Thursday, 21 April 2016 15:55

X marks sweet spot for contractor

Written by  Mark Daniel
Phillip Parry Contracting’s new Krone Big X 1100 in action. Phillip Parry Contracting’s new Krone Big X 1100 in action.

They say that X is an unknown quantity, but not so when you look at the Krone Big X range of forage harvesters.

The harvesters are gaining in popularity amongst agricultural contractors in New Zealand.

One such operator is Phillip Parry Contractors, of Mangakino, South Waikato, which recently changed a Big X 850 for a new Big X 1100, in time for the 2016 maize harvest.

Big X is certainly the right moniker for this machine: the stats make the eyes glaze and the jaw drop.

A Man V12 engine of 24L pumps out a constant 1078hp when working in applications such as maize, but it can be dialled back to a meagre 636hp for grass.

The machine tips the scales at 14.8 tonnes; add a maize header of at least 4t and 1000L of fuel and quite quickly 20t is seen and gone.

Rural News in early April watched the unit operating on a large maize block on the western shores of Lake Taupo, piloted by regular driver James Lamont.

Partnered with a 7.5m Krone Easy Collect header swallowing 10 rows of maize, progress was effortless: the operator told us a 20 tonne was crop coming in at 39.5% DM, being chopped down to around 14mm with the engine holding steady at 1900rpm. Forward speed was around 6.5km/h in steep undulating terrain, but increased to 10km/h in some flatter areas.

Lamont said the machine "never wanted for power" -- a key consideration in the owner's purchasing decision.

In Parry Contracting's region a flat field is a rarity, so trucks are often challenged in their ability to hold constant speeds with the harvester. Constant truck speed averts the need for sudden downshifts which may lead to loss of traction and a risk of getting bogged down.

A closer look at the machine revealed it is designed to shift crop quickly. It has an industry leading feed roller width of 820mm, taking crop over six hydraulically driven compression rollers to the ledger bar, before it goes to a 20 blade, 660mm diameter chopper drum with knives in a chevron pattern presenting at 11 degrees for smooth slicing and maximum output.

Chop length can be adjusted by the driver in the cab, or the Autoscan system can be used to automatically adjust chop length dependent on dry matter readings, with a decrease in length as DM increases, so ensuring good consolidation at the clamp.

In a machine of this size a smooth crop flow is vital so Krone equips the Big X with a hydraulic concave around the chopping cylinder which can move to allow any large lumps to pass, maintaining maximum output.

From the chopping cylinder crop passes through the crop processor with 144 triangular profile teeth on 250mm diameter rollers that crack the kernels and release maximum feed value. From here the crop passes through the accelerator in a constant stream to the trucks and trailers. Easy adjustment of a flap in this area serves to increase or decrease the crop speed, depending on whether filling is to the side or rear, and allowing operators to save power in the event of side fill.

This machine's capacity has killed off the traditional family farm's cutting of silage using a small trailed unit, and the arrival, 30 years ago, and evolution of self-propelled harvesters makes it unlikely those small machines will ever return.

More like this

Kubota NZ to take on Krone distribution

Following 54 years of representation by the same importer and distributor, Kubota New Zealand and Tulloch Farm Machines have announced the transfer of Krone Agricultural Machinery distribution rights to Kubota.

Merging mower gets upgrade

The EasyCut B 950 Collect is a non-conditioning mower with 450mm merger augers, said to be ideal for tall crops such as ryegrass, or more delicate crops such as lucerne, that may usually cause blockages or damage when put through a conditioner mower.

Big X models expand

Driven by increased global demand for self-propelled foragers in the 900hp to 1100hp sector, German harvesting specialist Krone has announced details of the new Big X 980 (979hp) and 1080 (1,074hp) models.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter