PLOUGHS GROW IN SIZE TO CATCH UP
18 August 2000
PLOUGHS GROW IN SIZE TO CATCH UP
With larger growers continuing to scale-up arable operations
with big wheeled and crawler tractors, implement
manufacturers are scrambling to cater for them with
bigger ploughs. Peter Hill reviews whats available
FRENCH plough makers Naud and Gregoire-Besson used to have the big plough market virtually to themselves. But with burgeoning sales of big power tractors, most of the major plough makers can now offer a large-scale implement to go with them.
Newcomers from Britains Dowdeswell plus AGCO, Kuhn, Kverneland, Overum, Rabe and Vogel & Noot aim to satisfy a need for a high capacity unit capable not only of quality work but of holding together in one piece behind a powerful tractor.
From the operators point of view, ease of use is a primary consideration. Setting up and handling one of these earth turning giants is, after all, no small task – especially in an autumn when conditions put traction at a premium. Neat entries and exits to minimise the amount of finishing off work is also a consideration.
Other than making adjusters as simple, logical, and effective as possible, there is little radical manufacturers can do to ease the task of setting up one of these ploughs. But they are improving the operators lot when it comes to handling them during headland turns, with automated hydraulic and electro-hydraulic controls.
At its simplest, hydraulic controls on an articulated beam plough will lift it progressively out of work, close it for the turn over sequence, re-set it for work again, and lower the implement progressively back to work.
With early and more basic models, this involves a sequence of lift linkage and remote hydraulic control lever movements that must be co-ordinated with steering, engine speed and transmission adjustments.
Automated hydraulics, as offered on the Kverneland RX/PX model ploughs and Vogel & Noots Herkules 1000, use trip valves to take the plough through the turn-over sequence automatically, making life somewhat easier and less complex for the operator.
On the Herkules, this facility (which also simplifies hydraulic plumbing) includes a switch from "float" to "position" mode for the rear set of bodies so that they lift in sequence with the rest of the plough on approaching a headland.
Alternatively, the operator can control the rear bodies separately – to give shorter entries and exits for a more compact headland; or operate with the rear section out of work – when ploughing uphill or when traction is at a premium, for example.
Kvernelands L series semi-mounted plough comes with a joystick control as standard or can be had with pedal controls if the tractor has electro-hydraulic spool valves, giving the driver something to do with his feet on a powershift transmission tractor.
Others have taken the electronic route, including Gregoire-Besson, Dowdeswell, Naud and Overum.
Steering carriage wheels are included in the Gregoire-Besson electronic control package for SP-9 series to further improve headland manoeuvrability with models that go to 12 furrows in size.
The system comprises solenoid valves on the implement and a flick-switch control box for the tractor that can be programmed with a two-part timed sequence from work to transport position, then back to work again.
It is also possible to plug tractor rear linkage operation into the system, an idea that tractor makers have latched on to.
Hydraulic functions can be programmed with a timer on Case-IH MX Magnum and Massey Ferguson 8200 Series tractors, while John Deere 8010 Series tractors can add drive train operations to the sequence which functions on a distance travelled basis. A similar system is also available on higher horsepower models in the Same Rubin and Lamborghini Champion ranges.
Dowdeswell has developed the DEC facility, originally designed for its 180 Series semi-mounted plough, to also work with the bigger 250 Series Delta-Furra. The system includes a timer-regulated sequence for headland manoeuvres.
The 250 Series is Dowdeswells biggest plough to date – it can be had with up to 13 sets of bodies – and its first plough of the articulated beam type. It can be operated either in-furrow or on-land.
Nauds Mega model can also be operated in either way and is similarly pitched at the top end of the big plough sector. It is available in eight to 12-furrow sizes and is capable of handling up to 400hp.
Kongskilde has stepped into the ring with two models, the six to nine-furrow CXL Wagon, handling up to 180hp, and the rather larger seven- to 10-furrow DXL Wagon, which goes to 350hp. The DXL also appears in red Massey Ferguson livery as the MF745.
Both ploughs are for in-furrow working only but come with a choice of shear bolt or hydro-pneumatic leg protection. The latter also features on the Vogel & Noot Herkules – now available in up to 10-furrow on-land and in-furrow versions – except that each hydraulic cylinder spring has its own oil circuit and gas accumulator to provide consistent break-away pressure.
Mechanical auto-reset is fitted to the Avant version of Rabes newcomer, the Marabu 180C. But, additionally, like the new Lemken Vari-Titan, it can also be had with hydraulic furrow adjustment, providing a greater choice of working widths and easier setting up to suit conditions.
Kuhn has also added a hydraulic variable-width plough to its line-up. Unlike the Rabe and Lemken implements, the Vari-Manager is for in-furrow working only – for on-land ploughing, users need to go to the bigger Challenger. *
Vogel & Noot Herkules 1000 now comes equipped to work on-land behind a crawler or wide-tyred tractor, as well as in-furrow.
Dowdeswell 250 Series Delta Furra can be operated in-furrow or on-land, with electronic control easing the operators workload.
Challenger is biggest of two Kuhn semi-mounted articulated ploughs. Power rating is up to 420hp with hydraulic auto-reset leg protection fitted.
Big ploughs table for cultivations supplement
Make/model Tractor On-land (OL) Plough Furrow width Point-point Leg protection Controls
power In-furrow (IF) sizes M -Manual clearance SB – shearbolt E – electronic
Either (IF or OL) (no. of settings) AR – Mech auto reset M – Manual
Both (IF/OL) * – hydraulic TB – traction
bolt
Gregoire-Besson SPER-7 Up to 160hp IF 5-8f M: 12-20in (5) 1000mm SB/ARH M
Overum CXL Wagon Up to 180hp IF 6-9f M: 16-18in (2) 1000mm SB/ARH M
Kuhn Manager T Up to 200hp IF 5-8f M: 14-16in (2) 1020mm TB M
Naud Media APX/APN Up to 200hp IF 5-8f M: 14-16in (2) 1000mm SB/AR M
Kuhn Manager NSH Up to 240hp IF 5-8f M: 14-18in (3) 1020mm ARH M
Kuhn Vari-Manager NSH Up to 240hp IF 5-8f H: 12-20in 1020mm ARH M
Naud Maxia APX/APN Up to 250hp IF 7-10f M: 14-16in (2) 1000mm SB/AR M
Vogel & Noot Herkules 1000 Up to 260hp OL/IF 6-10f M: 12-18in (4) 1000mm SB/ARH M
Rabe Marabu 180C Up to 280hp OL or IF 7-9f M: 14-18in (3)** 1000mm SB/AR M
Rabe Marabu 180C Variant Up to 280hp OL or IF 7-8f H:13-21in 1000mm SB/AR M
Dowdeswell 250 Series Delta Furra Up to 320hp OL/IF 9-13f M:12-18in (6) 980mm SB E/M
Kverneland RL/PL Up to 320hp IF or OL/IF 6-8f H: 14-20in 1000mm SB/AR M/E
Kverneland RM/PM Up to 320hp IF or OL/IF 6-8f 16in (fixed) 1000mm SB/AR M
Massey Ferguson MF745 Up to 350hp IF 7-10f M: 16in-20in (3) 1000mm SB/ARH M/E
Overum DXL Wagon Up to 350hp IF 7-10f M: 16-20in (3) 1000mm SB/ARH M/E
Kuhn Challenger T Up to 360hp OL/IF 7-12f M: 14-18in (3) 1020mm TB
Lemken Euro-Titan Up to 325hp OL/IF 9-12f M: 14-20in 1000mm SB/AR E
Lemken Vari-Titan Up to 325hp OL/IF 9-12f H: 12-21in 1000mm SB/AR E
Gregoire-Besson SPEF-9 Up to 400hp IF 7-12f M: 12-22in (5)* 1000 or 1140mm SB/AR/ARH E
Gregoire-Besson SPEL-9 Up to 400hp OL/IF 7-12f M: 12-22in (5)* 1000 or 1140mm SB/AR/ARH E
Gregoire-Besson SPSF-9 Up to 400hp IF 7-12f M: 12-22in (5)* 1000 or 1140mm SB/AR/ARH M
Gregoire-Besson SPSL-9 Up to 400hp OL/IF 7-12f M: 12-22in (5)* 1000 or 1140mm SB/AR/ARH M
Naud Mega APCN/APHCN Up to 400hp OL or IF 8-12f M: 14-18in (2) 1000mm AR M/E
Kuhn Challenger T & NSH Up to 420hp OL/IF 7-12f M: 14-18in (3) 1020mm ARH M
Kverneland RX/PX Up to 450hp OL/IF 9-12f M: 12-18in (4) 1000mm SB/AR M
*Different widths apply on ploughs fitted with auto-reset leg protection.
**By wedges.
Dowdeswell – 01926-812335; Eberhardt – 01908-616141; Gregoire-Besson – 01778-590223; Kuhn – 01952-290991; Kverneland – 01942-272777; Lemken (Tri-ag) – 01953-605151; Massey Ferguson (AGCO) – 024-7669-4400; Naud – 01347-878066; Overum (Kongskilde) – 01263-713291; Rabe – 01752-891299; Vogel & Noot – 01692-407233.