Gleaner headers hit the farm

gleaner-header

Gleaner is making a pitch at the higher volume combine harvester market with the release of its Gleaner S9 series models. Source: Farm Weekly

Designated the S97 and S98, the models are available in 2016, for farmers seeking Class 7 and 8 machines.

According to distributor AGCO, both models boast a new Vision cab and a Tyton terminal, plus modifications to the feeder house, drive electronics and drive mechanics.

“Today’s growers must harvest more crop from more acres in an increasingly narrow harvest window, which means they need a combine that can adapt to and perform in less than ideal harvest conditions,” Gleaner product manager Shane Jardine said.

“We’ve incorporated the latest technology, comfort features and even more engineering advancements to ensure our combines provide operators the ability to handle whatever harvest conditions they face during long days in the field.”

Gleaner’s Vision cab is a completely re-designed cab being 15% larger than previous models and has a larger instructor seat with a fold-down back that doubles as laptop computer storage and workspace.

The cab features a larger, deep-curved front windshield and six square metres of total glass area for a clearer view of the cutter bar, header ends and harvested areas behind each side of the header.

A solar-protectant laminate minimises sun exposure through the front glass and sound-deadening material throughout the cab keeps the operating environment to 75.5 decibels.

The completely re-designed control console is located to the right of the operator seat with ergonomic placement and intuitive color-coding of the buttons and switches.

A multi-function hydro handle controls travel direction and speed and provides easy access to buttons to engage the processor, header and parking brake.

The throttle lever is conveniently just under the thumb of the operator for adjustment of engine RPM. All header adjustments and controls are consolidated on a panel outside of the monitor.

According to AGCO, a slim-profile steering post, new cab post placement, 12 new cab lights with high-lumen projection and new dual remote mirrors are among the two dozen innovations of the Vision cab.

The Tyton terminal provides the full menu of products and services from Fuse, AGCO’s next-generation technology approach to match the needs of modern precision farming practices.

The terminal has four quadrants, easier-to-read Gleaner-specific graphics and an easy-to-use, colour touchscreen interface.

Gleaner S9 Series combines offer growers the choice of a factory-installed FieldStar Live mapping system integrated through the Tyton terminal, which integrates data from yield and moisture sensors and global positioning to provide live mapping.

Automatic header width control is included while available TaskDoc task management and record keeping solutions provide complete field documentation systems for wireless transfer of data between the machine and the office.

In addition, the S9 Series offers the optional Auto-Guide guidance system with a NovAtel or Trimble satellite receiver that comes from the factory set up for WAAS (Wide-Area Augmentation System) to ensure maximum steering accuracy and efficiency.

Auto-Guide control also is integrated through the Tyton terminal, eliminating a separate screen in the cab.

AGCO says the Gleaner’s natural-flow feeding has been refined to improve feeding capacity in difficult crop conditions such as heavy canola swaths where uneven feeding can occur.

The feeder house floor has been lowered and the feeder house runners and torque tube raised, creating clearance under the feed shaft. The feeder house also has been lengthened for better visibility of the cutter bar from the cab.

Subsequently header lift cylinders have been re-designed and a proportional valve has been added to the headerlift hydraulic system, so operators can adjust header raise/ lower speed and sensitivity to their preference.

New electronics and re-designed hydraulic systems eliminate all cables and linkage for the hydrostatic propel system. A 13,743-litre bushel grain bin is standard.