Tractor test

New Holland T6.160 Auto Command

Smooth blue

The mechanical transmission in the New Holland T6 and equivalent Case IH models can sometimes leave you wanting in the ratio department, or at least that’s what we found during our Maxxum 130 test in the 01/2014 issue. To provide more choice and performance flexibility CNH has added its own CVT to these middleweight tractors, including to the T6.160 Auto Command featured here

Practical test

Horsch Leeb 6GS trailed sprayer

Thinking outside the box

While Horsch is a new name in the crop sprayer game, it makes some pretty bold claims for its high capacity, high-spec machines. To put those claims to the test we ran one of the company’s 6,000-litre Leeb 6GS trailed models for a whole season to see how it performs

Pöttinger Terradisc 6001 T discs

Twin-arm terror

Short overall length and Pöttinger’s unique Twin Arm disc mounts are the key features of the revised Terradisc range. Here we concentrate on the latest incarnation of the 6m 6001 T, the widest trailed version of the bunch

Driving impression

Hardi Alpha Motion EVO Eco Drive self-propelled sprayer

Poetry in Hardi’s Motion

We last looked at the Hardi Alpha self-propelled sprayer in 2004, and there are now over 20 of these machines operating in the UK. But just like time, technology marches on. With this in mind Hardi has recently transferred many of its top-end trailed Commander features across to the updated Alpha

Honda Foreman TRX500F ATV

TRX500 is a big softy

When Honda switched to an independent rear suspension for its TRX420 Fourtrax models last year, the range topping TRX500 Foreman series was left pretty much as was, including sticking to a rigid- beam rear end. Fast forward to early 2015, and now the TRX500 has been given the IRS treatment. But has it lost some of its utility in the process?

Weaving GD Drill mounted/trailed seeders

Simple in design, clever in concept

No-till drilling systems are currently big news, with a refreshing number of British-designed and -built drills covering a market that targets those farmers seeking to reduce their crop establishment costs. Weaving has been in this particular game for over 20 years with its 4.0m to 8.0m Big Disc models. Now these machines are due for replacement with the new GD Drill range. Here we focus on the

Russian rotaries rumble westwards

Rostselmash Torum 760 combine harvester

Spearheading Rostselmash’s first foray across the border into western Europe, the company’s Torum 760 is something special. A single-rotor machine, it also has a contra-rotating concave to enhance the threshing effect. We take an in-depth look at this innovative and intriguing combine, to see just how the concept works and whether it’ll live up to western standards. So let’s get the big Russian

Livestock equipment

Rapid-exit milking parlour

Quick exit

Rapid-exit milking parlours are gaining popularity. Take the Whittalls, for example. When they started looking at the Dairymaster Swiftflo fast-exit with in-parlour feeding there was only one working in the UK, whereas today there are at least six others in operation in their area of North Wales alone

Used machinery

Grimme GT 170 two-row trailed potato harvester

One name, many faces

With over 1,300 GT 170 harvesters sold in the UK alone, finding a decent used example should be relatively easy. But there’s a snag. The GT 170 tag covers a broad range of model variants, with a choice of options enabling these machines to be tailored to suit specific customer needs. The line-up has evolved a great deal, too, so you need to know what you want to secure the right used buy

Workshop

Trailer service

Take care of your wagon

Most farms and farm staff take pride in their professional approach. But every enterprise has blind spots — and looking after trailers is often one of them. To find out what needs to be done we took advice from James Stewart, joint boss of Aberdeenshire-based Stewart Trailers

 

Simple solutions to perennial problems

This month’s Simple Solutions from Mike Donovan include a safer, quicker method of removing the box from a livestock/flatbed trailer, a calibration system for determining propionic acid application rates and a powered tractor step for easier cab access

Around the world

Wide span min-till precision planter / Field Days kick off in Australia / Smartphones popular with US farmers / Keeping the yard tidy

Technical

How it works: Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

A nice slice of soot cake

We investigated the mysteries of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) in profi 03/15. Now it’s the turn of another emissions-related box that might lurk under the bonnet of your tractor — the DPF or Diesel Particulate Filter

Hydraulics explained Part IV: Oil control — flow, direction

Go with the flow

For Part IV in this series we trawl through the main routes to controlling oil flow and direction round a circuit. Illumination comes from John Liposits, technical trainer at John Deere’s Langar, Notts HQ