In the September 2019 issue we tested the Zetor Crystal 170HD, but at the time we were unable to bring you the Powermix results. Since then the Crystal has been put through its paces on the DLG rolling road and dyno. Here are the results
We were certainly surprised by the performance of the Crystal 170HD last year, but some questions were left unanswered due to a clutch failure when on the dyno. With the tractor back up and running we have been able to complete the Powermix tests which back up or gut instinct.
The largely mechanical transmission comes into its own when doing heady draft work such as pulling a plough or cultivator. Here the fuel consumption rate dropped to 5.0% below our average rate for the test group. Even on heavy pto work the Zetor’s diesel use remains in the mid-field in all of the test runs.
A surprise are the results from the mixed work category which includes hydraulic work, such as spreading muck or baling. Although the Crystal has a gear pump for the hydraulics the tractor is still very frugal. In fact, specific consumption was around 6.0% less than the average rate of all the tractor tested up to now. That’s very good.
The 170HD is equally thrifty when on the road. Reaching its maximum speed of 40km/hr at a low 1,700rpm, the specific consumption was 387g/kWh, which is nearly 7.0% less than the average rate.
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