Driver comfort
Attention to driver comfort is paying dividends for New Holland as the company completed a successful nationwide groundcare demonstration tour.
In partnership with Ransomes Jacobsen, New Holland toured many local councils across the UK with a T5050 tractor and Ransomes Mk4 5/7 mower, spread over several months.
New Holland T5000 series product specialist, Alan Hawes says the company has received a lot of positive feedback from the tour, which has resulted in firm orders with more in the pipeline.
“The T5000 series tractor is a firm favourite with many local authorities owing to the breadth of the range, which offers a choice of five models ranging from the 76 hp T5030 to the new 113hp T5070, giving the best in class power to weight ratio. Its versatility is also attractive to authorities which are increasingly looking to undertake multiple tasks with the same unit.”
And with drivers spending up to 8-10 hours a day inside the cab, a highly influential factor is comfort, Hawes adds.
“In many situations it comes down to being able to impress the drivers – by ensuring the unit is comfortable and delivers top performance.”
In the case of the T5050 Deluxe, that comfort comes in the form of an ergonomically designed interior including standard air suspension swivel seat with adjustability in the lumbar and arm supports. Thermostat controlled air conditioning is also standard and with 5.3m2 of glazing inside the cab, there is excellent all round visibility.
Sound levels are also reduced thanks to vibration and noise being engineered out of the driveline and engine, and mounting the cab on purpose-developed isolation mounts.
TEl 01268 295268
sarah.johnson@newholland.com
www.newholland.com
New Holland’s comprehensive range of groundcare machinery is set for a green makeover as the option to run 20 per cent biodiesel (B20) becomes standard across all models. In what is believed to be an industry first, any New Holland compact tractor or ride-on mower purchased after May 1, 2010 will have an option to run B20.
“We strive to lead the industry in environmental practice and are proud to offer B20 across our groundcare range,” says Graham Gleed, New Holland’s Groundcare Sales Manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
“An increasing number of customers are looking at environmental factors as well as performance when they purchase groundcare machinery, and New Holland now offers a greener alternative to regular diesel – without affecting the proven performance and reliability our customers expect from New Holland.”
More power
More power, increased torque and lower fuel consumption are features of John Deere’s latest 31hp 2720 compact tractor. This is the largest model available in the company’s small chassis range, which also includes the 24hp 2320 and 26hp 2520 models.
Based on the same platform as the 2520, the 2720 offers a higher power to weight ratio, with a lower rated speed of 2500rpm also providing lower noise and vibration levels. Even lower noise levels can be achieved with the tractor’s new optional cab, which has a rating of 85dB(A) at the driver’s ear.
The cab’s new four-post design provides more visibility compared to the old six-post design on the two smaller tractors, and gives the 2720 a lower overall height of under 2m (79in). This new cab is also now available for the 2320 and 2520 models.
The 2720 retains the same modern styling and overall design as existing models in the John Deere 20 Series range, which is headed by the 62hp 4720 large chassis model complete with ComfortGard cab. The 2720’s large capacity, fuel efficient Stage 3a engine generates lower emissions, while the two-range hydrostatic transmission has a maximum forward speed of 22kph.
Mid-mounted rotary mower deck options include a 1.5m (60in) rear discharge unit and two ‘drive-over’ side discharge decks at 1.37 and 1.57m (54 and 62in), which are equally easy and straightforward to hitch up and use. These AutoConnect decks allow the operator to simply lock the deck in place and attach the driveline automatically from the tractor seat, without the need to crawl under the tractor to connect the pto.
For even greater versatility, the 2720 offers a front hitch and pto, compatible with John Deere’s front loaders, in addition to the standard mid-mounted pto. The loader’s design allows fast attachment of 4-in-1 buckets, pallet forks, blades and a range of other implements.
Maximum lift capacity at the category 1 three-point hitch is now 650kg. Service and maintenance are made easy by the tractor’s flip-up hood, and there is a choice of turf or industrial all-purpose tyres. Prices of the John Deere 2020 Series compact tractors range from £18,691 for the 2720 model with cab down to £12,098 for the open station 2320
Tel: 01949 860491
www.johndeere.co.uk
VERSATILE&COMPACT
A 38hp Massey Ferguson compact tractor purchased in spring 2009 by North Somerset Council’s Grounds Services is proving a versatile and worthwhile addition to the machinery fleet, according to the division’s grounds maintenance supervisor, Alan Ballinger. Bought to replace a less powerful compact tractor that, in Alan’s words, had simply become too small for the job, the MF 1540 tractor was supplied by local Massey Ferguson dealer, H Curtis & Sons. The tractor was specified with a cab and Massey Ferguson’s clutchless Dyna-QPS transmission and came fitted with a quick-release front loader and backhoe-loader.
Alan Ballinger explained that the tractor has demonstrated its versatility on a wide range of tasks carried out both for North Somerset Council and within contracts awarded by other organisations. These include trimming grass and hedges at more than 30 Bristol Water sites and maintaining public rights of way and roadside ditches on behalf of the Highways Agency.
Planned from the start by Alan Ballinger to fill a multi-purpose role, the MF 1540 is used with a variety of matching attachments, some of which were owned already by the council, others being purchased specifically for the secured contracts.
“Since it arrived, the tractor has been used regularly with a side-arm flail hedger, a rear flail mower-collector and specialist synthetic pitch maintenance equipment,” commented Alan. “Additionally, it has completed an extensive amount of ditching work as well as loading trailers with woodchip and soil for use on planted borders and with salt for treating pavements and car parks, the latter being a very high profile task this winter. Pallet forks can be fitted in place of the loader bucket to offload incoming supplies and materials.”
One specific task for which the tractor and its backhoe loader is proving invaluable is clearing and restoring ditches alongside narrow Somerset lanes: “Previously, this job involved temporary closure of many roads as it was impossible for other vehicles to get past the industrial-sized backhoe loader employed for the work,” explained Alan. “Using a compact tractor with matching backhoe means that narrow lanes can now remain open, reducing costs and driver frustration.”
Alan said that North Somerset Council’s policy of making full use of modern, capable equipment with the help of carefully-matched attachments was paying dividends, saving time, money and effort for the benefit of the council’s workforce and local taxpayers
Tel 01628 488441
www.masseyferguson.com
Needs variety
Course Manager Mark Logan knows the requirements of Silvermere’s par 71 Pay and Play course inside out, having worked at the club for 18 years, after moving from Tilgate Park Golf Club in Crawley.
The scenic, tree-lined course features Silvermere Lake – famously used by Barnes Wallace during the Second World War to test his bouncing bomb – in its last two holes, keeping players on their toes at the conclusion of an enjoyable round.
Mark and his team, which numbers eight greenkeepers during the height of the season, look after the course using a fleet of TYMs.
“The tractors are used for a wide range of jobs with different requirements, so we need a variety of sizes,” explains Mark. “The T290 is a compact that can be used for transport as well as with an implement such as a sprayer, it is very versatile.
“Then there’s the 70hp T700, the biggest TYM machine I have, which I use for Verti-Draining the fairways. We also have a T431 and I use this for spiking, scarifying and leaf collection because the cab offers protection for the operator – it is a real all-year round tractor.”
Mark has recently added the 27hp T273HST, and he comments: “We have a good relationship with TYM, the team here are all happy and say the tractors are easy to use, so I thought we should keep within the TYM family.
“I chose the T273HST because I wanted something a bit smaller to use on the greens. Also, it has a
two-range hydrostatic transmission as opposed to gear drive, which is good for spraying duties.
“In addition we have a small Verti-Drain which can be pulled by this tractor, making a good combination for greens. We have been able to reduce weight on the greens which minimises compaction.”
adeane@tymtractors.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)845 838 883 –
www.tymtractors.co.uk
New front linkage
OPICO has further expanded its range of tailor-made front linkages for Kubota tractors with a new linkage for the M5740 series. It has a lift capacity of 1.5t, and is available with or without front PTO.
As with all OPICO linkage ranges, the new Kubota front linkage has a heavy duty PTO gearbox with its own oil supply, and an electro-hydraulic ‘soft-start’ clutch to prevent ‘snatching’ when the PTO is engaged.
An eccentric pin design gives a choice of three link arm working positions – fixed, semi-floating and fully floating – so the linkage can be set appropriately for the job. For attaching a front press, the fully-floating position allows the contours of the ground to be followed, whilst for a front weight block, putting the link arms into a fixed position prevents it bouncing around.
The linkage includes a vertical fold system in which the arms fold back vertically and very close to the tractor when not in use, giving added manoeuvrability and safety.
The bespoke design gives extra strength to the linkage and its simplicity means that there are fewer wearing parts than on other makes of linkage.
The price of the 1.5t linkage for the Kubota M5740 tractor series is £2,324, or £5,325 with PTO. Typical delivery time when ordered through OPICO is less than 3 weeks from order placement. A fitting service is available costing from £250 to £550.
TEl 01778 421111.
Hugh.hunter@opico.co.uk
www.opico.co.uk
Other useful contacts
Affordable Tractors
Tel: 01179 373443
Mob: 07767 226516
barry@affordabletractors.co.uk
www.affordabletractors.co.uk
Benye uk
Tel 01829 261075
BenyeUK@aol.com
www.benye.co.uk
Coombe Hill Garage
tel: 01722 718817
mobile: 07836 278372
Emailsmalltractors@yahoo.co.uk
Compact Tractors & Machinery, Smallholder Specialists.
Tel 07813 847128. B
www.cowlingagri.co.uk
Foton Compact Tractor Company
Tel: 01622 858795
Mobile: 07825 381539
www.fotoncompacttractor.com
GPK Tractors
Tel 01224 339815
sales@gpktractors.com
A J & R Scambler & Son
Tel 01954 718484
sales@scambler.com
smalltractors
Tel 01664 822134
info@smalltractors.co.uk
Land-trac
Northampton
01604821140
07790019058
sales@land-trac.co.uk
www.land-trac.co.uk
Mitsubishi compact tractor range
Tel: 01787 228450
enquiries@masterfarm.co.uk
Paul Helps Paddock Equipment
TEl 01458 850 084 or email
sales@paddockequipment.co.uk
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