First impression is the 846T looks over engineered for a six-rotor, 8.4m machine, but the same chassis will be used on an eight and possibly 10 rotor version. A number of eight-rotor models will be out on test next season ahead of a later launch, just like five of the 846Ts were put through their paces with customers near Malone’s factory in the west of Ireland.
The actual tedding element is the same as the fully-mounted machine – seven tine arms per 1.60m diameter rotor, and of course the hooked tine. The key difference is the trailed machine has a curtain to stop grass being flung beyond the field boundary – the mounted models steer the rotors so they work at an angle and throw the forage into the field.
The ‘top link’ ram is used to raise the rotors from their horizontal working position to their vertical trailed mode. The two outer rotors then fold along the chassis. The firm claims an on-road width of 2.84m with the gauge wheels adjusted. Power requirement for the €21,000 (plus VAT) 846T is 70hp.
Malone will also be showing video of its front-mounted mower conditioner which is still in development. A limited number of these will be on test next season but for now that is all we can tell you.
