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New features to the mower make a real difference to cutting performance and the cost of ownership, says the manufacturer.
With spring upon us, thoughts turn towards shutting up paddocks for conservation and maybe the purchase of new machinery to get the job done. The latest 28 Series disc mowers from Kverneland offer several features that the manufacturer says make a real difference to cutting performance and the cost of ownership.
At the heart of the machine, KV's own cutter-bar takes the form of two C-shaped steel profiles that are brought together with a single welded seam. This creates a torsional-rigid cutter-bar with massive strenght, no leaks, a high oil capacity, no maintenance and an extended service life. The unique round cutting discs also ensure there are no "pinch" points for stones or matted crop, while quick change blades make it easy to ensure cutting quality.
Available in 3.2m (8-disc), 3.6m (9-disc) and 4.0m (10-disc) set ups, the 2832, 2836 and 2840 models feature a heavy-duty headstock and frame, using a centre pivot layout to support the mowing element. Ground adaption and suspension is taken care of by HD coil spring system that responds quickly to changing conditions and is easy to adjust.
Offering a shaft-drive layout, overload protection is taken care of by a slip clutch and a breakaway device is incorporated into the lower link position, meaning that if an obstacle is encountered, the mower unit can break back, then reset after the obstruction is cleared.
Requiring only one single-acting hydraulic connection, the mower folds vertically up to 125 degrees from horizontal, pulling the cutter-bar inside the line of the tractor’s offside rear fender for transport, while also increasing stability at road transport speeds.
Product manager for distributor Power Farming Group, Shane Cox, says “the 28 Series machines are very heavyduty machines, so are ideally suited to larger scale farms or in contracting operations”.
Likewise, for those wishing to push moisture out of mown crops, the Kverneland Proline 8500 Series tedders take on many of the same attributes.
Available in 5.5 or 7.6 metre working widths, the 8555 and 8576 models are 4 or 6-rotor machines, featuring a heavy-duty box section main beam, to which permanent oil-bath gearboxes are bolted, thereby eliminating and stress loadings passed through the machine. Internally, the rotor gearboxes feature pinion shafts that are supported by twin bearing assemblies, said to eliminate distortion extreme loadings, while ensuring that gear engagement remains constant, so extending the service life of the machine.
Each rotor assembly is equipped with seven flat steel tine arms, which in turn carry Super-C tines, with equal-length arms to promote even spread over the full working width. Each tine, manufactured from 10mm diameter, shot-peened spring steel, is fitted with twin 80mm diameter coil springs, so are suited to heavy crop conditions.
Tine angle can be adjusted to offer aggressive angles depending on crop, while a border spreading function reduces spreading width to keep material under control on headlands or alongside drains.
During folding to a 2.95m transport width, maintenance free rollers ensure correct alignment of the wing sections, while double universal joints help reduce shocks or torsional loading being transmitted through the driveline.
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