The new 6 series has not yet been launched, but Zetor has just sent us a Czech farmers’ experience following many hours in the cab of one of the two prototypes.
Tomáš Srnec and his father manage the family’s 130ha organic farm, which grows wheat, maize, sunflower, and feed barley. They also raise 100 head of Charolais beef cattle.
With the exception of a lone 120hp Valtra, Zetor supplies the farm with its tractors. The oldest is a 6211, and they also run two more modern Forterra HD 150s. Tomáš did not hesitate when Zetor asked him if he wanted to try out one of the new 6 series tractors.
“We’ve been testing it since last summer, and I have to say it’s a huge leap forward,” says Tomáš. “It’s a modern machine with several automatic modes that require no manual intervention—the tractor adjusts itself based on the specific task or terrain conditions. In my opinion, the 6 is now on par with premium competitors.”
The tractor hauled a 14t tandem trailer last harvest, and was then put in front of a 4.0m Kuhn disc harrow. Fuel consumption in the tough conditions was a frugal 7.5l/ha. “That’s amazing,” he adds.
Another test involved working to depths of 40cm with a 11-tine Lemken (3.0m) subsoiler and combined disc and crumbling rollers. During the discing and subsoiling tests, the 6 covered approximately 70ha on the farm. The most demanding test took place at the beginning of winter, when the tractor ploughed a 10ha seven-year-old alfalfa field.
“I was surprised at how well it handled such tough conditions when paired with a five-furrow reversible Kverneland plough. Yes, we worked at speeds of 3.0 to 5km/hr, but that was due to the conditions, not the tractor.”
Tomáš says the controls are well thought out and everything is within reach. “The 24-inch display is easy to read, even for my 70-year-old father. Radiators and lubrication points are easily accessible, and the DPF regeneration happens fully automatically.” He also likes the cab and axle suspension.
In recent weeks, the farmer had the opportunity to test the 6 equipped with the eco-transmission. This offers up to 54 forward and 27 reverse gears. “It’s incredibly comfortable to operate, the tractor machine runs smoothly, and gear transitions happen seamlessly,” he concludes.
The second 6 series prototype worked in Germany last year, and both tractors logged more than 1,000 operating hours. The release date is not yet available but Zetor expects the 6 series to be added to the price lists sometime this year.
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