Size matters
The new Krone Big X 530 harvester is delivering the goods in Wexford, reports Jamie Casey
controls, which can take some getting used to.
Alan Gregan operates the harvester for Mr Byrne. “The Vario controlled transmission was awkward to master at first, but offers fine speed control when you get the hang of it,” explained Mr Gregan, but added that he found no issue with the hydrostatic control he was more accustomed to on the Claas.
As regards the engine operating at 1800RPM, it is said to have outperformed all expectations. The Big X is fitted with a number of nifty features, one of which stops the feed rollers should the engine RPM drop below a preset value.
This ensures that the harvester will never stall the drum, which can be a nasty job to clear out, not to mention the severe strain placed on components along the driveline between the engine and chopping unit to physically stall the unit.
FEATURES
Discussing the features that impressed him enough to open the cheque book, Mr Byrne said that the Krone was a very well thought-through machine, designed from the ground up. He explained: “From the pick-up header right through to the rear suspension, every detail has been scrutinised and well-engineered.”
The pick-up header comes in for particular praise, with both men agreeing that it offers excellent flotation on undulating ground, reducing the risk of scalping and the inclusion of soil in the chopped crop.
Having passed through the pick-up header, the crop is then fed to the drum through the redesigned feed roller system. There are now a total of six feed rollers compressing the crop; three top and three bottom.
Krone claims this results in a much smoother and more consistent flow of material into the chopping unit, which aids fuel efficiency. The engine can focus on powering the drum at a more constant RPM, chopping through a constant and steady inflow of material, rather than surging through lumps.
Both a stone detector and a metal detector are incorporated into the feed roller system, the questing a chop length of up to 30mm,” said Mr Byrne.
CHOPPING UNIT
Having progressed through the feed rollers, the crop enters the redesigned chopping drum. The new drum is now narrower and has a greater diameter than its predecessor. The larger diameter leads to greater momentum in the drum itself, while the reduced width leads to lower power consumption without the expected loss in output thanks to the increased diameter.
The knives are now mounted on off-centre rotating dowels which allow for easier and more accurate alignment of the knives with the shear bar. Should a lump enter the drum, the belly band on the underside is now spring loaded, allowing the lump to pass through without stalling the drum or engine.
The reduced width of the chopping drum has another bonus point, in that it allows oversize tyres to be fitted without making the machine unnecessarily wide on the road.
A redesigned chute also gets praise from machine driver Mr Gregan. “The increased width and length brings a number of benefits,” he explained. “The length keeps the trailers fur-