Quadtrac raises the game

With the German Agritechnica Occasion only a few weeks away, it appears like the important thing tractor makers are taking part in a sport of prime trumps with their flagship 4-wheel drive machines.

Claas was first to indicate its hand with the newly launched Xerion 12 sequence that peaks at 653hp, rapidly adopted by New Holland who launched its newest T9.700 providing a max of 699hp.

Nonetheless, each these machines have been gazumped by Case IH, who used the current Farm Progress Present within the US to launch the Quadtrac 715 that peaks at a mighty 778hp, delivered by its new 16-litre FPT Cursor engine.

The corporate says the tractor was developed to satisfy a rising pattern on giant farms that wish to tow larger and wider implements. The 715, solely accessible in a tracked format, tops off the just lately revised Quadtrac 525-645 AFS Join fashions.

Whereas the brand new flagship is barely 10cm longer than the 645, externally it seems considerably bigger by means of a large new engine hood. This units it other than the opposite fashions within the vary that ultimately will trickle all the way down to the remaining the Quadtrac vary, whereas additionally turning into a part of a styling revamp for all Case IH tractor ranges sooner or later.

The revised hood gives simpler service entry, by lifting almost a 3rd larger. So vertically challenged operators might be happy to listen to that. Nonetheless, the hood is unattainable to achieve from the bottom, so designers have integrated electrical carry actuators to take over the duty, through a change positioned within the toolbox close to the cab steps.

The 16-litre engine, geared up with a twinstage intercooled turbocharger, is 23% bigger than the Cursor 13-litre block within the Quadtrac 645. It delivers the height 778hp at 1900rpm, with 3255Nm peak torque at 1400rpm, mated to the newest 16-speed Energy- Drive powershift. Refuelling stops are lowered through the use of wider saddle tanks on the rear body, holding a complete of 1968 litres of diesel, a rise of 11% over the Quadtrac 645.

New heavy-duty monitor items are 305mm longer for six% extra floor contact than the smaller 645. The drive wheel diameter has been elevated by 10cm to round 1m, permitting 5 monitor lugs to be engaged with the drive wheel reasonably than earlier 4. A design inclusion to deal with the upper torque output and in addition maximise monitor life.

Whereas the uncooked pulling energy of the drawbar is claimed to be enough for many North American farms, the corporate notes that round 60% of Quadtracs delivered to Europe are fitted with an elective rear Cat IV linkage that lifts as much as 10.1t. Hydraulics are provided with as much as eight distant valves, provided by both a 216 l/min or elective 428 l/min twin-flow SmartTorque hydraulic pump.

The 715 additionally options new LED street lights, complemented by work lights that produce an output of 25,420 lumens, for 11% extra illumination energy. As well as, elective cab-mounted work lights can be found in three packages, with the top-level package deal delivering an extra 45,600 lumens output and 360 levels protection.

Different sensible options embody new seize rails across the roof to help secure window cleansing and a brand new entrance wiper that will increase complete swept space.

Internally, alongside new storage areas, an built-in rail system on A-post ensures straightforward monitor attachment, and area for a second AFS Professional 1200 terminal.

AFS Join permits car and agronomic knowledge recording, together with two-way switch between the tractor and my CaseIH on-line portal. This additionally permits distant machine monitoring/ help by house owners and – with permission – sellers.