayer is connected to the internet via the IsoMatch FarmCentre platform.

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(Terms & Conditions apply. UK only.)

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WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

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28/08/2020 16:55

TECHNICAL // RETROFIT ISOBUS

Farmer and contractor Jeremy Wheeler opted to install a retrofit ISObus wiring loom on to his eight-year-old Claas Arion so he could benefit from using the latest technology

Terminal velocity

Installing an ISObus loom on an existing tractor is relatively quick, simple and cost effective, enabling owners of older tractors to use one ISObus terminal to run a range of machines WORDS MICK ROBERTS IMAGES GEOFF ASHCROFT

SObus connectivity brings the huge advantage of allowing one terminal to operate many different compatible machines, regardless of their make or model. Even those without the necessary wiring can still benefit by retro-fitting an ISObus loom, making it possible to run the system on older tractors.

Most modern implements and machines are now ISObus compatible, which allows them to simply ‘plug-nplay’ into any compliant terminal. Well, that’s the theory – in reality some still suffer compatibility issues, require unlock codes and need to overcome other glitches.

For owners of relatively new tractors with modern terminals, ISObus is a fantastic system that usually works well. All users need to do is plug the implement’s lead into a special ISObus socket on the tractor, turn on the terminal and the operating pages automatically load up and show on the screen.

Another benefit is once you have learned the layout and operation for one machine, most others follow the same structure. Many terminals and systems now also have the option of an ISObus joystick.

This can be programmed to replicate the buttons to suit the machine and operator’s requirements, making it easier to use without having to use the screen.

It’s all great stuff for users of the latest tractors, but not so

I

good for owners of older tractors lacking the necessary socket and wiring loom.

Retrofit wiring loom But all is not lost, because it’s a fairly simple and quick job to fit an ISObus loom, says Chris Nye, a technician with Severn Agriculture, a Vicon dealer based near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. “Using Vicon parts the ISO power harness starts from about £500 and a kit with a Tellus Go screen and all cables for a tractor starts at about £2000. Licence keys and possibly a joystick or switch box would be needed for certain applications. It takes about half a day to fit and test. But it’s important to remember one size definitely does not fit all! We have different harnesses depending on the tractor and terminal manufacturers.

“We always have to check the hardware and software for compatibility issues. There are various levels of ‘ISO-ready’.

Also, while the terminals will control a large range of implements, you may often need to pay for unlock codes to use some functions – such as auto-section control,” he says.

Fitting the loom to the tractor is not difficult, he adds. All it requires is mounting the standard ISO-socket on the

“The main work goes into neatly routing the wiring through the cab”

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This Vicon iXter B18 1800-litre rear sprayer and 1100-litre iXtra Pro front tank combination, equipped with many high-tech options, still cost half that of a replacement self-propelled

Above: Updating an older tractor to ISObus operation simply involves installing an ISO wiring loom. This special socket connects up compatible equipment

Below left: Images from cameras mounted at the front of the tank, facing left and right, appear on the Tellus screen

Below: Automatic filling is one of the many features of the iXclean Pro option. Both tanks can be filled either with the same mix, different mixes in each or even just water in one

“I wanted to employ the latest technology but my tractor didn’t have the wiring” back of the cab and routing the wires through the cab to the terminal. “The power supply may vary with the make and model, but apart from sorting that the main work goes into neatly routing the wiring through the cab.”

ISObus update for older Arion Severn Agriculture recently updated a 2012 Claas Arion 640 with the addition of an ISObus wiring loom to enable Jeremy Wheeler, a farmer and contractor from Gloucestershire, to operate a new Vicon front- and rear-tank sprayer combination.

Jeremy grows about 140ha of arable crops at Bulley Farm, Churcham, the rotation usually comprising two wheats as well as oilseed rape and barley. He also carries out contract applications, which increase his total spraying area to about 3500ha.

When looking to change his small selfpropelled machine Jeremy realised a front- and rear-mounted combination offered a number of benefits. “It not only has the same capacity, but came equipped to a much higher specification and, importantly, was almost half the cost,” he explains.

“Another advantage of the combination is I don’t have to

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rely on so much contracting to help justify the cost of owning the self-propelled,” he adds. “The only stumbling block was while I wanted to employ the latest technology, my Claas tractor didn’t have the necessary ISObus wiring.”

Severn Agriculture explained this was not a problem because thanks to a retro-fit loom he is able to run the ISObus machine on his eight-year-old tractor. This clinched the deal and his new Vicon iXter B18 1800-litre rear sprayer and 1100-litre iXtra Pro front tank combination was delivered last year, and the dealer fitted the loom at the same time.

Due to the huge difference in cost compared with a self-propelled, Jeremy could justify specifying the combination to a high standard. Control is via Vicon’s IsoMatch Tellus large screen terminal, which can be split to display two separate operations.

“The split screen on the terminal allows me to run guidance on the top Above: Jeremy Wheeler says switching to a modern front and rear screen and the sprayer combination not only offers the same functions on the bottom – it capacity as a self-propelled, but also works well,” he says. “I also came equipped to a much higher have the ISO-joystick, which specification at almost half the cost

TECHNICAL // RETROFIT ISOBUS

COMPATIBILITY CHECK

Severn Agriculture fitted a retrofit ISObus wiring loom to enable Jeremy Wheeler’s Claas Arion 640 to control a new Vicon front and rear sprayer

You can check the ISObus compatibility of tractors and machines with the free-to-use AEF ISOBUS database. This is updated with manufacturers’ information following regular ‘plug fests’ where they connect up equipment to check whether they work together. https://www.aef-isobusdatabase.org/isobusdb/ login.jsf

Above: Vicon’s IsoMatch Tellus large screen terminal runs all the sprayer controls via ISObus.

The split screen can display two separate operations

Right: Severn Agriculture stocks and fits ISO looms to a wide range of tractors. Not all the wiring is the same for all makes and models, points out technician Chris Nye

Top right: This IsoMatch InDemo kit, used by dealers to check for compatibility, contains special plugs that represent different Kverneland machines.

It functions as if it were the actual implement

replicates many of the on-screen buttons and makes it easier and more convenient to operate.”

Added accuracy The system includes a GPS receiver for the GeoControl and mapping, using the free EGNOS correction signal, which he remarks is far more accurate than his previous system. It is used for guidance as well as auto-control of nine sections on the 24m-wide boom.

“I also included the iXclean Pro option, which automates the filling, agitation and spraying functions, as well as a fully automatic rinse and clean programme. It is all run from the terminal in the cab and operates on both the rear and front tanks,” he explains.

Another feature is ‘tank management’ that allows operators to choose to fill both tanks with the same mix or different mixes in each. These can then be sprayed out individually and offers the option to fill the front tank with just water.

“I have to work in some quite small fields, so it helps to carry two different tank mixes. But if I am using the same mix in both tanks it automatically transfers the liquid between the two, which helps to distribute the weight more easily,” he adds.

Another option, which also runs through the IsoMatch

Tellus terminal, is the Norac boom levelling. This also works in conjunction with Vicon’s Ergo Drive headland management, which automatically lifts and lowers the boom when the sprayer turns off and on at the headland.

“The boom control works well. I used to find it very tiring to have to constantly juggle the controls to keep the boom level and raising and lowering at the ends. I also think it helps to improve coverage because the boom is always at the right height.

“Now instead of always turning round to check the boom, I can look at the screen to check the sprayer operation as well as the crops. Now I can drive up and down with the boom just sat there. It’s a doddle now and much less tiring,” he says.

The only downside he sees in switching to the front and rear combination is having to take it on and off the tractor and reminding himself there’s an 1100-litre tank on the front! But he has fitted it with cameras either side so he can see what’s on the road when pulling out of gateways. The images from them also show up on the bottom section of the terminal’s screen.

While any replacement for the Claas Arion 640 is likely to come with an ISObus terminal as standard, he feels having the screen for the sprayer will help when it comes to selling or trading it in when it’s time to change.

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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28/08/2020 16:53

TECHNICAL // TYRE TRENDS

Conti’s Tractor 85 radial tyres, with their 85 per cent profile, led the way when the company re-entered the agricultural market in 2017

Back with a bang Premium German tyre brand Continental has re-entered the agricultural market after a break of nearly 15 years, and is building one of the most innovative ranges on the market WORDS GRAEME KIRK IMAGES CONTINENTAL

s fewer but more powerful tractors are sold, Europe’s agricultural tyre market is not a place for the faint-hearted. In recent years, several of the Continent’s traditional brands have disappeared, while newcomers have tended to arrive from the likes of India and Turkey. Germany’s Continental (Conti), however, is a rare beast in that it falls into both camps; it sold its agricultural tyre interests in the early 2000s, but has recently returned to the market. Plus, it is not only making its tyres in Europe, but the range is one of the most advanced available.

Technically, Conti tyres never actually disappeared.

In 2003 the German firm decided to divest its agricultural business and sold its farm tyre plant in Czechia to ČGS Holding, giving the firm a licence to use the Continental brand on the tyres it made. This arrangement continued until 2014, when ČGS rebranded as Mitas; and when Mitas was then acquired by Trelleborg in 2016, it left the way clear for Conti to return. Something it did after a €100 million investment in R&D and a new agricultural tyre plant at the company’s existing site at Lousado in Portugal.

A

According to Conti’s UK sales manager, Richard Hutchins, the catalyst for this development was several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Europe approaching the company and asking it to re-enter the market.

“With another brand pulling out of tractor tyres, there was an opportunity Above: Conti’s UK agricultural sales for a premium product to enter the manager, Richard marketplace,” he says. “Conti Hutchins, is building a distribution analysed the situation to see network for the new if there was a place for it in tractor tyre ranges the market, and the answer was a very big yes. So, we started with a clean sheet of paper and began thinking about what the market needed and what farmers needed and how we could support them.”

Conti’s re-introduction to the market began with its Tractor 85 radials (with a standard 85 per cent profile for rims from 24in to 46in), quickly followed by the Tractor 70 (70 per cent profile for rims from 24in to 38in), and then the TractorMaster (60, 65, 70

“We started with a clean sheet of paper and began thinking about what the market needed”

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Peter Alderslade took the 2018 British ploughing championship in the reversible section competing with his 2004 Valtra A95 fitted with Continental’s Tractor 85 tyres

Above: Peter Alderslade says his Conti Tractor 85 tyres have improved his ploughing performance in wet conditions Below: Compaction and damage can be alleviated by running tyres at lower pressures, says Richard Hutchins

Left: The latest development at Conti’s agricultural division is the new soil-friendly VF TractorMaster tyre

and 75 per cent profiles for rims from 24in to 42in). All three tyres benefit from new design features developed by the company for its ranges. They include N.flex carcase technology, bead technology and d.fine lug technology.

“Our unique N.flex carcase technology relies on a patented nylon material that is flexible enough to absorb impact and then return to its original shape without permanent deformation,” Mr Hutchins says. “This ensures long-term robustness and rounder tyres for a comfortable ride. It makes the temporary flat spots that can happen when a tractor is parked up and the tyre cools down, and this means an end to bumpy drives in the morning.

“The Conti bead technology, meanwhile, employs a single wire made up of individual strands layered in a rectangular bead core pattern. The design has been optimised for the high torques Right: Continental’s Tractor 85 radials have a standard 85 per cent profile and are available for rims from 24in to 46in

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Far right: The Continental Tractor 70 is a 70 per cent profile tyre for rims from 24in to 38in diameter

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

experienced by tractor drive tyres, and as it allows the tyres to operate at pressures up to 3psi less than comparable tyres, the tyres have a larger footprint with associated efficiency benefits.

“The d.fine lug technology is another game changer,” Mr Hutchins adds. “It brings a number of performanceimproving developments including a deep lug overlap that offers a comfortable drive and reduced vibration.

Then there is the smooth transition from the lug block to the base that offers optimum cleaning performance and resistance to damage, and also a lug surface that is five per cent larger than standard tyres that not only improves traction, but also offers greater longevity when the tyres are used on the road.”

Testing times Conti has been keen to compare its new radials against other premium players in the European market and submitted them for test by the German Agricultural

Testin Agric that C outpe brand and fu

TECHNICAL // TYRE TRENDS

CONTRACTOR OPTS FOR CONTI’S

Testing by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) found that Conti’s TractorMaster range outperformed other premium brands in terms of tyre efficiency and fuel consumption

VF TRACTORMASTER TYRES

The first customer in the UK for Continental’s VF TractorMaster tyres was Shropshire-based contractor Mike Swinnerton, who has fitted 600/70R30 and 710/70R42 very high flexion tyres to his Fendt 826 Vario.

“I have had problems with tyres wearing out too quickly and my dealer, Liam Evans, mentioned the new VF tyres from Continental and explained that there was a 10-year warranty. He also advised that the tyres would be better for the ploughing, spreading and ridging work I do with my Fendt,” he says.

Mr Swinnerton has used a variety of radial tyres on his machines, but this is the first time he has gone for a VF option.

“It was a very wet winter and we wanted to minimise the impact the tractor had on the land,” he says.

“The VF tyres do not leave such deep ruts in the soil.”

“The smooth transition from the lug block to the base offers optimum cleaning”

Right: Mike Swinnerton hopes his new Conti VF TractorMaster tyres will resolve an issue with excessive wear on the front axle of his Fendt 826 Vario

Society (DLG). The results, released earlier this year, put the company in pole position, as the tyres were rated best for both tyre efficiency and fuel consumption.

“The DLG test was completed using a Fendt 828 Vario featuring our 600/70R30 TractorMaster tyres on the front axle and 710/70R42 tyres on the rear axle,” Mr Hutchins says. “The results showed fuel consumption was, on average, about 2.5 to 3.0 per cent less than the reference tyres, while the tyre efficiency factor came out on top with slightly more than 67 per cent of the engine power being transferred to the ground.

“The DLG said one reason for the improved performance was that the TractorMaster had the largest tyre footprint width (for these tyres sizes) in the test, and therefore the largest contact area in field conditions, especially on the rear axle. This translated into low slip levels, particularly on the hill

sections, and less rolling resistance in the flat sections, which both had a major influence on the test result.”

Even with results like that, Conti has not rested on its laurels but has developed a new VF (very high flexion) variant of its TractorMaster tyre that is capable of even better performance thanks to a broader and stronger belt geometry.

In combination with N.flex technology and Conti’s bead geometry, the result is a tyre that provides enhanced efficiency when switching between road and field. It can carry your tractor’s normal load, on the road or in the field, at a tyre pressure of just 12psi – about 40 per cent less than standard tyres. Or it can carry a load that is 40 per cent heavier at the 24psi tyre pressure you would expect with a conventional tyre.

“Currently we offer the new VF tyres in 710/70R42 and 600/70R30, and 710/60R42 and 600/60R30 are on the way,” Mr Hutchins said. “These are the sizes you will most commonly find on today’s high-horsepower arable tractors. They are fitted with the aim of keeping tyre pressures as low as possible, even on the heaviest machines, to minimise damage to the soil.”

The VF TractorMaster is designed to handle up to 350hp and Conti expects them to be used on tractors of

Left: The Continental TractorMaster encompasses tyres with profiles of 60, 65, 70 and 75 per cent, made for rims from 24in to 42in

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TECHNICAL // TYRE TRENDS

CONTI TRACTOR 70 BRING EXTRA STABILITY IN THE WELSH HILLS

Below: German-owned Continental exited the agricultural market in 2003 but returned in 2017

Bottom: The Tractor Master is a hybrid tyre with a tread designed to withstand road use

Based near Brecon, Aubrey Evans runs 4000 Cheviot cross sheep and a herd of 50 Hereford cross sucklers on approximately 1000 acres of hilly pastureland that has been in his family for three generations.

The ground is hilly and often very wet, which can make access with a tractor challenging at times, so Aubrey Above: Aubrey Evans thought carefully about how he could feels safer on wet, soft improve grip when he traded in his and undulating ground Claas 456 Celtis for a 120hp Claas 440 now he has changed the tyres on his Claas 440 Arion.

Arion to wider tyres “Machinery is getting heavier and to cope with the load I wanted a more powerful tractor, but I also wanted better tyres to apply the power more efficiently,” Aubrey says. “I did not feel safe on the narrow tyres so I was keen to get wider tyres.

These do not dig into the ground as much and do not create such deep ruts. This helps to reduce soil compaction too.”

The Tractor 70 tyres from Continental increased the width of the tyres. “They give better grip and I feel safer on the wet ground,” he says. “This winter was particularly wet and having the wider footprint really helped. The tyres are especially good on the hillsides. We have steep land and access with a tractor can be difficult in wet weather, but these tyres have performed better than others I have had.”

about 200hp upwards. The design means they can be fitted while staying within a 3.0m machine width for road transport, and the tall nature of the tyres (the 710/70R42 is 210cm in diameter) helps maximise the tractor’s footprint.

“The bigger the diameter of the wheel, the bigger the contact area you put on the ground,” Mr Hutchins says. “It is not just a wider footprint, it is a longer footprint that obviously reduces the impact of the tyre on the soil.”

Dealer developments

“I did not feel safe on the narrow tyres so I was keen to get wider tyres”

In the UK, Richard Hutchins is building a network to sell aftermarket tyres into the agricultural sector.

“We are already working through various dealers, and our objective is to create a network across the country that can help support the product and obviously get it to the farmers,” he says.

“Like the other premium brands, I am getting out on to farms helping with pressure optimisation when farmers have invested in a set of our tyres. I weigh the machine, implements and trailers they are pulling and give them a guide to what pressure they should be running at to make sure they get the maximum amount out of their investment.

“Tyres are not cheap – not even a budget set – but we are

86

all about giving our customers a level of service that makes sure they are making the most from their tyres.

That is why we also give them a 10-year extended warranty. Valid against manufacturing and material defects, we will guarantee our tyres for up to 10 years as long as there is tread left on them, and any payment would be based on the remaining tread. By year 10, 10 per cent would be the maximum level we would pay out.

“Not many manufacturers offer this, but we do because we have confidence in our tyres, and it also gives the customer confidence that we are here to support the product for life,” Mr Hutchins adds. “This is a very price competitive and sensitive market, but it also helps that we can offer likely fuel savings of as much as three to four per cent and the higher work outputs that accompany them. That is where the cost of your investment really sits; it is not about the upfront tyre price, but the overall cost of ownership.”

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TECHNICAL // Q&A

Q&A Any machine, any question – get an expert answer to your queries This 7740 uses four-wheel drive when braking but dog clutch wear can cause problems

heavy braking, an increased likelihood of the rear wheels locking up and skidding. The solution is to replace the dog clutch parts or have the worn parts professionally machined. We would also recommend checking the front axle driveshaft and inspect the sliding couplers for wear.

Q The joystick on our John Deere 3800 telehandler recently started playing up, becoming jerky in operation and responding intermittently. At other times it doesn’t work at all. We were told this is quite a common problem on older John Deere telehandlers so swapped the joystick for a service exchange unit, but the problem still exists.

Where do we go from here?

M. Bennett, Suffolk A John Deere machines like the 3400 and 3800 pivot-steer use electronic technology to operate the boom hydraulic systems. Wiring looms, like cables or linkages, will deteriorate after a period of time, particularly in machines like telehandlers, which are frequently used in extreme conditions.

“The engagement of the axle occurs automatically, effectively providing fourwheel braking” Q My New Holland 7740 has done about 9000 hours. It still runs superbly and has never given any trouble. However recently, while pulling a trailer, I noticed an awful clattering noise underneath the cab when I had to brake suddenly and the rear wheels locked up. Could this be a problem with the tractor’s braking system or is it something to do with the four-wheel drive system engaging when the brakes are applied?

T. Dunn, Ayrshire A From what you are describing it sounds as if the dog clutch that automatically activates to engage four-wheel drive when the brakes are applied is slipping. The fourwheel drive system is engaged using a dog clutch, which provides drive to the front axle via the driveshaft. The engagement of the front axle occurs automatically when the brake pedal is pressed, effectively providing four-wheel braking.

The problem is that the slotted wheels inside the dog clutch can eventually become worn, causing the clutch to jump out of mesh. This would usually occur if the dog clutch were suddenly placed under a heavy load or continued strain, such as heavy braking with a load. The result is the awful clattering sound and, in the case of

The joystick on John Deere telehandlers can wear out, however, we have also encountered situations where erratic or unusual operational traits, along with other problems such as hard starting and fuses constantly blowing, can be directly linked to crushed or broken wires within the cab’s wiring loom.

Resolving this kind of problem can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, even for a good automotive electrician. We would suggest closely monitoring when any problems most frequently occur to establish a pattern.

This can help pinpoint the problem. Broken wiring looms most frequently occur in high stress areas of the cab, such as under the floor matting or behind the seat. Removing the cab cladding while inspecting and testing the wiring loom will make this frustrating task a little easier.

Left: Wiring looms can deteriorate over time causing electrical issues throughout a machine

Got a problem with your tractor or machine? The leading experts in agricultural machinery are here to

help. With a combined knowledge spanning every area of equipment you’ll soon be back out in the field. Send your questions to info@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk or by post to Farm Machinery Journal, Sundial House, 17 Wickham Road, Beckenham BR3 5JS. Include as much detail about the machine as possible. A photo might also help to answer your queries quicker.

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Rear Link Model Zone // Buying Guide

Farming’s top models

For nearly every working machine there is a model equivalent. Here are the latest scale models that won’t look out of place in any miniature fleet Ploeger EPD540e self-propelled pea harvester Tekno 1:32 Weighing in at nearly 1.4kg, this self-propelled pea harvester is a well-built, well-finished and accurately detailed limited edition collector’s model. Tekno has made only 650 models available, direct from Ploeger or its dealer network only. A numbered certificate is provided with each model.

Around £262 (€289.19) ● ploeger.pog-shop.com

Floating header The picking header floats on two rams and has two black rollers detailed on the underside, but not the picking tines. Behind the cab, the unloading conveyor lifts and lowers between working and transport positions on a single ram. Tenko has equipped its model with freely rotating tracks and Ackermann steered rear wheels fitted with flotation tyres.

Chequer mate

Room for two Driving mirrors have reflective surfaces, plus twin warning beacons, painted lights and a red fire extinguisher provided on the Claas Vista cab. The door does not open but the cab has a well laid-out and detailed black interior. Both driver and passenger seats are provided and alongside the driver’s seat sits the armrest with joystick and touch-screen monitor.

Valtra T254 tractor Britains 1:32 Britains has just released a refreshed Valtra T254 tractor with a distinctive new metallic orange finish. This metal and plastic model has working linkages front and rear and steerable front wheels. The glazed cab detaches giving access to the driver’s platform, where a steering wheel, seats and armrest with monitor are provided. £24.99 ● www.britainsfarmtoys.co.uk

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Good levels of detailing are provided: silver chequer plate, white bucket conveyor, handrails, black matting on footways and access ladders. Panel catches are silver and black but the panels do not open. On the engine bay there is chequer plate flooring, a drive motor for the main rotor,a silver exhaust stack and black air cleaner.

JCB 8330 Fastrac tractor Wiking 1:32 Beautifully engineered and detailed, this Fastrac tractor has a steerable front axle and working three-point linkages front and rear. The bonnet opens and has a transparent grille, plus there is a detachable front weight, magnetic wheel hubs and a tool for removing the wheels. £99.95 ● www.wiking.de

Open doors The cab has orange plastic beacons, folding driving mirrors, handrails and silver access steps. Both doors open and give good access to the interior for adding a driver. Inside there is black floor matting, a grey steering column and driver’s seat, which sports a JCB decal.

In the armrest is a joystick and screen.

Adjustable drawbar For attaching trailed equipment the tractor has Wiking’s new clevis drawbar with small diameter pin. The drawbar height can be adjusted and two rams support the lower link arms, which, like the fixed-length top link, have quickrelease ends. Details include painted work lights, tail lights and control buttons.

Swinging gates A single mixing auger Inside the hopper turns freely and a ram on the hopper front sets the slide to control the flow to the cross conveyor.

The latter does not move but both the left- and right-hand discharge gates swing freely.

Abbey vertical auger mixer wagon Siku 1:32 Siku’s latest vertical auger mixer wagon model features updated tooling and sports Abbey branding and colours. The model has a metal frame with the hopper and other smaller parts in plastic. On the drawbar there’s an adjustable stand, black plastic cover and the front-mounted discharge conveyor. £31.99 ● www.siku.de

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Game Changers

Surefooted

beast

Matbro’s Mastiff 6/100 MT was the first articulated agricultural tractor to be developed in the UK. With just 20 built, it was by no means a roaring success, but its unique centre-pivot-steer system drew interest from across the world, and it was eventually licensed to Caterpillar, International and Allis-Chalmers 94

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

WORDS AND IMAGES STUART GIBBARD

Rear Link Game Changers // Pivot-steer tractor Left: George Marshall demonstrates the prototype Mastiff 6/100 MT tractor in 1962

Matbro Timeline

1949

KEY DATES 1940

1946

H

N

195

and ace Hor onard Le form hew Ltd t a w M the . Ma L & .

The Mastiff loading shovel provided the basis for the articulated tractor

1950

al ent ft li erim Exp ro fork rol t b r Mat d on pe Majo e 7N s 2 a E b n dso For

bro Mat lift rk II fo ie s e s into S er k go tion truc roduc p

ce s odu intr o r b Mat antis d M e the ropell ckhoe -p a l e s f aulic b r hyd

1956

2 195

1952

1953

ro atb of M dstar h c n a Lau per Lo ding Su lic loa vel u ra sho hyd

1953

amed after a large and loading shovel, and the Mantis, a universal powerful breed of dog, the self-propelled excavator with a front-mounted Matbro Mastiff was a gamebackhoe and a bulldozer blade for backfilling changer in that it was the UK’s trenches. Both machines were based on first true articulated design of reverse-drive Fordson Diesel Major skid units. tractor. Although sales In 1955 Len Mathew and amounted to just 20 his chief engineer, George machines, its unique Chapman, began developing centre-pivot-steer concept a centre-pivot-steer design Matbro Mastiff was licensed globally to for a loading shovel. The 6/100 MT several major idea was that the front Engine Ford 590E manufacturers. and rear drive units were six-cylinder diesel; The origins of Matbro can connected by vertical capacity, 330cu.in be traced back to 1946 when pivot-points for steering, (5416cc); bore, 3.9in brothers, Horace and while also pivoting in the (100mm); stroke, 4.5in Leonard Mathew formed H. horizontal axis to allow (115mm); power, 96hp; & L. Mathew Ltd, buying and the axles to follow the rated speed, 2250rpm selling ex-WD equipment, contours of the ground.

Transmission predominantly batteries, The advantages of the Six forward speeds generators and compressors system were that it nullified and two reverse; first, sourced from the many any ‘wind-up’ between the 2.46mph; second, war-surplus auctions held axles on a four-wheel drive 3.5mph; third, 4.9mph; after the Second World War. machine and did away with fourth, 6.6mph; fifth, The brothers operated from the need for complicated 8.8mph; sixth, 15.8mph premises at Sandy Lane and expensive drive-steer Clutch Foot operated; North in Wallington, Surrey, axles. The axles were also 13in single-plate dry and relied on a second-hand capable of carrying greater clutch.

Clark forklift truck to move loads; the turning circle was Fuel tank capacity their equipment. reduced and the design was 15 gallons The Clark forklift was simpler with less power loss Dimensions Length, inadequate for the job. The through complex joints.

180in, Width, 83in, yard had no tarmac, and the Matbro’s centre-pivot-steer Height, 75in forklift’s small wheels were principle was patented Turning radius 148in continually stuck. Len, who worldwide during 1957. The Shipping weight was interested in first machine to incorporate 11,000lb engineering, then decided the system was the company’s Working weight to develop his own forklift Mastiff loading shovel, which 13,000lb based on a Fordson E27N appeared in 1958 and was Major tractor. It propelled based on Fordson Power the business into Major components. manufacturing a line of forklifts, loaders and In 1959 the manufacturing subsidiary backhoes produced under the Matbro name. of H. & L. Mathew Ltd was incorporated as a separate company, Matbro Ltd, operating Successful early products included the out of a new factory at Horley in Surrey.

Super Loadstar, a rear-wheel steer hydraulic

Specifications

6

The relocation was prompted by the success of the Mastiff loading shovel and the need to increase manufacturing capacity. In 1961 it was updated into the Mastiff Series II fitted with the six-cylinder Ford 590E engine and based on Super Major transmission units.

During 1963 loading shovel assembly was moved to another new factory at Frome in Somerset.

Mastiff tractor The Mastiff loading shovel and its centrepivot-steer concept provided the basis for the agricultural articulated tractor, which was the brainchild of Len Mathew and was designed by George Chapman. The tractor, designated Mastiff 6/100 MT, was built on similar lines to the Mastiff Series II loader.

It had two Fordson Super Major rear-axle/ transmission units providing the front and rear drive units, the front unit having its differential reversed. The input shafts of the two assemblies were joined by a propellershaft with a universal joint at the pivot point.

The six-cylinder Ford 590E industrial engine, somewhat optimistically rated at 100hp for the tractor, was mated to a standard Fordson six-speed gearbox and mounted above the front drive unit.

A five-section Reynolds chain inside a transfer case transmitted the drive from the gearbox to the propeller-shaft.

The machine was steered by a doubleacting hydraulic ram with the centre Matbro Mastiff 6/100 MT tractor on demonstration in 1963

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II ie s S er el ff i t v Mas ng sho i load into s e o g tion duc pro

1957

ew ath rd M a n Leo ts the steer ten pat e-pivo tr cen iple c prin

196

5

5 196

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1 196

1960 eils unv bro 6/100 t a M ff r asti c to its M MT tra

1958

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2

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1959

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1969

7 196

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2 196

0 6/ 10 o tiff t Mas oe s in n g MT duc tio pro full

3

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3 196

2

1

3 6

7 5

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1 The Matbro Mastiff 6/100 MT tractor was unveiled in 1962 2 Matbro Mastiff MkII built in 1967 and based on Ford 5000 components 3 Mastiff demonstration tractor hitched to a four-furrow Doe reversible plough 4 One of several Matbro Mastiff 6/100 MT agricultural tractors in preservation 5 Matbro Mastiff tractor supplied new to East Yorkshire farm in 1963 6 Matbro’s demonstration tractor fitted with a Fritzmeier cab 7 Len Mathew with a Matbro Mastiff MkII tractor

4

1979

198

40 AM ro R ler b t Ma hand farm duced o intr

Rear Link Game Changers // Pivot-steer tractor

0

0 198

197

9

1970 y Bra ion t c n stru Con td take L by r e ov bro Mat

1973

1980

1 198

ray nd B ro a nesses b t i Ma bus d into ge mer ray Ltd -B o r b Mat

Frome factory Production versions of the 6/100 MT were assembled at Matbro’s Frome factory. Most were fitted with Fritzmeier cabs and options

r s fo ght n ri ndler s g i s De ro ha y b b Mat hased c pur Deere n Joh

0 199

1990

2000

to sold bro creen t a M er s al Pow nation r e t n I

199

8

1 199

The Mastiff’s real problem was that it was an untried concept, at least in the eyes of farmers pivoting on tapered roller bearings.

Turning circle was 24ft. Hydraulicallyoperated differential locks were provided on both axles, and a single brake pedal operated a Dunlop disc brake on the propeller-shaft.

The rear transmission unit incorporated the Super Major hydraulic system and three-point linkage. The linkage was strengthened and the lift capacity increased by the addition of an assister ram. The system was powered by a crankshaft-driven pump. Ballast was provided by a front-mounted weight beneath the engine and two side panniers just forward of the rear axle.

The prototype was assembled in early 1962

by George Marshall, who was the fitter in Matbro’s experimental department.

Marshall also became the demonstrator. The initial trials of the prototype tractor were held on farms in Lincolnshire during the spring and summer of 1962. At the same time details were released to the press and the Mastiff 6/100 MT was advertised with a price tag of £2500 (less 17.5 percent to the dealer).

The 6/100 MT was publicly unveiled at a demonstration in Surrey in September 1962. With George Marshall at the wheel, the tractor was hitched to a five-furrow Ransomes TS78 plough. Matbro’s sales manager Eric Appleton then organised further demos across the country, and several dealers were appointed.

8 199

of t shif nch Lau ro Tele b Mat

ay e Br t yp al o t Pro is fin he of t 0 T10 nation n r g inca iff desi t Mas

1 199

included a Doe heavy-duty linkage. Sales were targeted at arable farmers in eastern England, with the aim of providing a replacement for their heavy crawler tractors, but there were few takers.

The first machine was delivered in March 1963. A total of 13 were supplied that year and another seven ordered during 1964, making a total of 20 production tractors. Six were exported with sales to Israel, Sweden, Germany and Denmark, and the other 14 were delivered to customers in the UK.

Above: Mechanical layout and features of the Matbro Mastiff 6/100 MT tractor

The 6/100 MT had been priced high in an attempt to recover its development costs and was possibly too expensive for its intended market. The County Super-Six, priced at £1950, offered four-wheel drive and similar power for a third less outlay.

Furthermore, you could buy three Fordson Super Majors for the same money, and still have enough left over to pay the wages of two extra tractor drivers.

Economic considerations apart, the Matbro Mastiff’s real problem was that it was an untried concept, at least in the eyes

of farmers who were reluctant to commit to such an unusual design. In truth, it was a machine ahead of its time – four-wheel drive was still a novelty and articulated tractors were unheard of outside of the USA. However, those customers who grasped the complexities and benefits of the concept were rewarded with legendary pulling power and unbeatable traction. Several owners specified auxiliary fuel tanks to extend the time the machines spent in the field.

Breaking the chain Basing the 6/100 MT on proven Ford components meant that there were few reliability issues. The major downfall of the design was the Reynolds drive chain, which had a nasty tendency to break, usually during the busy ploughing season. Replacing the chain was a time-consuming task, requiring the removal of the engine and gearbox.

The aim of the project had been less about sales and more about developing and proving the concept for the agricultural market.

In this it was successful because during 1962 Matbro concluded a $1m agreement, licensing its centre-pivot-steer system to Caterpillar, International and Allis-Chalmers. The deal more than recouped any development costs on the agricultural Mastiff 6/100 MT tractor.

The company revisited the concept of an articulated agricultural tractor again in 1967 with the Mastiff MkII based on Ford 5000 components, but just the one was built. After Bray came into Matbro’s ownership another experimental pivot-steer machine was developed in 1980 as the Bray T100, but it never went beyond prototype stage. In later years the company concentrated on telehandlers until it was sold in 1991.

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Please complete this form and send it with the rest of the subscription form to: FMJ Subs, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Essex, CM7 4AY, England Please do not send it to your Bank or Building Society Originator’s Identification Number Name(s) of Account Holder(s) 6 8 2 1 5 8 Reference (office use only)

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Post to: FMJ Subs, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Essex, CM7 4AY, England

21/08/2020 14:21

FARM SERVICES ACCESSORIES/SALES/SPARES Accord, Amazone and Maschio spare parts.

Carrier delivery. TR Smith Ltd. Tel: 01362 668286.

TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS PLEASE CALL

020 8639 4400 MUCK SPREADERS

FINANCE

FARMING FINANCE

New and Used Fleming Muck Spreaders Available – MS15/700 and 1000

Equipment – Livestock – Feed – Fertiliser – Seed – Cash Flow Diversification Projects – AgChem – Building – Debt Consolidation

Wide range of telehandler attachments including bale spikes, grabs and squeezes. Also for loaders including grain pushes, forks and buckets. British built. £POA. Tel: 01283 815544.

Abiljo, Burton on Trent.

BALE PROCESSORS Meeting the Needs of the Agricultural Community since 1943

• Finance from £10k to £5m • Simple, quick phone application • Tenant farmers welcome

• 6 month to 10 year terms • Bad credit history, large debts – no problem!

Contact Dean Pollen on 07902 645650 or dean.pollen@abfltd.co.uk Only available in Engand, Wales & Scotland

HAULAGE

Tunstall Tractors Ltd

BJ & C CARBERRY MACHINERY HAULAGE AGRICULTURAL & PLANT SPECIALISTS

Foggy Gill, Fellend, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4LN Tel: 015396 20636 • Mob: 07817832978

QUAD BIKES

THE QUAD CENTRE Est. 1987

Teagle Machinery Ltd Blackwater, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 8HQ T: +44 (0)1872 560592 E: sales@teagle.co.uk W: www.teagle.co.uk

BEDDING & FEEDING

01359 252 212 HIAB TEL: FAX: 01359 252 220 carberryhaulage@gmail.com HIRE Email: Web: www.bjandc-carberryhaulage.co.uk

HOME OF THE ATV

FOR ALL PARTS

HEATING

www.thequadcentre.com

01271 320727

TUNING & ENGINES NEW PERKINS ENGINES & PARTS

Redrock Straw Chopper

T: 028 37552390 BRAKES

200+ new engines in stock Next day nationwide delivery service from £35 per engine Credit cards accepted

LINKAGES

Ask for Ryan on 01539 560833 Mobile 07843 314695 Email: parts@pvdobson.com View engines on www.pvdobson.com

AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS INSTALLATIONS Installations, Parts and Repairs – Ball and Spoon Hitches For more information visit www.ballandballfarmservices.co.uk or telephone 01579 388848

BREAKING FOR SPARES

BREAKING FOR PARTS TELESCOPIC HANDLERS LOADING SHOVELS EXCAVATORS Wanted – all types of machines for resale & breaking

C W Good & Son The Foundry, Kington, Herefordshire HR5 3DE Tel: 01544 230 167 Email: les@gwgood1.go-plus.net Fax: 01544 231 046 (M)07710 909 100

TRACTOR TUNING Available for Case ■ Claas ■ John Deere ■ Kubota ■ Landini ■ Massey Ferguson ■ McCormick ■ New Holland ■ Steyr ■ Valtra ■ Zetor ■

UK importer for INO flail mowers

Jacobsens-

TRACTOR CHIP TUNING and ECU re-mapping Up to 30% extra power, 10% extra economy

ww.chipboost.com James 07977 475955

TYRES & WHEELS

GRANGE FARM MACHINERY

Tel: 01561 361340 Mob: 07973 542142 Email: symon@jacobsens-gfm.co.uk www.jacobsens-gfm.co.uk

Wide Range of Alliance, Michelin and Trelleborg Tyres Available for Sprayers and Spreaders

LIVESTOCK CONTAINERS & TRAILERS Plowman livestock containers. New build, used sales and hire fleet. Repairs and rebuilds to all makes. Tel: 01904 768230. www.plowmanbrothers.com

McConnel Limited Temeside Works, Ludlow, SY8 1JL Tel: +44 (0)1584 873131

OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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FARM MACHINERY TRADER BALERS & BALE EQUIPMENT

Lely Welger 245 Profi Tornado baler, 2017, 18,000 bales, £33,000. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW139]

Krone 1290 XC high-speed baler, 2019, 6,300 bales, active pick-up, 26 knives, weighing tailgate, moisture meter, air brakes, steering axle, £POA. Tel: 01823 253808.

Somerset.

[JW101]

Kuhn FBP 3155 combi baler, 2017, 21K bales, £POA. Tel: 028 37 548971.

Co.Tyrone.

[JW136]

Vaderstad Rollex RX 620 horizontal folding rolls, 6.2m, 19” breaker rings, extended draw bar, stone trays, good bearings, 1 owner, £2,750 + VAT. Tel: 07718 327999.

Gloucestershire [JKW63R]

Kongskilde Vibro Flex cultivator, 2017, 4.3mt, hydraulic folding, in excellent condition, £4,950 + VAT. Tel: 01579 370246. Cornwall. [JW123]

Kuhn HR4003 power harrow and 6003, from £5,250. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW143]

Teagle 8100 straw/silage chopper, 2016, trailed, as new, £POA. Tel: 07771 852774. Somerset. [JW102]

Sumo DTS 4 deep tillage seeder, 9/2019, 4m grain and fertiliser drill, bout markers, tramline kit, grain tank and rear camera, LED work lights, hyd brakes, £POA. Tel: 01823 253808. Somerset.

[JW100]

AG spring tine harrow, 6m c/w air seeder, new, £7,700. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW144]

Belair Brick 2008 trailed straw chopper, yr 2011, swivel spout, electric controls, good working order, £4,250 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871. Cumbria.

[JW111]

Teagle 404M straw mincer, 2016, very tidy, £3,500. Tel: 07771 852774.

Somerset.

[JW103]

Taarup Bio combi baler/wrapper, plus Opticut 14, £16,500. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW142]

CULTIVATION

FEEDING & BEDDING

Amazone KG302 power harrow and drill combi, disc coulters, £4,950. Tel: 028 37 548971.

Co.Tyrone.

[JW138]

TO ADVERTISE HERE FREE SEE DETAILS AT THE END OF THE SECTION

FERTILISER SPREADERS

Bredal K85 lime/fert sower, on 650 x 32 tyres, new belt, £7,500. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone. [JW137]

Amazone ZA-X Perfect 1402 spinner, tidy, £POA. Tel: 07771 852774. Somerset.

[JW107]

LOADERS & ATTACHMENTS

Twin bale spike, Euro brackets, may fit others with modification, new and unused, very well made, £260 including carriage to mainland UK. Tel: 01889 500303 / 07850 525693.

[HIW24R]

Stoll F15 loader, with Deutz Agrofarm 105 brackets, multi-dock, soft levelling, £POA. Tel: 01286 830009. Caernarfon.

[JW131]

Strimech shear grab, 1.9m, 6ft4, pin and cone brackets good working order, £1,200 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773. Devon.

[JW119]

Evans & Reid dung grab, 4ft, Euro 8 brackets, £775 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773. Devon.

[JW117]

LOADS OF MACHINERY FOR SALE IN FMJ ’S

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FREE TRADE AND PRIVATE ADVERTS Grays big bale grab, used, two banks of large claws, plenty of them, simultaneous twin rams, good working order, tidy condition, hydraulic hoses and pin & cone brackets, £795 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431. Somerset.

[JW128]

McHale 691 bale handler, used, for wrapped round bales, removable tubes so spikes can be used, good condition, choice of 2, from £595 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431.

Somerset.

[JW130]

Moulton buck rake, 9ft, 14 tine, used, 2017, sold new by ourselves, one local owner operator, always greased and maintained, 3 point linkage mounted, twin ram push off, very good condition, £2,595 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431. Somerset.

[JW127]

Honda TRX 500 ATV, FA, fitted big black box, 2011/12, very nice clean condition, 12,000 miles, used on farms for soil sampling. Tel: 01502 561657. Suffolk.

[IJW200R]

MISCELLANEOUS

Strimech Pro-Ag muck fork grabs, buckets and tip skip in stock. Tel: 07770 692891. Norwich. [IJW10R]

Selection of buckets, including handler buckets, ring for details, £POA. Tel: 07771 852774.

Somerset.

[JW105]

McConnel power loader, 2006, Euro headstock, c/w Ford 3 cyl brackets, £POA. Tel: 01286 830009.

Caernarfon.

[JW133]

John Deere Gator 855D, 62 reg, 4WD, diesel, 3,140hrs, electric tip, 50k, bench seat, £5,750 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773. Devon.

[JW115] Wessex sweeper/collector, little use and in good condition, cost over £3,000 new, now £600 ono. Tel: 01903 812020. West Sussex. [IJW13R]

Twose bale handler, tubular design, for round bales, good working order, tidy condition, hydraulic hoses, pin and cone brackets, £595 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431. Somerset. [IW143]

Dung grab, 5ft, Chillton brackets, £675 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773.

Devon.

[JW118]

Pottinger Mex 6 forage harvester, 2004, metal detector, spout extension, spout support, PUH, high speed pulleys, 1.9m pickup, new knives, new shear bar, sharpening stone 80% serviced and ready to go, very tidy condition, £10,750 + VAT. Tel: 01691 860359. [HIW4R]

Jinling quad dumper, 2017, 200cc, automatic, 350kg carrying capacity, full lighting kit, electric and kick start,tow bar, very clean and done very little, ideal for large gardens, equine property or motorsport events, delivery can be arranged up to 50 miles from Lincoln, £1,500 ono. Tel: 07854 852459.

Lincoln.

[HIW105R]

Strimech X-Form tractor bucket, used, 2012, 7ft wide, 1.2m3 capacity, good front edge, in good condition, Euro 8 brackets, £695 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431. Somerset. [JW129]

TO ADVERTISE HERE FREE SEE DETAILS AT THE END OF THE SECTION

Muck grab, British made, £POA. Tel: 07985 916083.

East Yorkshire.

[IJW997R]

Water filled roller, 1.8m, little use and in good condition, £250 ono.

Tel: 01903 812020.

West Sussex.

[IJW14R]

John Deere Gator 855M, 18 reg, 4WD, diesel, 1,430hrs, good tyres, PAS, 50k, good condition, £8,995 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773.

Devon.

[JW114]

FANTASTIC FREE CLASSIFIED AD SECTION OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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FARM MACHINERY TRADER MUCK & SLURRY

Scania 480 lorry, 2012, High Line, automatic gear box, rear lift and steer pto. Tel: 07976 702858.

Powys.

[HIW100R]

Isuzu double cab 4x4, 2018, only 7,400 miles, tow hitch and canopy, long MOT and warranty, excellent condition, £15,200 + VAT. Tel: 07740 683113. Gloucestershire. [HIW51R]

Four post workshop rotary vehicle lifts, portable, 28.8t capacity, £4,500 + VAT. Tel: 01493 750999. Norwich.

[IJW11R]

McConnell saw bench, very good condition, tractor mounted, PTO driven, Vee-belt drive, always kept under cover, £700. Tel: 07866 848242.

Market Harborough.

[IJW33R]

Major SM800 offset pasture topper, 2009, 2x brand new gearboxes fitted, £1,500 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871. Cumbria. [JW109]

Kverneland FXZ flail topper, 2015, 4.8 metre cut, end tow kit, £4,950 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871.

Cumbria.

[JW110]

Joskin slurry tanker, 16,000L/ 3,500G, on steering axle, new, £28,500. Tel: 028 37 548971.

Co.Tyrone.

[JW147]

Abbey 2090 rotor spreader, 2017, hydraulic lid, LED lights, 8 stud hydraulic braked axle, done very little work, £4,500 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871. Cumbria.

[JW108]

MOWERS & TOPPERS

Land Rover Freelander 2 HSE, bronze, top spec with ebony leather seats, 2008, 122k miles, 12mths MOT, full service records, four good winter tyres on alloy wheels and new spare, good condition, £4,500.

Tel: 07751 917839. North Lincolnshire.

[HIW38R]

Amazon Smart Cut mower, in good working order and good condition, £POA. Tel: 07976 702858.

Powys.

[JW149] Claas 9100 Butterfly mowers, complete, set very little work, £POA. Tel: 07976 702858.

Powys.

[IJW96R]

Teagle 8 topper, 8ft, as new, done very little, £1,850 + VAT. Tel: 07970 471773. Devon.

[JW116] Feld Binder tanker, 38,000 litre storage tank, ex-sugar road tanker which was fully converted to carry liquid 4 years ago by Feld Binder, £5,500 ono. Tel: 07711 405799.

Cumbria.

[IJW17R]

TO ADVERTISE HERE FREE SEE DETAILS AT THE END OF THE SECTION

Marshall rota-spreader, 15.5yd, on 550 x 22.5 wheels, £3,850. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW141]

Bomford RS15 grass topper, in perfect running order, only had light work and is in factory complete condition, currently not in use so selling to create space, £540.

Tel: 07891 273029 [IJW35R]

Kverneland 4028 mower/ conditioner, gyro headstock, £4,950. Tel: 07771 852774.

Somerset.

[JW10

Conor 750 rotor spreader, hydraulic lid, flotation tyres, good working order, £3,200 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871. Cumbria. [JW112]

PLOUGHS

Dowdeswell DP7E 5-furrow plough, hydraulic front furrow, good metal all round, new tyre, £4,450. Tel: 07515 887427. [HIW84R]

LOADS OF MACHINERY FOR SALE IN FMJ ’S

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FREE TRADE AND PRIVATE ADVERTS TRAILERS

Lemken reversible plough, 3 furrow, straight beam, no welds, boards bright and greased, never been used on a tractor above 90hp, £900 ono. Tel: 07985 476263.

Lincolnshire.

[JKW23R]

Kverneland conventional plough, 5 furrow, semi mounted, hydraulic vari-width, good metal apart from landslides, go straight to work or play, £2,200 ono. Tel: 07841 507851.

Cumbria.

[HIW107R]

Kverneland semi-mounted plough,8 furrow, auto reset, £2,000, for more info tel: 07768 662419. Northumberland. [HIW13R]

RAKES & TEDDERS

New Holland 253 tedder, all tines present, greased up and ready to go, buyer to collect, can load, £650.

Tel: 01889 500303 / 07850 525693.

Staffordshire.

[HIW25R]

Lely Lotus 300 combi tedder, in excellent condition, £POA. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW146]

Lely Lotus 770 6 rotor tedder, 2008, mounted, hooked tines, good working order, £4,950 + VAT. Tel: 07788 785871. Cumbria. [JW113]

Kuhn GF 13012 tedder, trailed, 12 star, 2017, £POA. Tel: 028 37 548971.

Co.Tyrone.

[JW135]

SPRAYERS

Lely 1020 and 1500 tedders, ‘Profi ’ trailed, 2011 and 2013, £POA. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone. [JW145]

TO ADVERTISE HERE FREE SEE DETAILS AT THE END OF THE SECTION

AS 8t trailer, grain chute, stored undercover and used for grain and bales only, more pictures by request, £3,750 + VAT. Tel: 01482 875282. East Yorkshire. [JKW86R]

Team 800 litre sprayer, 12-metre manual boom with winch height adjustment, induction hopper and clean water holder, tank rinse, electric on/off, small farm use. Tel: 01482 875282. East Yorkshire.

[HIW87R]

Low loaders, 12t - 33t, tipping trailers, livestock trailers, bale trailers, multi-purpose trailers, dump trailers, agri/commercial spec, air/ hydraulic brakes, wheel choices etc.

Tel: 07407 007075. Dungannon, Northern Ireland.

[IJW47R]

Larrington Majestic trailer, 2014, 18-20t, 600/50R22.5 floatations, full spec, £20,000. Tel: 07770 692891.

Norwich.

[IJW7R]

AW bale trailer, 25ft, rocking beam axles, 2010, front and back lades, £3,900 + VAT. Tel: 01579 370246.

Cornwall.

[JW124]

Easterby ET 8 trailer, on Super Single tyres with grain chute, stored undercover and only dry goods carried, £3,750. Tel: 01482 875282.

East Yorkshire.

[JKW14R]

AW corn trailer, 14t, been refurbished, £POA. Tel: 07976 702858. Powys.

[JW148]

Admiral low loader, used, approx 23ft long, carry around 12t, 10 stud high speed fixed axles with good twin wheels, hydraulic brakes, adjustable manual ramps, sprung drawbar, steel floor, road lights, £4,795 + VAT. Tel: 01823 429431.

Somerset.

[JW126]

Bale trailer, 26ft long, in excellent condition, shot blasted and resprayed, with very good plywood floor, hydraulically operated commercial brakes, full set of lights £1,250. Tel: 07837 062708.

Nottinghamshire.

[HIW104R]

FANTASTIC FREE CLASSIFIED AD SECTION OCTOBER 2020 WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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FARM MACHINERY TRADER TYRES & WHEELS

Marshall 8t silage and grain trailer, very good condition, four new Vredestein tyres, £3,275 + VAT. Tel: 07802 487283.

Leicestershire.

[IJW105R]

AS Marston dump trailer, 10/11t, hydraulic brakes, £3,000 + VAT. Tel: 01493 750999.

[IJW27R]

Bunning 90 Lowlander, with slurry door, 18.4 x 34, £8,400. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW140]

Marshal silage trailer, 10t, tandem axle, hydraulic door, £POA. Tel: 01286 830009. Caernarfon. [JW132]

Fendt / Trelleborg tyres, 520/85R42 and 480/70R30 Rowcrop, £4,500.

Tel: 07770 692891. Norwich. [IJW8R]

McConnel PA6585 VFR hedge trimmer, c/w twin rotor flail head with p/boost, £POA. Tel: 028 37 548971. Co.Tyrone.

[JW134]

Goodyear Sure grip tyres, 16.9 x 34, original made in United Kingdom, good useable condition, hard to find.

Tel: 07432 013174. York.

[IJW16R] McConnell PA48 hedge trimmer, 2011, T flails, 1.2 head, cable control, £POA. Tel: 07970 471773.

Devon.

[JW120]

Marston 14t trailer, good working order, £7,250 ono. Tel: 07836 515276. Hampshire.

[HIW18R]

Herbst low loader, 2000, 16t carry, 20 foot, good floor, hydraulic brakes, spring assisted ramps, £3,995 + VAT. Tel: 07564 677916.

Leicestershire.

[HIW47R]

AW trailer, 16t, 25 foot long commercial axles, spring draw bar.

Tel: 07976 702858.

[HIW75R]

Indespension GT 8x4 goods trailer, new unused, hitch lock, fixed spare wheel, dual voltage LED lights, barn stored, £1,575 + VAT. Tel: 07774 428853. Tamworth. [IJW15R]

Michelin 14.9 R28 tyres, 20mm tread remaining, a few age-related cracks but no splits, have been used as front duals, £75. Tel: 07977 129726. Carterton.

[HIW45R]

Alliance radial tyres x2, 520/85, R46, as new, £Offers . Tel: 07718 444666 / 01847851204. Caithness, Scotland [JW150]

McConnel PA6565T hedge trimmer, 2017, motion controls, 3 pt linkage, F14 flails, telescopic boom, £15,950 + VAT. Tel: 01579 370246.

Cornwall.

[JW121]

VEGETATION CONTROL

Humbaur electro hydraulic tipping trailer, 3.5t, galvanised chassis with alloy sides, 3.6m long, 1.86m, wide tandem axle with 195 R13 tyres, very good condition, £2,700 + VAT. Tel: 07751 917839.

North Lincolnshire.

[HIW41R]

Grain trailer, single axle very good condition, 2,000. Tel: 07798 872221.

Doncaster.

[HIW70R]

McConnel hedge trimmers, selection, ring for details, £POA. Tel: 07771 852774. Somerset. [JW104]

Spearhead Twiga 500 hedge trimmer, 3 point linkage, joy-stick controls, T flails, power slew, £7,500 + VAT. Tel: 01579 370246.

Cornwall.

[JW125]

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FREE TRADE AND PRIVATE ADVERTS FREE MACHINERY ADVERTS!!!

With a readership of owners and operators of modern farm machinery, there’s no better place to advertise than the Farm Machinery Trader pages in Farm Machinery Journal. Trade and private machinery adverts are FREE and you can n also have a FREE picture!

FREE TRADE AND PRIVATE ADVERTS

CULTIVATORS

Gregoire-Besson HRWC8, 2014, ex-demo, hyd vari-w body, mixed skimm idth, no 8 er, rear disc, £25,500 + VAT. Tel: 07787 55433 Ben Burgess.

7.

[IW72]

Overum 5 furro w plough, full spec, no weldi ng anywhere, £POA. Tel: 07976 702858. Andy Mellor, Powys.

[IW35]

Complete the form below and post it to us with your photograph, email your advertisement to classifieds@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk or place your advert online at www.farmmachineryjournal.co.uk

Sumo Trio 3 cultiv ator, ex-demo, 2013, 3m c/w shear protection. £13,80 pin leg 0 + VAT. Tel: 01592 631291 or 07821 271622.

[IW29]

Väderstad Swift 440 4.45m tined cultivator, excell ent condition, £19,000 + VAT. Tel: Randells, Norfo 07887 714430. lk.

[IW66A]

If required, your photo (JPEG or PDF) should be sent as an attachment to your email message. In addition to the wording required, please provide your full name and address (not for publication).

Kongskilde traile harrow. Tel: 00 d germinator 353 2446272 or (0)87 (0)87 2575327. Padd Lacey, Co Wexfo y rd.

[IW23]

Great Plains 3.5 metre Flatliner, 2013, 5 leg hydraulic auto-reset with DD acres since new, roller, 200 immaculate condition. £POA . Tel: 07803 599006 or 01592 263786.

Kirkcady.

[IW5]

Väderstad Rexiu s Twin 450, System Rapto r, Crossboard Heavy, excellent condition. £29,000 + VAT. Tel.07887 71443 Randells, Norfo 0. lk.

[IW62]

Horsch Terra no 5FM traile d cultivator with steel packer, ex demo, excellent condition, ready to go. £29,500 + VAT. Tel: 0796 7 575007. RVW Pugh Ltd, Holm es Chapel, Chesh ire.

[IW3]

Lemken Zirko n 8 power harro 3 metre, extre w, Horsch mely Pronto 4DC metal, Q-fit tines, nice on good disc drill, ex displa Mintill toothed packe levelling board r, eradicators, pre-e y, track s, £POA. Tel: 01926 mergence 640637. Ellis Farm markers, good Machinery, saving on new Warwicks. price, £46,500 + VAT. Tel: 0796 [IW56] 7 575007. RVW Pugh Ltd, Cheshire.

[IW4]

Kuhn 3-metre power harrow, packer roller, 70% tine, mint condition. Tel: 00 2446272 or (0)87 353 (0)87 2575327.

Paddy Lacey Tractors, Co Wexford .

[IW22]

McConnel 6.4 metre hydraulic foldin g roller, used, 3 Section, CB Rings Cambridge break , 55cm (22”) er. £7,945 + VAT. Tel: 01584 873 131. McConnel, Shropshire.

[IW64] Sumo Trio 2.5 cultivator, used, 2012, 2.5 metre cultivator, 5 leg machine, shop soiled ex demonstra tion condition. £12,000 + VAT. Tel: 01592 63129 or 07821 27162 1 2.

[IW30]

Simba DTX300, 3 immaculate mach metre, DRILLS with Stocks AG ine, complete Wizard, may split. £POA. Tel: 01926 640637. Ellis Farm Machinery, Warwickshire.

[IW55] Twose hydra ulic Cambridge rollerfolding 7.3 metre, hydra s, 2011, ulic folding, 24 inch rings with very little work, breakers, Väderstad Spirit £POA. Tel: 01823 600S, 6m 253808 or 0770 System Disc Aggre 2 501272. Parris ssive, excellent Tractors, Taunt cond, £45,000 on. + VAT. Tel: 0780 [IW18] 3 942400. Leeds .

[IW67]

FANTASTIC FREE CL ASSIFIED

Väderstad Spirit 400C combi drill, ex demo machine, excel lent condition, £48,0 00 + VAT. Tel: 07973 542142.

Jacobsens, Montrose.

[IW66]

Vaderstad Rapid drill, 2000, Syste A 600S m Disc, only 905 hecta res pre-emerge mark from new, ers, levelling board, following harrow, £POA. Tel: 01823 253808 or 07702 501272.

Parris Tractors, Taunton.

[IW15]

Kuhn Accord 4 metre combination drill.

Guest refurbished Andrew in 2012. Drille 2000 acres in d total, hydraulic coulter bar, 3 rows of Suffolk coulters and pre-e m markers, quick fit tines.

Very genuine.

2015 low loader possi bly for sale also. £9,000 + VAT for combinatio n and £12,500 + VAT with the lowloader. Tel: 07889 474179.

York.

[IW47]

AD SECTION

SEPTEMBER 2016

WWW.FARMMACHIN ERYJOURNAL.CO.UK

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FMJ1020_000-000.indd 105

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26/08/2020 11:20

Rear Link Readers' photos

World of Farm Machinery 1

Your photos of machinery spotted in action around the globe

2

1

Rich Hancock photographed this Claas Tucano 480 cutting spring barley, seen just as the sun was setting at Tytherington in South Gloucestershire. Behind the wheel is Phil Hallett of PH Agri contractors.

2

Emily Redfern captured these John Deeres working together to bring in third-cut silage in Derbyshire. Seen from left is a 6920S, a 6930 Premium working with the trailed forager, and a 6155R.

3

This pair of Claas Lexion 770 Terra Tracs were seen by Colin Strickland working high up in the Wiltshire countryside, near Winterbourne Monkton. The combines were working in a field alongside the Ridgeway, an ancient trackway described as Britain’s oldest road.

3

4

4

This Claas Lexion 750 Terra Trac combine is harvesting organic winter wheat on Archie Samways’ family farm in Suffolk.

Supporting the combine is a Case IH Puma 200 CVX and 18-tonne Richard Western trailer. The same combine and 10.5m header can also be seen harvesting organic barley.

Email us your pics For a chance to see your machinery photos on this page, send a high-res photo to peter@farmmachineryjournal.co.uk.

Please include a brief description of the machine, where the photo was taken and the names of anyone in the picture.

106

WWW.FARMMACHINERYJOURNAL.CO.UK OCTOBER 2020

LATEST USED STOCK www.chandlersfe.co.uk

RG635

MT755B

MT765D

MT765E

MT775E

MT775E

2013, 1500 Hrs, 175 HP Speed: 50Km/h Tyre: 380/90R46 80%

2006, 11880 Hrs, 320 HP Speed: 40Km/h Track: 25 Track %: 30

2013, 3695 Hrs, 380 HP Speed: 40Km/h Track: 30 Track %: 50

2015, 7980 Hrs, 380 HP Speed: 40Km/h Track: 25 Track %: 50

2015, 5994 Hrs, 439 HP Speed: 40Km/h Track: 25 Track %: 90

2015, 2748 Hrs, 420 HP Speed: 40Km/h Track: 30 Track %: 30

£105,000.00

£36,750.00

£87,500.00

£71,250.00

£105,000.00

£119,000.00

LESS THAN

1000 HOURS

LESS THAN

500 HOURS

KATANA 65

312 & Cargo 4X/75

720

724

828

1050

2017, 623 Hrs, 650 HP Tyres: 710/70R38 (95%) 600/65R28 (95%)

2018, 416 Hrs, 135 HP Tyres: 420/70R24 (90%) 540/65R38 (95%)

2016, 3720 Hrs, 200 HP Tyres: 540/65R30 (100%) 650/65R42 (100%)

2015, 4500 Hrs, 240 HP Tyres: 540/65R30 (50%) 650/65R42 (50%)

2016, 4131 Hrs, 280 HP Tyres: 600/70R30 (90%) 710/70R42 (100%)

2017, 4178 Hrs, 500 HP Tyres: IF710/60R38 (65%) IF900/65R46 (75%)

£240,000.00

£77,500.00

£91,250.00

£89,500.00

£109,500.00

£193,500.00

MF 1525

MF 6480

MF 7624

MF 7715

MF 7718

MF 8737

25 HP, Tyres: 315/75D-15 Turf 24X8.50-12 Turf *Can be supplied on Ag tyres*

2012, 4500 Hrs, 155 HP Tyres: 16.9R28 (20%) 20.8R38 (20%)

2013, 4100 Hrs, 240 HP Tyres: 600/65R28WA (60%) 650/65R42WS (60%)

2017, 2556 Hrs, 160 HP Tyres: 480/70R28 (80%) 580/70R38 (90%)

2017, 1648 Hrs, 185 HP Tyres: 540/65R28 (70%) 650/65R38 (70%)

2016, 2203 Hrs, 375 HP Tyres: 600/65R34 (50%) 710/75R42 (60%)

£12,650.00

£37,950.00

£54,250.00

£68,500.00

£64,950.00

£99,500.00

LESS THAN

LESS THAN

500

LESS THAN

500

HOURS

HOURS

LESS THAN

1500

1000

HOURS

HOURS

A134LH

A93H

N134H5

N163D

T174EA

T234D

2018, 250 Hrs, 145 HP Tyres: 440/65R24 (95%) 540/65R34 (95%)

2016, 1602 Hrs, 100 HP Tyres: 340/85R24 (70%) 420/85R34 (70%)

2018, 350 Hrs, 140 HP Tyres: 480/65R28 (95%) 600/65R38 (95%)

2014, 3650 Hrs, 165 HP Tyres: 480/70R28 (95%) 580/70R38 (95%)

2018, 1130 Hrs, 185 HP Tyres: 540/65R28 (90%) 650/65R38 (95%)

2018, 2350 Hrs, 240 HP Tyres: 600/60R30 (70%) 710/60R42 (80%)

£59,950.00

£35,000.00

£64,500.00

£58,500.00

£75,750.00

£82,500.00

LESS THAN

1000 HOURS

MANITOU 735-120

MANITOU MLT 735

Year: 2007 Tyres: 460/70R24 40% 5000 Hrs

Year: 2015 Powershift Transmission 3950 Hrs

£23,000.00

FORD RANGER 2017 (67) 3.2 Wildtrak Auto Double Cab 26,630 Miles

£21,990.00

MANITOU MLT 735-120 LSU

MANITOU MLT 741

CAT TH220B

MF TH.7038

Year: 2011 MICHELIN Tyres 10%

Year: 2016 Powershift Transmission Tyres: 460/70R24 70%

Year: 2009 MA5 Premium Spec 460/70R24 30%

Year: 2017, 860 Hrs Tyres: 500/70R24 Micheline 90%

£42,000.00

£29,995.00

£55,000.00

£23,950.00

£56,000.00

,68=, 'Ǖ0$;

MITSUBISHI L200

NISSAN NAVARA

NISSAN NAVARA

SSANGYONG MUSSO

2017 2.5 TD Utah Auto Double Cab 32,224 Miles

2015 (15) 2.4 Barbarian Manual Double Cab 34,022 Miles

2017 (17) 2.3 Acenta+ Manual Double Cab 9,526 Miles

2017 (17) 2.3 N-Connecta Manual Double Cab 40,634 Miles

2020 2.1 Rebel Manual Double Cab 15 Miles

£19,495.00

£14,790.00

£16,990.00

£15,990.00

£20,290.00

Errors and omissions excepted. All prices +VAT

Ag ; Graham Peall: 07970 121109 Andrew Elms: 07860 464753 Pick-Up’s ; Richard Young / Adam Swales: 01476 590077 Chandlers FP.indd 1

27/08/2020 11:39

CALL TODAY

SILAGE FEEDER & STRAW BLOWER RANGE

Finance* & Special Offers Available

Up to

40%

Straw Savings**

* Offer Available in Mainland U.K. Only.

Terms and Conditions Apply. For Full Details Contact McHale.

Designed to Blow Straw & Feed Wet Silage & Haylage

Independent Rotor

300 Degree Swivel Chute

CALL TODAY

1

Scotland & N. England

Gary McConnell 07796 148 769

Superior Forage Solutions

McHale FP.indd 1

NDARD AS STA

NDARD AS STA

NDARD AS STA

Control Console with Joystick Chute Control

2

Midlands & Wales

Kieran Hughes 07850 373 145

3

+

Self Loading Tailgate

+

Joystick Chute Control

+

Twin Speed Gearbox for Different Crops

+

External Loading Controls

+

56 Blade Feed Rotor

Southern England

Jayson Luscombe 07585 755 559

**Based On User Experience

1 2 3

www.mchale.net

21/08/2020 10:47