|
Trelleborg Australia was invited by AGCO,
the Fendt tractor importer and distributor in Australia, to a field
test day in Ballan, Victoria. Trelleborg attendee’s were Hakan
Reuterhall and Paul Hansen. AGCO was
represented by Mark Francis and Michael Allan. Michael from Westag,
the selling agent for the area, was
also there.
This Fendt is powe by a 360HP engine coupled to the ‘Vario’
transmission.
Trelleborg tyres were fitted OE, sizes being…
Rear… 710/75R42
Front.. 600/70R34
The test was conducted in very dry soil condition and the Fendt was
pulling a 64 plate disc plough (approx.
6000kg in static weight).
When AGCO delive the Fendt, tyre pressures were set at 18 psi
front and 15 psi rear. The Fendt had
done 60 hrs when we conducted the field test and had been used
solely pulling the 64 plate disc plough.
The operator thought the tractor was performing well.
AGCO fitted the tractor with a drawbar attachment that measures
‘drawbar HP’.
An initial ‘run’ was done to set a benchmark figure.
With the ‘delivery’ tyre pressures, the drawbar HP was 170.
We noticed some rear and front tyre slippage on this initial run.
The Fendt ‘front assist system’ allows 15%
traction through front wheels when travelling in a straight line.
Rear tyre pressure was then dropped to 14 psi.
Run two produced 200 HP at drawbar with no visible tyre slippage.
Engine throttle position was same as for first run, around 8km/hr.
You could also start to hear a turbo ‘whistle’
Rear tyre pressure was then dropped to 11 psi and front to 14 psi.
Throttle position was maximum (fuel computer showing a fuel burn of
65L per hr).
Cruise control was set at 15 km/hr, but tractor could only achieve
12 km/hr.
Run three produced 244 HP at drawbar with no visible tyre slippage.
Engine and turbo ‘note’, as well as fuel burn figures, told us that
tractor power was the limiting factor now,
not the slippage from the Trelleborg tyres.
Customer now has a tractor that can travel on road without being
‘oversize’ due to overall tractor width (no
dual rear tyres). The tractor can travel at speeds up to 65 km/hr,
although I believe this Fendt is capable of
60 km/hr. Fuel economy is at its maximum due to nil tyre slippage
and maximum HP being delive to
drawbar.
|
