17/08/08
John Deere has announced a series of improvements to its combine range for 2009, designed to increase harvest performance in all crops and conditions.
John Deere S690i
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All basic W, T and C Series models will be available with a choice of two optional productivity enhancing packages. The i-Series Pro combines will include as standard HarvestSmart automatic feedrate control, AutoTrac assisted steering and Harvest Doc software, together with a new ProDrive automatic transmission. These machines will be of particular interest to contractors and farmers working on sloping land.
The i-Series Complete combines will include HarvestSmart, AutoTrac and HarvestDoc as standard, and will generally be more suitable for harvesting on level ground and in less demanding conditions. All i-Series combines offer an additional harvest capacity of 23 per cent compared with their non-i equivalents.
All S Series combines will be designated S690i, with the level land model available as standard with the i-Series Complete specification and the HillMaster model with the i-Series Pro package. There will be no standard S690 models available from 2009.
The S690i combines will also feature a new high performance package as standard equipment. A revised separation and cleaning system incorporates less aggressive threshing elements, to provide efficient grain separation while also being gentler to both grain and straw. The new concave configuration, with a large wire design in the final section, means that more material is held in the separator, which also reduces unnecessary loads on the DynaFlo cleaning shoe.
In addition, a new extension to the top sieve provides better distribution of air across the cleaning shoe, as well as a boost in cleaning capacity. This also makes it easier for the operator to optimise the combine’s set-up due to improved stability of the cleaning shoe. A new mid-floor pivoting feederhouse design further increases capacity by improving crop flow and helping to ensure even feeding, with 15 per cent more material volume passing through the feederhouse.
All these S Series features combine to provide increased performance through extra harvest capacity and an improved grain sample with reduced straw damage, especially in high yielding green crops.
The new ProDrive automatic transmission fully integrates with the HarvestSmart system, to allow the operator to achieve maximum performance from the combine both in the field and on the road, especially on hilly ground or in difficult harvest conditions.
Similar in design to the established John Deere self-propelled forage harvester transmission, ProDrive offers two adjustable speed ranges. This means the operator can, for example, use a lower range for harvesting and a faster setting for headland turns, with fully automatic changes and no need to stop to change gears.
Up to 64 per cent more torque is available when operating at speeds of 8kph and above. ProDrive provides higher braking capacity and an automatic park brake that engages when you stop and engage neutral, for added safety and control. A push-button diff lock automatically disengages at travel speeds over 11.5kph, and maximum road speed is 30kph.
W, T & C Series combines for 2009 will now feature as standard a new electrical system with enhanced on-board diagnostics, and a new colour CommandCenter display, similar to that used in 6030 Series Premium tractors. Both of these were first introduced on this year’s S Series machines. Equipped with ‘hot keys’ on the top of the display, the CommandCenter module is designed to make it simple for the operator to navigate through the combine’s control system, and make adjustments more quickly and easily.
A new addition to the John Deere combine range for 2009 is the 255hp W540C model. This fixed specification machine is designed for all crops and conditions, and offers market leading performance features in this product sector. Standard specifications include the new CommandCenter display, a large active separation area of 1.5m2, a 660mm diameter drum fitted with 10 rasp bars, a big 8000 litre capacity grain tank capable of emptying in 88 seconds, and a narrow transport width of 3.49m.
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