Rear linkage on trial
Rear linkage on trial
Is there any practical value
in fitting a three-point
linkage to a telehandler?
Merlo did so two years ago
and now New Holland has
equipped its LM410 Dual
Lift with such a system.
Andy Moore reports
GIMICKY and impractical was the main reaction when Merlo unveiled a telehandler with a three-point linkage at the Paris Sima show two years ago. But now New Holland has now followed suit and developed a linkage for its LM410 Dual Lift machine.
Faced with such apparent scepticism, both manufacturers are challenged to convince the industry of the extra versatility a three-point hitch could bring.
"Telehandlers are being evolved continually and fitting a three-point linkage is a logical step," says NHs Kevin Carly. "With a three-point hitch, loaders can be employed for a wide range of carrying duties together with light draft work."
But he dismisses any thoughts of using telehandlers for heavy draft work. "You have to accept there are limitations. The telehandlers torque converter transmissions transmit drive and traction much less efficiently than mechanical versions."
Instead, Mr Carly believes a linkage-equipped loader would be more at home performing a range of utility jobs, including harrowing, post knocking, slurry scraping, bale wrapping and carrying equipment such as link boxes.
Further deployment of the linkages could be gained when a pto is fitted, he says. The telehandler could be turned into a jack-of-all-trades, performing such duties as pasture topping, mowing and fertiliser spreading.
Below the pto on New Hollands linkage is a drawbar, which Mr Carly says would enable the machine to operate a conventional or round baler. But just how a machine not renown for its high ground clearance would manage to straddle a swath of straw of any size with out sweeping is not immediately clear.
Even so, Mr Carly is adamant: "Baling behind a telehandler makes perfect sense. Conventional and round balers require little pto power and the telehandler could be used to stack bales after the baling has finished – saving the need for another tractor."
Buoyed now with a degree of enthusiasm but still not totally convinced of the linkages true role, farmers weekly travelled to Lichtervelde in Belgium to try out the linkage on New Hollands LM410 – the first prototype outfit to become available.
Designed to lift 2.5t – other capacities will be developed – the linkage is made by Zuidberg.
Similar to a front linkage on a tractor, the one being evaluated on the LM410 can be described as a "no frills" version. Mounted in place of the counter weight, the linkage arms have no lateral movement and are operated by a pair of double acting rams.
First observation is to note that the linkage arms are constructed with generous amounts of metal and attached to the telehandler chassis with heavy-duty bolts.
Two connecting points on the lift arms allow them to be set in a fixed or float position for carrying mounted equipment or operating tillage kit. Raise and lower can be controlled from outside the cab from a pair of buttons on the left-side of the bonnet.
So, how is it operated? Before jumping in to the cab, the driver needs to delve under the machines right hand bonnet and locate two lever-operated valves which divert oil flow from the front auxiliary service to the rear.
Once in the cab, however, there are no daunting new controls to get to grips with. The hitch is raised and lowered by auxiliary buttons on the joystick. And because the linkage operates as a fourth service, all boom functions can still be activated.
Visibility of the linkage is poor – while there is a clear view of the left link arm, the right one cannot be seen.
Hitching on a 3m Flexi-Coil with swivelling headstock was a speedy job with two men available to help, but it would clearly take a lot longer as a solo operation. Nevertheless, the linkage made light work of lifting the Flexi-Coil which, once in the air, provided plenty of ground clearance.
The pto is operated by pressing two buttons on the LCD display panel which shows rpm and modulation in secs. Pto protection is afforded by an electromagnetic clutch.
Despite being easy to operate, the display could be positioned nearer the drivers hand and there is also a serious need for a hand throttle to set engine speed for pto work.
Although undeniably basic when compared to a tractors rear linkage, the system could conceivably expand the operating window for a machine many would consider already offers a high degree of versatility.
Deciding just what tasks the three-point linkage could be used effectively for still remains the big question. But the answer could decide the future for such systems. *
Jack of all trades… Can New Hollands linkage-equipped LM410 Dual Lift telehandler provide extra versatility?
Hitching up a 3m Flexi-Coil with a pivoting headstock was definitely a two-man job – it would take a lot longer with just the driver. The right link arm is completely invisible from the cab.
A diverter valve redirects oil flow from the auxiliary fourth service to the rear linkage. Note the handy storage place for the top link.