Kuhn unveils 14.5m mower for high HP harvesters
With most forage harvester manufacturers offering machines touching 1000hp, the logistics puzzle has always been ‘dropping” grass and pulling into a swath big enough to feed the “beast”.
The Kuhn FC 2860, FC 3160 and 3560 TL machines offer mowing widths of 2.67, 3.1 and 3.5m respectively, and the choice of roller or tine-based crop conditioning units.
Why the need for offset or centre-pull drawbars? Centre-pull machines have the potential for up to 10% more output in large areas because they can operate on either side of the tractor, like a reversible plough. By contrast the offset drawbar machines can only work to the right side of the tractor, but cost less.
The new units have the same key features as the centre-pull units: Gyrodine swivel headstocks take care of any PTO problems, even in tight turns; and the Optidisc cutter-bar uses irregular spaced discs to promote crop flow and clean cutting.
A gear-driven conditioner driveline is protected by the Posiguard safety system if junk is encountered, and there is a choice of two speeds for best conditioning effect.
The conditioner has, as standard, adjustable swath doors for different following machines, and it can spread to the machines' full width if required – said to promote more rapid wilting, and in most cases can avert at least one following tedder pass.
Extra-large tyres reduce ground pressure and sward damage, particularly in damp ground conditions.
