Table of contents for February 2021 in Profi

Editor, profi international There’s something rather special about taking delivery of a new tractor, particularly if you’re the one who’s going to be sitting in the seat. The tractor looks special — after all, it’s never going to be cleaner. And, once on board, you feel special, too. Or that’s how it should be. After driving Kubota’s latest offering in the 120-140hp sector, the M6002, on page 34, we reckon the machinery giant may be missing a trick in this department. Yes, the tractor does all the basics with the efficiency that we’ve come to expect from Japanese engineering. And, of course, there’s the firm’s customary five-year/5,000-hr warranty to consider. Yet, for all of that, the product remains short on that difficult-to-define, feelgood factor. While Kubota has undeniably made significant…

CEAT Speciality has expanded its Torquemax tractor radial wheel range with three sizes of its first very ever high flexion (VF) tyre. Enabling a tractor to carry 40% more load than a standard tyre at the same pressure, in the field the pressure of VF tyres can be lowered by 40% compared to their standard tyres, even when carrying the same load, for a larger footprint. The company says the tough casing, sidewall flexibility and rigid belt reduce the risk of deformation and damage at the lower and higher pressures. Other claimed benefits of the stepped lug design include improved traction and reduced slippage. Fitting standard rims, the Torquemax is currently available in the sizes; VF710/70 R42, VF520/85 R38 and VF710/75 R42. The company plans to launch a range of…

Resulting in more precise driving and reduced crop damage, the new automatic Track Assist steering axle option on Kuhn Farm Machinery’s Metris 2 and Oceanis 2 trailed sprayers is said to be simple to fit and easy to use. There are no mechanical connections like the existing wheel following system for these sprayers. Instead, Track Assist uses a gyroscopic sensor, which is fixed to the rear of the tractor with a magnet. The sensors detect the steering angle (23°/Metris 2 - 28°/Oceanis 2), of the tractor and the sprayer follows the tractor’s trajectory. Working up to a maximum speed of 22km/hr, the system also realigns the sprayer with the tractor when reversing.…

Caterpillar 910M Engine and transmission Engine power1) Rated 74kW/101hp, max 82kW/110hp Forward speed 21km/hr Maximum lugging power2) 5,903daN Fuel/AdBlue tank capacity 154/18.9l Fuel consumption Heavy loads 8.5l/hr Moving around the yard (filled bucket) 10.7l/hr Transport work (empty bucket) 11.6l/hr Filling mixer feeders 5.1l/hr Remote hydraulics Max oil flow1) 122l/min Oil pressure 230 bar Avail. oil in 3rd circuit 84l/min/86 bar Cycle rates2) Boom raise/lower 0.69/1.19m/s Crowd/dump 49.7/56.5°/s Boom forces Tipping load1)3) 4,147/3,493kg Continuous lift4) 2,902daN ….at lift height 4.01m Maximum lift4) 4,010daN ….at lift height 0.54m Break-out force5) 4,335daN Height and reach Maximum lift6) 4.05m Dump height/reach7) 3.15/1.07m Crowd/tip angle 37.1/46.9° Parallel bucket control +7.8° Parallel pallet fork control +8.4° Dimensions and weights Weight8) 8,800kg Weight distribution (f/r) 40/60% Turning circle on outside wheel (l/r) 9.05/9.45m Tyres 15.5 R25 Length/width/height 6.46/2.24/2.99m Ground clearance 33.5cm Bucket1) 1.8m³ Cab Noise level(10) 78dB(A) Price Not…

Wet autumns seem to be the new normal, so having a ‘ready to go’ power harrow drill combo in your seeding armoury can at least provide a bit of drilling insurance. When it comes to ‘box’ drill power harrow drills, there are several choices to consider, with single and double-disc, as opposed to ‘traditional’ Suffolk coulter drills. These latter designs enjoy a particularly strong following for working into cultivated, as opposed to ploughed, land. What follows covers Kuhn Integra power harrow combinations, but the same broad approach can be applied to other power harrow and drill combinations. The key is to think back to how you would have liked to resolve past drilling problems with a combination system and try and secure the right kit at a time of year…

UPDATING A CLASSIC Part 1 Retrofitting a spool valve Part 2 Paint, lights and linkage Part 3 Installing auto-steer Part 4 Tyre pressure control system In the fourth and final part of fitting mod cons to a modern classic, we get to shoe on some new footwear to the AgroStar 6.21. When it originally rolled off the production line it was booted with 420/70 R28 front and 520/70 R38 back tyres. The lead of the fronts was about 2%. We opted for wider rubber and, in the end, we went with 540/65 R24s and 600/65 R38s that will maintain the specified lead. The actual tyres are Vredestein’s Traxion 65s, which were launched at Agritechnica in 2019. Quieter running According to the maker, one of the special features of this tyre…

When we arrive to speak with Markus Lenhart, his Claas Ares 657 ATZ is travelling at speed across a winter wheat field pulling the 8.0m Cameleon, with the seeder's yellow hopper making the outfit easy to spot. As his son continues to work away, Markus Lenhart tells us more about how his farm has evolved and how it came to buy the Swedishmade multitalented machine. Manufactured by Gothia Redskap for several years now, the Cameleon can both sow and mechanically weed — either task can be done on its own or together. At the machine's heart is a semimounted chassis, which has a steered axle to carry the central hopper, complete with pneumatic metering system for seed and fertiliser. The two rows of coulter openers can be hydraulically offset to…

In case you were wondering, Hack designed and built the New Beat inhouse. The axles and hydrostatic transmission for the Deutz V6powered machine came from Italy. Hack made the 17t bunker and the axial rollers had a length of 4.0m. The first New Beat was built in 1989. Two more followed in 1991 for a customer in east Germany, and Ploeger built a fourth for a Dutch contractor in 1993. The main difference to the 1996build New Beat II we saw, which incidentally was the last of the five, was the relocation of the engine to behind the cab.…

We’ve made eight changes to this picture of a Horsch Leeb 7?GS sprayer boom. Simply locate our changes and then mark them on the gridline picture at the bottom of the page. Submit your answers (A1, B2, C3, for example) via our website profi.co.uk by the 27th January 2021 and we’ll pick one correct entry at random and send the lucky winner a profi goodie. Don’t get too competitive — it’s just for fun! ORIGINAL NEW YOUR ANSWERS To submit your answers, please visit profi.co.uk and look for the Competition tab. The differences spotted in last issue’s picture of a Valtra N 163 engine bay were correctly identified by: John Stewart Abergavenny Wales. Congratulations! THE DIFFERENCES WERE IN THE FOLLOWING SQUARES: B/C5, C2, C5/6, C/D7, E9/10/11, F8/9, G4/5, G/H8/9…

Operated from the tractor seat, the Pal Attach quick attach system is designed to make hitching of three-point linkage implements easier, quicker and safer. The first product in the Trac-cessories line of tractor based accessories from Irish company Palatine Engineering, the Pal Attach was originally developed and patented by OCE, which ceased production a few years ago. Both companies came to an arrangement for Palatine to restart production and sales of the 68kg unit that fits most implements built to Cat II standards and tractors with a Cat II and most Cat III linkages. The only other requirement is a double acting hydraulic service from the tractor to operate the sliding top link hook. No implement conversion brackets are required (subject being designed to Cat II standards).…

The L32, the new top model in the Väderstad Tempo L family, is equipped with 32 row units spaced at 375mm. Taking over from the L24 as the largest Tempo planter so far, like the other models in the L range, the number of row units can be adjusted to allow it to work in a variety of different crops. With half of the machine raised hydraulically and locked into the upper position, the planter works with the other half of the row units. This makes it possible to plant oilseed rape with 32 rows on a 375mm row spacing, and then change to maize on 16 rows with 750mm row spacing. The planting units are filled directly from the 3,000-litre hopper and the L32 will be available from the middle…

Producing bales up to 1.98m in diameter, the V8 is McHale’s answer to requests for a variable chamber round baler producing larger bales than the existing V6 range (up to 1.68m). The result of three years of development and testing, the V8940 non-chopper baler and the V8950 15-knife chopper baler produce bale sizes from 0.6m-1.9m (in 10mm increments) in diameter; the largest so far from the Irish manufacturer. McHale reckons this increase in bale size and improved density means the V8 can produce bales with up to 30% more crop in a 1.98m bale then what is achievable in a 1.68m V6 bale. Other V8 features include a new pick-up, drop floor unblocking system and the operator can adjust net tension on the new Expert Plus in-cab control console, which also…

This is not a summary of overall assessments but a list of positive and less positive details POSITIVE Plenty of electric and USB ports around the cab Tyre valve can be fitted up front on the inside or the outside 22 LED lights all-round Fuses are easy to access Self-cancelling indicators NEGATIVE Link arm stabilisers almost inaccessible for adjusting Lamps near the mirrors can blind operators Top road light in line of vision…

One of the big changes with the Stage V engine machine is the move from a 4.4-litre motor to the C3.6. Yes, that's right, a 3.6-litre lump! This engine provides a power increase for the three-model range (910, 914 and 920), with the featured shovel going from 74kW/101hp to 82kW/111hp. Torque is said to be on a par, but fuel consumption is improved by around 5%. Fuel tank capacity has increased by 11 litres, and a reversing fan is optional. The hydraulics have had a fettle and incorporate cylinder snubbing, whereby the lift and tilt rams are cushioned at the end of their stroke. Electronically adjustable return-to-dig positions are also part of the upgrade.…

The TC1370 is the successor to the Swadro 1400 Plus. The new model has a working width of 10.80m to 13.70m and comes well equipped. The rotors, their suspension and equipment are — as with the TC1250 — familiar and proven. The specification level is a lot more extensive and includes single-rotor lift, load-sensing, ISObus, clutch protection for each rotor…. And if you want more, then the options list extends to a ball hitch, articulated drawbar (for smoother towing and more flexibility to marry up with different sizes of tractor) and a choice of terminals and joysticks such as the CCI A3.…

Kuhn Integra seed drill 2001 Integra 3000 (G1) with choice of 3.0m and 4.0m models. Suffolk or double-disc coulters. Helica metering gearbox. Mechanical and hydraulic coulter pressure control. Hector 3000 control with variable tramline shut-off. MDC electronic seed rate adjustment option 2005 Revised scrapers on the double-disc coulters. Strongthend coulter pressure system. Seed tubes made from thicker material with improved support. Z-following tine option 2006 Integra 3002 (G2). Strengthened coulter bar suspension with central depth and coulter pressure control. Coulter pressure is increased from 17kg to 22 kg (Suffolk coulters) or 22kg to 35 kg (double-disc coulters). Press wheels and second metering wheel option 2008 Tramline shut-off changed from magnetic to electronic servo control 2010 Integra 3003/4003 (G3): Single seed rate adjustment. Further change to seed tubes. Modified universal harrowing…

January 2020 feels like a long time ago now and it is easy to lose track of what new tractors have been unveiled since then. So without further ado, here is a quick round up of what has hit the market. BELOW 100HP MASSEY FERGUSON 4700M Massey Ferguson introduced the 4700M series which includes three new models from 82hp to 100hp, replacing the existing 4700 Series. All are powered by the latest AGCO Power Stage V, three-cylinder, 3.3 litre engines delivering powers of 82hp, 92hp and 100hp. ROPS or cab versions can be specified apart from the 100hp 4710M which is cab-only. The new Dyna-2 two speed 24x24 transmission is an option across the range. This is equipped with speed matching as standard and comes with the option of brake-to-neutral.…

Based in Fornåsa, Sweden, Gothia Redskap is a family-owned business that was founded by organic farmer Lars Askling. He was looking for a mechanical hoe that would allow him to apply granular fertiliser or undersow with catch crops. This resulted in the modular drill design consisting of mounted and semimounted machines with working widths of 4.0m, 6.0m and 8.0m. Options include a split hopper, coulters for row or band sowing and various tyre options. The company also manufactures a tyre trolley for helping when changing wheels.…

From a young age I had a passion for all things automotive and the way vehicles looked, which led me to pick up a pencil and draw at any opportunity I got. The passion I had for design and drawing stayed with me all the way to high school but up to that point I did not know I could make a career out of it. This all changed when I started looking at colleges and found that some carried design courses. This realisation was a game changing moment for me and led me to study Transportation Design at College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI, USA and this started me on the path that has taken me to where I am today. I have been with Can-Am offroad since…

Tests with two versions of the ROPA Maus 5 sugar beet loader modified to load potatoes for the starch industry show that it improves logistics efficiency. Previewed as a prototype at the last Agritechnica, the German manufacturer also confirms positive results with table potatoes for direct processing. Up front, the 8.0m pick-up on the potato loader lifts crop tipped into a 7.5m-wide heap at the headland onto a series of cleaning rollers. Reaching to a maximum length of 15.0m, the unloading conveyor is counterbalanced by a hydraulically-operated arm that swings out with the fuel tank to a maximum distance of 9.0m. Powered by a 7.7-litre Mercedes Benz 354hp (260kW) Stage V engine, the potato loader Maus folds in automatically to a transport width of 3.0m and a length of just…

Designed to collect some of the daily 15 to 20 litres of urine produced by housed dairy cows, the CowToilet has won the only innovation award gold medal at the digital edition of the EuroTier 2021 livestock machinery show. Developed by Dutch manufacturer Hanskamp, the automatic and voluntary urination system is integrated into a specially designed feed box. The front of the freeswinging urine bowl at the rear of the box gently stimulates a specific nerve spot just above the cow’s udder, which causes it to spontaneously urinate into the bowl and is directly drained via a suction line and stored separately. Dutch tests show that the system collects at least around 50% (10-litres) of the urine. Independent research work is looking at the positive effects of this of lower ammonia…

Width: 284cm; Length: 680cm (with front linkage); Height: 350cm Technical data Engine: 302kW/410hp (to ECE-R 120), rated output at 2,100rpm; water-cooled six-cylinder DPS PSS 9.0-litre engine, Stage V, with DPF, DOC, EGR and SCR, double turbocharger intercooling, 764-litre fuel tank, 31-litre AdBlue tank Transmission: E23 with 23/11 gear ratios, automatic functions and park lock, 40km/hr at 1,300rpm, 50km/hr is an option Brakes: Wet disc brakes on rear wheels, fourwheel engagement; air brake system; front axle brakes are an option Electrics: 12V, batteries two 925CCA, 300amps alternator (250amps is standard), 4.5kW/6.0hp starter motor Linkage: Cat. IV N; ELC with draft link control, slip control is an option, manual stabilisers, front linkage/front pto is an option Hydraulics: Swash plate pump of 227l/min (321l/min option), 204 bar target pressure up to eight spools…

The gentle ebb and flow of the waves, the fresh breeze and the squawk of nearby seagulls. Not entirely correct, as the breeze is certainly not fresh for Captain Muck when at the helm of the amphibious Lagoon Crawler, which is produced by Nuhn in the southernmost tip of Canada, in Sebringville, Ontario. First crawler The slurry specialist has been making floating slurry stirrers here since 2013. But before that, Nuhn built its first slurry tanker in 1965 and since then has expanded the range to meet the demands of large dairy herds with equally large slurry stores. Canadian farmers often use sand for bedding cows, with the resulting mix of sand and manure pushed or flushed from the passageways into a lagoon. The thinner, watery slurry allows the sand…

Electronics in farm machinery have grown like Topsy; fast and without an obvious creator. Predictably, the result is a real mix of systems, some of which talk to each other and some that don’t. So the mighty Bosch – whose products already form the core of many farming control systems – has set its mind to sorting things out. Not on its own, but together with academics and market players like Amazone, Lemken, Rauch and Topcon. The result is Nevonex. The concept borrows from the personal computing and smartphone world, where one set of companies make hardware (desktops, laptops, mobiles), a second set makes operating systems (MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android) and a third set of firms and individuals develops apps to run under one or more operating systems. Of course…

These days the Riecam RBM230, a modern-day classic, is a popular starting point for farmers and contractors to transform to a second life as a self-propelled mechanical hoe or infield chaser bin. The sole job of Hack’s version is to harvest sugar beet leaves for sugar company Cosun Beet. In December 2018, Cosun acquired Dutch start-up Green Protein, which has developed a process to extract the 1-3% protein contained in green leaves. Leaf potential For the past two seasons, the pilot project near the sugar factory at Dinteloord, south of Rotterdam, has processed leaves from a couple of crops, including lucerne. The plan is to experiment with other crops in the future, but the focus for the 2020 campaign was squarely with sugar beet. The dark green juice extracted during…

TRACTOR TEST Kubota M7153 Now in its third generation, we put the powershift version of the M7153 through its most gruelling test yet. Out on February 12th DRIVING IMPRESSION Pöttinger Lion 503C, Aerosem 5002 FDD combination drill There's a flurry of new folding power harrow drill combinations hitting the market, including one from Pöttinger, which enters this segment for the first time. WORKSHOP Lynch pins compared Lynch pins … holding lift arm balls in place for generations, and snapping on fingers for equally as long! But not all pins are created equal. Indeed our comparison shows just how many variations of the humble clip are now available. LONG-TERM TEST Manitou MLA-T 533-145V+ telehandler From feeding livestock to buckraking grass, this MLA-T has scored highly for our longterm test farmer over…