New tractor transmission type

[BogdanC]

I am looking into buying a compact tractor for an apple orchard and I have to decide on the options it will come with.

From your experience is the automatic transmission on a tractor a real must or it's not something absolutely necessary and I can settle with the mechanical one.
I am looking at a CLAAS tractor and it has optional Twinshift transmission. It can either be 24/24 or 24/12.
What are the practical differences between the two other than ease of use?

Thank you!

 

[Gary Fowler]

By automatic, I assume you are referring to the HST transmissions. I have one tractor (B26 Kubota) with HST and I love it for FEL work and when using the back hoe because I don't have to swivel the seat around to move it, I just use a long rod and push the go pedal. If it was gear drive, I would have to swivel the seat around and use clutch to put in gear so in this instance for this tractor, I wouldn't want any thing other than HST.
My other tractor (LS P7010) is straight gear drive with 20F/20 R transmission. I like straight gear drive for tilling and bush hogging pasture or any other ground engagement activities, but it is a little tiring of the left leg when doing FEL work.

Your choice would be with what is the major function going to be with your tractor. If you will be doing a lot of forward and reverse activities, then HST is the way to go.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I am looking into buying a compact tractor for an apple orchard and I have to decide on the options it will come with.

From your experience is the automatic transmission on a tractor a real must or it's not something absolutely necessary and I can settle with the mechanical one.
I am looking at a CLAAS tractor and it has optional Twinshift transmission. It can either be 24/24 or 24/12.
What are the practical differences between the two other than ease of use?

Thank you!

The only Claas tractors I know of are field tractor monsters in the 400hp and up range, in which case get the continual variable transmission!

CLAAS - | XERION 5000-4000 - Tractors

Personally, I like all automatic CVT or electronic HST tractors over all gear tractors all day every day no matter what you're doing. Better control and ease of use, especially on hills and slopes or in close quarters.

 

[Xfaxman]

What other brands are available in Romiana?

Are there any Orchard models?

Orchard tractors from Google Images.

 

[BogdanC]

Thank you all for the input.
Gary, yes, i was referring to a HST transmission.
EricTheOracle, I am referring to the Claas Nexos 240F, which is an orchard model.
Other orchard tractor manufacturers I've looked into are John Deere, New Holland, Fendt, Antonio Carraro, Deutz Fahr, Massey Fergusson, all of which have tractor dedicated for orchards and vineyards.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Thank you all for the input.
Gary, yes, i was referring to a HST transmission.
EricTheOracle, I am referring to the Claas Nexos 240F, which is an orchard model.
Other orchard tractor manufacturers I've looked into are John Deere, New Holland, Fendt, Antonio Carraro, Deutz Fahr, Massey Fergusson, all of which have tractor dedicated for orchards and vineyards.

Although, more expensive than gear transmissions, I think that the electronic hydrostatic transmissions with synced throttles are the way to go. That said, it looks like Claas doesn't offer a eHST transmission.

http://www.claas.co.uk/blueprint/se...a3d7a620e8b71866032b763a/197368-1-dataRaw.pdf

 

[varmint]

Eric- thanks for the link to Claas! The interactive animation of their tractor blew me away. One of the best pieces of animation work I have ever seen outside of film work. What a machine. I can only imagine what it would cost, but if you are farming 5000 acres, then go for it!

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Eric- thanks for the link to Claas! The interactive animation of their tractor blew me away. One of the best pieces of animation work I have ever seen outside of film work. What a machine. I can only imagine what it would cost, but if you are farming 5000 acres, then go for it!

Yeah, if you need a tier IV final 500hp tractor that flows 118gpm, comes with a suspension cab that flips 180 degrees so that the operator is always facing forward, articulating axles or a trace version just to one-up the Case Quad guys offerings, its own air compressor for cleaning it off on top of the reversible engine fan for blowing out its own radiator, and a Mercedes-of-tractors price tag for all that engineering, Claas has got you covered! Sweet tractor. Too bad about the name.

CLAAS - | Cab - Cab + comfort

 

[buickanddeere]

Hydrostatic transmissions have been used with success in heavy equipment from D11 cats down to lawn tractors for decades.
Clean oil, keep the cooling fins clean and don't beat the unit beyond it's design specs. Odds are it will last. With the exception of the dismal K46 used in the entry level, lowest cost possible lawn tractor market. About 200hrs and she's done.

 

[varmint]

Whatdaya mean, "too bad about the name??" A "Class" tractor says it all! Has a Mercedes engine, too, so the price tag seems right, whatever it is. $250,000? Just guessing.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Whatdaya mean, "too bad about the name??"

Repeat after me:

"XERION"

Good. Now say, "The Warrior Princess."

Too bad about the name.

 

[varmint]

Somehow, I don't think if I were sitting up in that cab, spinning forwards and backwards, blowing chaff out from the radiator, I'd much care about the name. Besides, Coyote???

 

[Agvg]

Those Claas tractors are very much used I road maintenance

Claas Xerion 3800 og Slagkraft kantklipper: http://youtu.be/rvUcVHO9BS8

 

[MHarryE]

I assume you know it is built for Claas by Carraro and uses a FPT engine. The English śpecs don't explain the difference very well. They say the twin shift is a 2 stage power shift push button select which I assume means 2 ranges of 12 power shift speeds each but the chart shows a 3 range of 8 speeds each interesting because it doesn't match any of the Carraro models but Claas talks about how much of their engineering went into the tractor design.

 

[Agvg]

Yes, its quite sad that many tractor manufacturer's models are all most pure badge engineering, they buy complete drive train, hydraulics and engine from a few suppliers.

 

[CalG]

Nothing wrong with a shuttle shift

Orchard work doen't take a lot of flexibility, but setting a speed to match the operation makes everything so much more predictable.

Fixed gear shines in that application.

Hydrostatic is best for "loader work". Variable speed within the task. That does NOT match orchard needs in my experience.

 

[woodchipper]

I personally do not see the need for HST in a tractor designed for orchard work, perhaps unless you have steep ground and make repetitive/frequent stops, or move from forward to reverse in a frequent manner. You will probably use the tractor for bush hogging, and tanker pulling for spaying purposes. You may even choose not to have a loader... Landini is one good tractor manufacturer you may want to look at, as they too make dedicated orchard tractors.

 

[TJP89]

.... so the price tag seems right, whatever it is. $250,000? Just guessing.

More, as in a lot more.

The Case steiger 620 runs about $450,000, and this looks like its a little more. I'm thinking in the full optioned model shown in the video would cost about $550,000. Yeah, lot of money. Try to explain to the wife why you need a tractor that cost more than twice as much as the house:laughing:

As for the Coyote, its better than Deer:thumbsup: