Sommaire pour August 2020 de Profi

Revealed at Agritechnica, John Deere has officially added two new X-Series combine harvester models to its 2021 harvesting line-up: the 639hp (max) X9-1000 and 700hp (max) X9-1100. Designed to harvest more tonnes per hour and more hectares per day in tough, high yielding, wet conditions, the X9-1100 can harvest wheat at a claimed 100t/hr at less than 1.0% loss level. Grunt for the two newcomers is from an all-new PowerTech 13.6-litre six-cylinder block, and the 1,250-litre fuel tank, which can be fully filled in under 2.5 minutes, allows the combines to run for up to 14 hours. The outside dimensions are about the same as the S790's, but the X9s are bigger on the inside with the largest active threshing and separation areas Deere has ever offered. Claimed as the…

When it comes to variablechamber balers, Pöttinger has two sizes to pick from: the aptly named Impress 155VC, which produces a 0.80m to 1.55m diameter bale; and the 185VC that goes up to 1.85m. Both models are offered in two spec levels — the Master versions are aimed at farmers, whilst Pro spec will appeal to those with a larger workload. Our test machine was an Impress 155VC Pro baler wrapper combination. Attachment to the tractor was via a K80 ball hitch, but ring hitches are also available. Pöttinger has even brought across some forage wagon features, such as its hydraulic height control for the drawbar with integrated suspension (£2,174). This increases ground clearance and is really useful when picking up large-volume swaths. On the whole, the area around the…

Amazone views the Catros XL as a supplement to its wide range of compact disc harrows. Indeed, the company now has four different model ranges: the Catros with 460mm discs for shallow straw incorporation; the Catros+ armed with 510mm discs; and the established Certos whose 660mm discs are for leafy work and coping with plenty of residue. The newcomer featured here is the Catros XL. It hosts 610mm discs to achieve ‘medium’ working depths. Up until now the Catros XL was only offered in a fully mounted format in 3.0m, 3.5m and 4.0m widths. But, back in November, Amazone unveiled two new Catros XL ranges at Agritechnica. The first of these has working widths of 4.0m, 5.0m and 6.0m, while the second is the trailed Catros XL 2TX in 7.0m…

Be it a big front-mounted ballast block, wheel weights or a rear counterweight, a tractor should be properly balanced in every situation. The ability to quickly add or remove weight is one of the key attributes to the various suggestions sent in here. Some are as simple as using an old axle from a rail carWV others are more sophisticated designs that include an auxiliary pto shaft. If you have some smart ideas, why not share them by dropping us an email — profi.ed@kelsey.co.uk Universal talent This rear weight was designed for a tractor rolling a silage clamp. The weight consists of a block of concrete that was poured into a fabricated steel box, with provisions for the pto and top link attachment, two lower links and a ladder hitch…

Despite ISObus-compatible implements and in-cab terminals becoming more widespread, there remains a need for safely mounting mobile phones, tablets and other devices in the tractor cab. After all, there's still a large park of non-ISObus compliant machinery on farm, and, even if these do work through the tractor screen, the implement’s own control box might give a better overview. Like the Igus set-up we reviewed in the 03/2017 issue, German company Raul Fahrzeugtechnik offers a way to keep the cab clutter-free with its Kugelflex system. We installed the system in various tractor cabs and were surprised by its flexibility and simple assembly. But before we get to the installation, here are a couple of details. Raul manufactures all of the components from solid aluminium at its German factory. Mainly M6…

Wheeled three-cylinder tractors…

Finnish-made front-mounted rakes arrive in the UK Fife-based Henderson Agri Services recently completed the first demo with the Finnish-made Agronic Oy WR500 (5.0m) front-mounted rake. Attaching to the front linkage or front loader with the use of an adapter frame, the two merged windrows pass directly underneath the tractor ahead of a baler or forage wagon. The two rotors are driven hydraulically (25-35l/min), and the rake rides on its own wheels. Working width and changing from work to transport position are both controlled from the tractor cab. Transport width of the standard WR500 is 3.0m, and, as a rough guide, prices start from around £6,500. Incidentally, the first machine demoed was bought by the host farmer. Contractor Jonny Henderson, of Henderson Agri Services, reckons to have been inundated with farmer…

Cerescon, the Dutch developer of the Sparter, a selective white asparagus harvesting robot, has spent this season demonstrating the one-row self-propelled unit to growers in the Netherlands and Germany. Asparagus spears detected by a sub-surface sensor are cut by an integrated double harvesting robot. Claimed benefits include a 50% reduction in harvesting costs — good news for growers struggling to recruit staff to harvest the crop manually. "Manual harvesters are even thinner on the ground this season, and grower interest in the Sparter has doubled since the outbreak of the coronavirus," explains Mark van Lier, international sales manager at Cerescon. Requiring just a single operator, the company reckons the Sparter, which is transported between fields on the back of a trailer, can replace around 25 manual workers. The Dutch company…

Steel wheels, Sage Green finish, electronic power steering, revised engine braking system, steel racks front and rear, a sealed battery and a variable speed limiter. In broad outline, these are the key standard features Polaris offers on its Sportsman 570 EPS Agri Pro Special Edition, EU T3b homologation as a tractor adding extra utility. Fit a rear number plate and register it for farm use and it is road ready. What the Agri Pro package does not get you is a price inflating front winch, ADC (Active Descent Control) or alloy wheels. As we have ridden pretty much every Sportsman ATV variant offered over the years, jumping onto the Agri PRO came with no surprises. Powered by the same 567cc, single-cylinder petrol engine as used in other current Sportsman models,…

Wheel weights are an ideal counterweight on a loader tractor, as they leave the rear linkage free for hosting other implements and trailers. The downside is that the weights are time consuming to remove. Which is why Marius Lips designed this forklift attachment tool, to remove the 300kg ring weights fitted to each back wheel of his Fendt 516 Vario when he needs a lighter drilling rig. The tool is made from box section steel with two rollers. The compact attachment can easily be fitted onto the tines of the forklift. It measures 280mm x 280mm x 80mm and scales about 12kg. The rollers mean that the weights can be easily rotated to line up with the locating pins on the wheel rim. Two heavy-duty plastic rollers, the sort used…

Two young scientists have been working on the MSRBot project in Germany since 2016. The concept relies on image processing to track and hunt slugs, and when it does the autonomous vehicle kills the little crop munchers. The three-year project started in November 2016 and has been conducted by the University of Kassel, the Agricultural Machinery Faculty, the Institute for Applied Plant Protection Technologies at the Julius Kühn Institute in Braunschweig in the north of the country and manufacturer of radiocontrolled tracked vehicles KommTek from Osterburken in southern Germany. KommTek’s task was to develop a lightweight carrier vehicle that could travel across a field with accurate steering for target the slug killing device. The robot that weighs around 120kg, is kitted out on rubber tracks and is powered by two…

Thankfully, there was buoyant online bidding for the first machinery sale to be held at Cheffins since lockdown started on 23rd March. The live webcast auction kicked off at 10am on May 18th to a strangely deserted sale ground with bidding strictly online only. All fears that the trade may not hold up were dispelled within minutes of the online auction starting, proving that the second-hand machinery market has remained resilient in the face of the global pandemic. “A higher than expected amount of the trade was from overseas buyers who did not allow travelling restrictions to preclude them from buying online,” explains Cheffins director and auctioneer, Bill Pepper. “Exporting machinery overseas is still feasible and we were delighted that our overseas buyers were not deterred. “There were 300 machines…

The VF (Very High Flexion) casing and deeper, specially designed tread on the TrailXBib lead to a significant improvement in tyre life compared with the CargoXBib range, says Michelin. Sold for trailers, spreaders and slurry tankers, the use of Ultraflex technology on the TrailXBib results in a larger footprint which, says the company, keeps ground compaction to a minimum. The new tyres carry more load than the same dimension of CargoXBib HD or HF and at a reduced pressure. This helps to reduce the stress into the structure of the trailer, explains the company. Other TrailXBib features include improved road handling, and the new tread pattern with wide inter-lugs provides good self-cleaning capabilities with fewer closed areas for soil to accumulate. Fully compatible with central tyre inflation systems, the new…

Although today’s CR9.80 benefits from a 600hp Stage V motor (to ECE-R 120), our test machine last season was fitted with the Stage IVcompliant and 571hp FPT Cursor 13 engine. With the move to the cleaner motor a number of other notable design tweaks have been implemented, such as changes to the oil cooler, the rotary screen (not boasting a beefier locking system) and the 1,300-litre fuel and 130-litre AdBlue tanks with improved filler neck. But back to last season and our test machine. Up front was a 10.70m VariFeed HD header that glides on four height-controlled skids, each of which needs locking/releasing every time the table is attached/removed. We liked the fact that the knife sections were bolted, with the necessary tools being stored in a reasonable toolbox that…

In the near future we can expect to see a much wider range of mounted mowers from Malone, and the starting point for this new line-up is the centre-pivot 3000 MP plain disc mower with hydraulic suspension. The company suggests the market has been demanding a shaft-driven mower to complement the belt-driven Procut 700, 800 and 900 models, which it has been producing since back in 2008. Complete with hydraulic suspension, the new Procut MP (Mid-Pivot) range is aimed at the intensive user, and the 3.0m wide 3000 MP will be joined by 2.6m and 3.4m models. A crop conditioner version is currently on the firm's drawing board, with prototype testing expected to start here later this year and then on to New Zealand. Like the trailed Procut 2600 and…

USED CENTRE-DELIVERY RAKES FELLA TS800 HYDRO Year of manufacture 2002 Working width 7.20m to 8.00m Rotor diameter 3.40m Tyre size 10.0/75-15.3 Lights Tandem gauge wheels Steered gauge wheels Comment Well-maintained TS 800. Steering system a bit worn USED CENTRE-DELIVERY RAKES FENDT FORMER 880 Year of manufacture 2018 Working width 7.20m to 8.00m Rotor diameter 3.40m Tyre size 10.0/75-15.3 Lights Tandem gauge wheels Steered gauge wheels Comment As new Fella rake in Fendt livery. Excellent condition First produced as the TS781 Hydro in 1990, Fella twin-rotor centre swath rakes evolved to cover operating widths from around 5.8 to 10.00m (see the model table for a full breakdown of the range). The Fella tie up with AGCO initially dates back to a 2009 marketing agreement, ACGO subsequently buying the company in 2011.…

The demise of Schlüter back in 1993 motivated Markus Liebherr, who was one of the five children of Hans Liebherr, who founded the construction machinery group, to found his own business, the Mali company the following year — to fill the gap left by the Bavarian tractor maker. Based at Eberhardzell in Baden-Württemberg, Mr Liebherr planned to develop a highcapacity tractor; he even documented his claim and connection to Schlüter, featuring the same bear in his new company logo. Product development work started at the Heinrichsburg estate in 1994. The high spec tractor project's wish list included four equalsize wheels, a top speed of 50km/hr, front axle suspension, three implement mounting points (front/rear linkage and rear platform), powerful hydraulics, a reverse-drive system and plenty of horsepower. In essence the Li-Trac…

PRACTICAL TEST John Deere 6120M We are back with our in depth tractor tests with John Deere’s much talked about 6120M. The short wheelbase tractor was promised to pack a punch with its compact dimensions. Find out in the September issue how it performs not just in the but at the DLG test station. TRACTOR TESTS PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENT UNIQUE Driving impressions Used machinery Workshop Management Vehicles For farmers and contractors THE PROFESSIONAL FARM MACHINERY MAGAZINE PRACTICAL TEST Joskin Modulo 2 slurry tanker The sliding axle which can transfer up to 3,000kg to the drawbar, boosting traction in field is one of the features we look at when testing Joskin’s Modulo 2 slurry tanker in the September issue of profi international. PRACTICAL TEST Mammut shear grabs We compare three different types…