24/06/08
It is rare to see a tractor the size of a Case IH Magnum 225 roaming the fields and roads of Cornwall and according to the supplying dealer, Tamar Tractors Ltd of St Ive, Nr Liskeard, this is the biggest Case IH tractor to be sold in the county.
Mike Peters, Dealer Principal and Sales Manager of
Tamar Tractors (left) hands the keys to David Renfree.
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The choice of the latest Magnum tractor was not simply a matter of one-upmanship for West Country contractor, David Renfree, but the result of a careful selection process that took in many of the leading machines across the industry. Operating in a 40-miles radius from Liskeard, the Magnum spends the majority of its time in the field but also had to work well on the road.
Hauling and spreading more than 20,000 tonnes of manure from Stonegate’s Horizon farms, a leading egg producer and poultry farm, is a 365-day-a-year job that requires just the right machinery. “We can’t afford any downtime,” explains Mr Renfree. “There is little room in the process for stockpiling the manure, so this has to be removed and distributed to the local farms on a daily basis.”
In addition to its reliability, the Magnum was chosen for its unique balance of on-road and off-road ability, which allows the year-round operation to continue regardless of the weather conditions. Working with a large rear discharger spreader, the Magnum 225 can produce up to 257hp, but its ability to transfer that power to the ground has impressed Mr Renfree.
“We needed a tractor that worked well on the road, but most importantly had to have great in-field traction. We looked a wide range of tractors and more dedicated road vehicles but it was the Magnum’s phenomenal grip that impressed us, and has continued to do so throughout a very wet winter,” said Mr Renfree.
Specified with a 50kph transmission and front-axle and cab suspension, the Magnum has also performed well on the road. “Very good road manners for a machine of this size and the ride is excellent. The tractor is fitted with 650/85/R38’s at the rear and 540/65/R34’s at the front, which gives great traction and good control, and the transmission is easy to use.”
With more than 1100 hours on the clock since its purchase in December last year, the Magnum has rarely been out of service. “Apart from the odd minor issue, the tractor has performed very well and we’ve received an excellent service from Tamar Tractors Ltd, which has kept us running and meeting our commitments, including those of my own farm’s cereal production and livestock enterprises.
“By the time we come to change the tractor, we’ll have completed around 6,000 hours with it and a new Magnum will certainly be at the top of my list,” said Mr Renfree.
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