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Summary of Co-op Implements 550SP Swather (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.19 MB)
Functional Performance: Functional performance of the CI 550SP was very good in average grain crops. In heavy grain and rapeseed, performance was fair due to bunching and ineffectiveness of the dividers.
Performance of the CI 550SP when equipped with the standard 18 foot grain header was good in alfalfa and alfalfa brome mixtures but was fair in crested wheatgrass, redtop and slough grass, mainly due to limited speed range.
During 124 hours of operation, the durability of the CI 550SP was very good.
Windrow quality was very good. A herringbone pattern was formed in most crops. Cutting ability, when equipped with a 5500 mm (18 ft) grain header was very good in grain crops and succulent hay crops and was fair in tough hay crops. Suitable field speeds were 6 to 10 km/h (4 to 6 mph) in average grain crops. The minimum speed of 5.3 km/h (3.3 mph) was too fast for heavy grain crops or tough hay crops.
Controls for the CI 550SP were conveniently positioned and responsive. Handling characteristics and maneuverability were fair. Adjustment of draper speed and reel speed were convenient. Sound level at the operator's ear was about 88 decibels (A scale).
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The engine had adequate power for all conditions. Normal fuel consumption was 5 L/h (1.1 gal/h).
Operator Safety: No serious safety hazards were encountered when operated according to normal, safe operating procedures.
Summary of Massey Ferguson MF655 Swather (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.01 MB)
Functional Performance: Functional performance of the MF 655 was good in average grain crops. In heavy grain and rapeseed, performance was fair to poor due to bunching and ineffectiveness of the dividers.
Performance of the MF 655, when equipped with the 5500 mm (18 ft) grain header was good in alfalfa and alfalfa-brome mixtures but was poor to unsatisfactory in crested wheatgrass, redtop and slough grass.
During 104 hours of operation, the durability of the MF 655 was very good except in tough hay crops where repeated pitman failures occurred.
The MF 655 formed parallel windrows in heavy crops and herringbone windrows in lighter crops. Windrow quality was good but was often reduced by bunching. Cutting ability, when equipped with the 5500 mm (18 ft) grain header was very good in grain crops and succulent hay crops but was poor to unsatisfactory in tough hay crops. Suitable field speeds were 6 to 10 km/h (4 to 6 mph) in average grain crops. Speeds up to 3 km/h (2 mph) were suitable for hay crops.
Controls were conveniently positioned and responsive. Handling characteristics and maneuverability were excellent. Adjustment of draper speed and reel speed were slightly inconvenient. Sound level at the operator's ear was about 90 decibels (A scale).
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The engine had adequate power for all conditions. Normal fuel consumption was 7.3 L/h ( 1.6 gal/h).
Operator Safety: No serious safety hazards were encountered when operated according to normal safe operating procedures.
Summary of International Harvester 4000 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.15 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the International Harvester 4000 windrower was excellent in all grain crops and very good in flax and rapeseed.
Performance in hay crops, when equipped with the 6 m (19.5 ft) grain header, was very good.
Cutting ability was excellent in all grain crops and most hay crops. In very heavy, tough hay crops, cutting ability was good. Table floatation was very good.
Windrow formation and quality were very good. Parallel and angled parallel windrows were predominant in both hay and grain crops. Fantail patterns occurred in very heavy crops while herringbone patterns frequently occurred in light crops.
The traction drive generated less torque when backing up than when travelling forward. As a result, it was sometimes impossible to back out of soft spots in the field if the windrower was driven too far into the soft ground. It was also not possible to back out of the cradles on some windrower transporters, due to lack of wheel torque in reverse.
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned. Handling characteristics and maneuverability were excellent. Most adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took from 15 to 20 minutes.
Operator station sound level was about 91 dBA. Operators are advised to wear suitable ear protection especially when working long days. Visibility from the operator's platform was very good.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Engine power was adequate. Suitable field speeds were 9 to 11 km/h (5.5 to 7 mph) in average grain crops and 7 to 10.5 km/h (4 to 6.5 mph) in average hay crops. Normal fuel consumption was about 14.5 L/h (3.2 gal/hr).
Operator Safety: Two minor safety problems were evident: the variable speed control lever had a tendency to creep, resulting in a change of forward speed when travelling up or down steep hills, while the engine safety lockout came out of adjustment three times during the test. No other safety hazards were evident when operating according to normal recommended procedures.
Summary of John Deere 800 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.38 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the John Deere 800 windrower was good in all grain crops, good in rapeseed and fair to good in flax.
Performance in hay crops was good when equipped with the 5.5. m (18 ft) grain header and listed options.
Cutting ability was good in most standing grain and hay crops. In lodged grain and flax crops, cutting ability was fair. Header floatation was good.
Windrow formation and quality varied from fair to very good depending on crop type and stand. Parallel and angled parallel swath patterns were predominant in hay and grain crops. Fantail patterns occurred in most heavy crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. The header windrow opening was inadequate in very heavy crops.
Operator controls were slightly inconvenient. Handling characteristics and maneuverability were good. Adjustments were convenient. Daily maintenance took from 25 to 30 minutes.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Engine power was adequate. Suitable field speeds were 6.5 to 9.5 km/h (4 to 6 mph) in average grain crops and 6.5 to 9.0 km/h (4 to 5.5 mph) in average hay crops. Normal fuel consumption was 9.2 L/h (2.0 gal/hr).
Operator Safety: Visibility from the operator's platform was very good. Sound level at the operator's ear was about 89 dBA. No serious safety hazards were encountered when operating according to normal recommended procedures.
Summary of Massey Ferguson 775 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.41 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Massey Ferguson 775 windrower was good in all crops, when equipped with the 5.5 m (18 ft) grain header.
Cutting ability was very good in all grain crops and most hay crops. In very heavy, tough hay crops, and flax and rapeseed cutting ability was good. Table floatation was very good. The maximum table lift was adequate to clear heavy headland windrows.
Windrow formation and uniformity were good to very good.
Parallel and angled parallel windrows were predominant in both hay and grain crops. Angled parallel windrows occurred in most heavy crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops.
The header windrow opening was not large enough to adequately clear all crops.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Engine power was adequate. Suitable field speeds were 6 to 10 km/h (3.5 to 5 mph) in average grain crops and 5 to 8 km/h (3 to 5 mph) in average hay crops. Normal fuel consumption was about 11.0 L/h (2.6 gal/h).
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned. Response to the control was excellent. Handling and maneuverability were very good. Most adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took from 10 to 15 minutes.
Operator Safety: Operator station sound level was about 90 dBA. Visibility from the operator's platform was excellent. Stability on steep hillsides was excellent. Operator safety was very good, however, the steering neutral lock tended to engage while the windrower was in motion.
Operator Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It was concise and clear and contained pertinent information on maintenance, adjustments and safety precautions.
Summary of Versatile Hydrostatic 400 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.15 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Versatile 400 windrower was very good in all crops, when equipped with the 5.5 m (18 ft) grain header.
Cutting ability was very good in all grain crops and most average hay crops. In very heavy, tough hay crops, flax and rapeseed, cutting ability was good. Header flotation was very good, but maximum header lift was inadequate to clear heavy headland wind rows.
Windrow formation and quality were very good. Parallel, angled parallel, and fantail windrows were predominant in both hay and grain crops. Fantail windrows occurred in most heavy crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops.
The header windrow opening was adequate to clear all crops. Suitable field speeds were 8 to 11 km/h (5 to 6 mph) in average grain crops, and 5 to 11 km/h (3 to 6 mph) in average hay crops. Normal fuel consumption was about 9 L/h (2 gal/h).
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned. Handling and maneuverability were very good. Most adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took from 15 to 20 minutes.
Operator station sound level was about 90 dBA.
Visibility from the operator's platform was excellent. Stability on steep hillsides was excellent.
Frequent operation of controls was required to maintain reel and header heights.
Operator Safety: Two safety problems were evident. Strict speed control was difficult to maintain as the variable speed control lever required a large initial force to move it which caused the machine to lurch forward unexpectedly. Also, the windrower was easily tipped forward on the header, due to the weight distribution.
Operator Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It was clearly and concisely written, and contained useful information on maintenance, adjustment and safety precautions.
Summary of Hesston 6400 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.08 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Hesston 6400 windrower was fair in all grain and oil seed crops, but good in most forage crops.
Cutting ability was very good in all grain crops and most hay crops. In very heavy, tough hay crops, cutting ability was good. The table floatation was good. The table lift was sufficient to clear heavy headland windrows. Because of its width, the left divider pushed down a wide path of crop. The windrower was not able to fully pick up the crop on the return pass.
Windrow formation and quality were poor to fair in grain, but good in most hay crops partially because of the steep header angle of 36°. Angled parallel and herringbone patterns predominated in both hay and grain crops. The windrower tended to stand the crop stems on the butts and leave the heads in the centre of the windrow.
The header windrow opening was not large enough to clear some crops. The engine had adequate power. Suitable field speeds were 6 to 10 km/h in average grain crops and 3 to 10 km/h in average hay crops.
Normal fuel consumption was about 8.0 L/h.
Most operator controls were convenient and well positioned. Handling and maneuverability were very good. Most adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took from 15 to 20 minutes.
Transporting the Hesston was easy and safe with the optional tow bar. Performance of this system was excellent.
Operator station sound level was about 90 dBA. Visibility from the operator's platform was poor. Stability on hillsides was very good.
When the header was lowered, it moved to the limit of the specified travel. Frequent operation of the control was required to maintain desired header height.
Operator Safety: The Hesston had three minor safety problems. When transporting, no provision was made for the attachment of a slow moving vehicle sign. The reel could not be blocked for servicing. The relative positions of the variable speed control and the seat decreased operator visibility. In order to observe draper and knife action, the operator had to stand. In doing so, the variable speed control had to be pushed forward, accelerating the machine.
Operator Manual: Operator and assembly manuals were excellent. They provided useful information about assembly, maintenance, operation and safety precautions concerning the wind rower.
Summary of Versatile 10 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.10 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Versatile 10 windrower was very good in all grain crops and was good in flax and rapeseed. Performance in hay crops, with the 6 m (20 ft) cutter bar, was good.
Cutting ability was excellent in most standing grain and hay crops. Feeding problems occurred in lodged crops. Table flotation was very good.
Windrow formation and quality varied from good to very good depending on crop type and stand. Parallel and angled parallel windrow patterns were predominant in hay and grain crops. Fantail patterns occurred in most heavy crops, while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. The windrow opening was sometimes too narrow in very heavy crops.
Sideways skewing reduced performance on hillsides and in soft fields.
Reel and table height were easily controlled with the tractor hydraulics. Daily maintenance took from 20 to 25 minutes.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Peak power take-off requirements were about 10 kW (13 hp). A 30 kW (40 hp) tractor would have ample power reserve to operate the Versatile 10 in most field conditions. Suitable field speeds were from 3 to 11 km/h (2 to 7 mph) in average grain crops and from 3 to 7 km/h (2 to 4 mph) in average hay crops.
Operator Safety: No serious safety hazards were apparent, when the windrower was operated according to normal recommended procedures.
Summary of International Harvester 75 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.06 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the International Harvester 75 windrower was very good in all grain crops and was good in flax and rapeseed. Performance in hay crops, with the 7.3 m (24 ft) cutter bar, was good.
Cutting ability was excellent in most standing grain and hay crops. Feeding problems occurred in lodged crops. Table flotation was good.
Windrow formation and quality varied from good to very good depending on crop type and stand. Parallel and angled parallel windrow patterns were predominant in hay and grain crops. Fantail patterns occurred in heavy grain crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. The windrow opening was sometimes too narrow in very heavy crops.
Sideways skewing reduced performance on hillsides and in soft fields.
Reel and table height were easily controlled with the tractor hydraulics. Daily maintenance took from 10 to 15 minutes.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Peak power take-off requirements were 10 kW (13 hp). A 35 kW (47 hp) tractor would have ample power reserve to operate the IH 75 in most field conditions. Suitable speeds were from 3 to 11 km/h (2 to 7 mph) in average grain crops and from 2 to 7 km/h (1 to 4 mph) in average hay crops.
Operator Safety: No serious safety hazards were apparent, when the windrower was operated according to normal recommended procedures.
Summary of Co-op Implements 660 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.24 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Co-op Implements 660 windrower was very good in all grain crops and was good in flax and rapeseed. Performance in hay crops, with the 7.3 m (24 ft) cutter bar, was good.
Cutting ability was excellent in most standing grain and hay crops. Feeding problems occurred in lodged crops. Table flotation was fair.
Windrow formation and quality varied from fair to very good depending on crop type and stand. Parallel and angled parallel windrow patterns were predominant in hay and grain crops. Fantail patterns occurred in most heavy grain crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. The narrow windrow opening setting was inadequate in heavy grain and hay crops, while the wide setting was adequate in all crops.
The automatic side draft eliminator was effective in reducing sideways skewing on hillsides and in soft fields. Its performance was very good in firm fields and good in soft fields.
Reel and table height were easily controlled with the tractor hydraulics. Daily maintenance took from 25 to 30 minutes.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: Peak power take-off requirements were about 10 kW (13 hp). A 35 kW (47 hp) tractor would have ample power reserve to operate the Co-op 660 in most field conditions. Suitable speeds were from 3 to 10 km/h (2 to 6 mph) in average grain crops and from 3 to 5 km/h (2 to 3 mph) in average hay crops.
Operator Safety: No serious safety hazards were apparent, when the windrower was operated according to normal recommended procedures.
Summary of Brunetti Separ B Crop Divider (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.43 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Brunetti Separ B crop divider was excellent in rapeseed and lodged wheat. Ease of operation was excellent.
Power Requirements: Under normal working conditions, current draw of the 12 V electric drive motor ranged from 17 to 25 A, depending on crop conditions and ground speeds. The electrical power required to operate the Separ was about 0.25 kW (0.33 hp). The motor had ample power for all crop conditions encountered and ground speeds of up to 12 km/h (8 mph).
The Separ was easy to mount on the windrower, and when not in use it was easily removed for safe storage.
Operator Safety: The cutterbar drive components were adequately shielded.
Mechanical Problems: No mechanical problems occurred during the test.
Summary of Glendale Power Swath Separator (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.49 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Glendale power swath separator was excellent in rapeseed and lodged wheat. Ease of operation was excellent.
Power Requirements: Power requirements ranged from 0.25 to 0.50 kw (0.3 to 0.7 hp), depending on crop conditions and ground speed. Suitable ground speeds depended on crop conditions, however speeds up to 12 km/h (8 mph) were possible in some lodged crops.
Suitable rotational speeds for the Glendale separator varied from 200 to 600 rpm, with an optimum speed of 400 rpm.
A welder and power tools were needed to attach the Glendale and its drive components to a windrower. A direct drive from the reel was the most practical method of powering the Glendale. The cutting blade was easily removed for storage.
Operator Safety: No shielding was provided for the drive components.
Mechanical Problems:No mechanical problems occurred during the test.
Summary of Versatile Hydrostatic 4400 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.16 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Versatile 4400 windrower was very good in all crops. Cutting ability was very good in all grain and hay crops of average yield. Header floatation was very good. Maximum header lift was adequate to clear heavy windrows.
Windrow formation was very good in both single or double windrowing. Parallel, angled parallel, and fantail windrows were predominant in grain crops. Fantail windrows occurred in most heavy crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. On-the-go draper and reel speed adjustments permitted the operator to effectively maintain windrow quality and reduce shatter losses.
Double windrowing required vigilant operator control, due to the narrow divider margin. The divider had to run immediately adjacent to the first windrow, when laying the second windrow. Even slight deviation in travel direction resulted in hairpinning of the windrow or missed crop.
The header windrow opening was adequate for all crops. Maximum speeds were about 11 km/h in average grain crops and about 9 km/h in average hay crops.
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned, however the proximity of the speed control lever to the header drive lever occasionally resulted in confusion. It was sometimes difficult to find the neutral position in the speed control lever during quick maneuvers.
Operator station sound level was about 87 dBA.
Most adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took about 10 minutes.
Visibility from the operator's platform was excellent. Stability on slopes was very good.
Performance of the optional hay crimper was very good. It was convenient to install. Feeding was aggressive. The engine had ample power to handle the crimper in all conditions.
Operators Manual: The operator manual was very good.
Mechanical Problems: A number of minor durability problems occurred during the test.
Summary of OMC 280 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.65 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the OMC 280 windrower was very good in forage crops and fair to good in grain and oil seed crops. Cutting ability was excellent in all grain and forage crops of average yield. Header floatation was very good. Maximum header lift was not adequate to clear heavy windrows.
Windrow formation was fair. Angled parallel and herringbone were the predominant wind row types in grain crops. The draper speed and draper angle were not adjustable. The reel was provided with two speed adjustments.
The header windrow opening was adequate for all crops except very heavy rapeseed. Maximum field speeds were about 12 km/h in average grain crops and about 10 km/h in average hay crops.
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned.
Adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took about 10 minutes.
Operator sound level was about 92 dBA. Visibility from the operator's platform was excellent. Machine stability, on slopes, was excellent.
Operators Manual: The operator manual was very good.
Mechanical Problems: A few minor durability problems occurred during the test.
Summary of John Deere 2320 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.09 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the John Deere 2320 windrower was very good to excellent in all crops.
Cutting ability was excellent in all grain and hay crops of average yield. Header floatation was very good. Maximum header lift was adequate to clear heavy windrows.
Windrow formation was very good in both single and double windrowing. Parallel, angled parallel, and fantail windrows were predominant in grain crops. Fantail windrows occurred in most heavy crops while herringbone patterns occurred in light crops. On-the-go reel speed adjustment and convenient draper speed adjustment permitted the operator to maintain windrow quality and reduce shatter losses at most travel speeds.
Double windrowing was convenient due to the wide divider margin made possible by the narrow right end draper. This permitted some deviation in travel direction when laying a second windrow adjacent to the first windrow.
The header windrow opening was adequate for all crops except heavy rapeseed. Maximum field speeds were about 12 km/h in average grain crops and about 10 km/h in average hay crops.
Operator controls were convenient and well positioned.
Adjustments were simple and convenient. Daily maintenance took about ten minutes.
Operator station sound level was about 87 dBA. Visibility from the operator's platform was good. Stability on slopes was excellent.
Operators Manual: The operator manual was very good.
Mechanical Problems: Several minor durability problems occurred during the test.
Summary of Willcar Autotran 2500 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.00 MB)
Functional Performance: Overall functional performance of the Willcar Autotran 2500 Windrower was good in cereal grain crops and fair in hay, flax and rapeseed.
Cutting Ability: In cereal grain and rapeseed crops, cutting ability was good. In hay and flax, cutting ability was fair due to insufficient knife cutting power. The divider was adequate for most crops, but in rapeseed, material caught on the divider causing a bunchy windrow. Table flotation was poor.
Windrow Formation: Quality of windrows varied from very good in clean cereal crops to fair in rapeseed. Parallel and angle parallel windrow patterns were predominant. Double windrows were one third to three quarters overlapped on the first windrow.
Side-by-side windrows were obtained with the optional 18 in (460 mm) extension table.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Double windrowing required some operator experience to reduce cutterbar plugging and windrow bunching. The extension table hindered maneuverability around obstacles.
Ease of transporting the Autotran 2500 was very good. It could be easily placed into transport in less than one minute.
Operator controls were convenient to use, but were not labelled. Adjustments were easily made. Daily servicing took less than 10 minutes.
Power Requirements: Peak power take-off requirement was about 20 hp (15 kW). A 65 hp (49 kW) tractor would have ample power reserve to operate the Autotran 2500 in most field conditions. Maximum operating speed was 5 to 7 mph (8 to 11 km/h) in most crops.
Operator Safety: Labelling of the electric switches was required to prevent accidental engagement of the transport system A twisted frame led to a tire failure and a rim failure when transporting.
Operator Manual: The operator manual was brief and poorly written.
Mechanical History: A number of guards and knife sections were damaged during the test. A tire and a wheel failed due to overload. Other minor problems occurred.
Summary of Keer Shear RKS Crop Divider (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.46 MB)
Overall Performance: Overall functional performance of the Keer Shear RKS was excellent in all crops tested.
Quality of Work: Quality of work was excellent. Crop losses in rapeseed and flax were negligible. Windrow bunching did not occur.
Installation: Ease of installation was very good. The Keer Shear was easily removed for storage when not in use.
Power Requirements: Operating speed ranged from 250 to 400 rpm. Required power ranged from 0.4 to 1.0 hp (0.3 to 0.8 kW). Hydraulic oil flow at the recommended speed was 3.3 gal/min (0.25 L/sec). Maximum operating hydraulic pressure was about 500 psi (3450 kPa).
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of operation was very good. The blades picked up small stones and wet soil that occasionally stopped the chain.
Ease of adjustment was excellent. Three height positions were easily obtained by relocating two bolts. The chain tension was easy to adjust.
Operator Safety: The drive mechanism was totally enclosed. There were no safety decals to warn operators of the danger of the rotating blades.
Operator Manual: There were few installation instructions. No operator manual was available.
Mechanical History: The drive sprocket keeper loosened and fell off. No serious mechanical problems occurred.
Summary of Co-op Implements 742 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.12 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds, for the Co-op Implements 742 windrower, were 5 to 6 mph (8 to 10 km/h). Slower speeds were required in tangled or tall leaning crops. Maximum speed was about 7 mph (11 km/h). Average work rates varied from 16 to 20 ac/h (6.5 to 8.1 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was fair. The end dividers normally flattened a path of crop. Reel performance was good. Material occasionally caught on the centre reel arms. In cereal grain and oilseed crops, cutting ability was very good.The flexible knife cut well and had sufficient power. Header flotation was very good. The hinged header followed rolling topography well. Draper performance was very good.
Parallel and fantail were the predominant windrow types formed. In leaning crops, parallel and angled parallel windrows occurred. Windrows were typically 6 to 7 ft (1.8 to, 2.1 m) wide. Some bunching occurred when rapeseed caught on the centre divider and when tall crop caught on the flotation springs by the windrow opening.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Header visibility was very good for the entire 42 ft ( 12.8 m) of cutterbar. The cab was clean and quiet and operator comfort was very good. Sound level was about 80 dBA. Controls and instruments were good. The controls were conveniently located and easy to operate. Delays in operation occurred because the reel and header lifted slowly, and the two sides of the reel had to be frequently releveled. The instruments were poorly located out of the operator's line of sight and were not easily noticeable. In full transport, the instruments were behind the operator. The windrower was well lit for windrowing at night.
Handling was good but required considerable operator experience. The windrower tended to tip forward on downslopes and during sudden stops.
Ease of transporting was very good in both semi-transport and full transport. The windrower could be placed into full transport by one man in less than 15 minutes. Semi-transport was suitable only for short moves or for maneuvering between fields.
Ease of adjustment was very good. All adjustments were accessible and easily made.
Ease of lubrication and maintenance was good. Daily lubrication took about 15 minutes. The knife drive line was difficult to grease. Routine maintenance was easily performed.
Power and Fuel Consumption: The motor had ample power and consumed about 2.8 gal/h (12.7 L/h) of fuel.
Operator Safety: The Cl 742 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were taken. Adjustments were safe to make and controls were located for easy operation. However, the neutral starting switch mounts interfered with the operation of a steering arm. Also, the instruments were behind the operator in transport and no rearview mirror was provided.
Operator Manual: The operator manual contained much useful information on operation and adjustments. However, it contained a few errors in the specifications and lubrication sections.
Mechanical History: Many mechanical problems occurred during the test. Most problems were due to poor assembly or defective components.
Summary of Wallis Ptl 130 Double Windrow Attachment (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.98 MB)
Rate of Work: With the 24 ft (7.3 m) windrower, average speeds for Wallis PTL 130 were 4 to 6 mph (6 to 10 km/h). Average work rates varied from 9 to 13 ac/h (3.6 to 5.3 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Draper performance was good. Uniform crops were conveyed smoothly, however, some plugging occurred in tall and very ripe crops. Parallel windrow patterns were predominant. Double windrows could be overlapped or laid side-by-side. Windrow uniformity varied from very good in straight clean crops to poor in some tall or very ripe crops. Poor feeding through the windrow opening onto the front draper reduced uniformity in tall or very ripe crops.
Ease of Operation: Ease of installation was good. Instructions were adequate. Complete installation took two men about 8 hours. The rear draper platform was difficult to align when removing and remounting. Controls were good. The optional hydraulic control kit was convenient to use, but the control switches were not labelled. Lifting rates and draper speeds were adequate. Windrow position was easy to control with the optional rear platform cylinder.
Handling was very good. The rear draper platform followed ground contours well. Ease of transporting was good. The Wallis PTL 130 did not have to be removed for transporting short distances, but had to be pulled into the ditch when meeting traffic.
Ease of adjustment was good. Draper speed was easily adjusted with the flow control valve. The draper tighteners were difficult to adjust and the front draper tightener was hard to reach.
Ease of servicing was good as daily servicing took less than 5 minutes.
Power Requirements: A 60 hp (45 kW) tractor capable of supplying 8.3 gpm (0.63 L/s) at 2000 psi (13.8 MPa) was required to operate the windrower with the Wallis PTL 130.
Operator Safety: The Wallis PTL 130 was fairly safe to operate if proper safety procedures were followed. The front draper tightener was dangerously located under the cutterbar.
Operator Manual: No operator manual was supplied.
Mechanical History: The front draper was damaged three times during the test. Seven other minor problems occurred.
Summary of Sperry New-Holland 1100 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.96 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the New Holland 1100 windrower were 5 to 6 mph (8 to 10 km/h). Maximum working speed was about 10 mph (16 km/h) Average work rates varied from 8 to 10 ac/h (3.3 to 4.0 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was fair. The dividers flattened a strip of crop. Reel performance was very good. Cutting ability was very good in all crops if sickles and guards were in good condition. The knife had adequate power, but the knife drive vibrated at full speed. Header flotation was very good. The cutterbar rode safely over stones and obstructions. Draper performance was fair. The drapers frequently plugged in tall crops and were slightly underpowered in heavy rapeseed crops.
Windrow formation was very good. Parallel and fantail windrows were formed in centre delivery. Parallel and angled parallel windrows were formed in end delivery. Single windrows were typically 3 to 4 ft. (0.9 to 2.4 m) wide. Double windrows were 7.5 to 10 ft (2.3 to 3.1 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was good. Bunching occurred in tall, straight crops when the drapers frequently plugged.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Header visibility was very good but shadows caused the cab windows to act like mirrors. Operator comfort was good. The cab was clean, but the knife drive caused annoying vibrations. Cab noise level was about 89 dBA. The controls were good. They were well placed, but the header lift pedals were awkward to operate. The instruments were easy to view.
Handling was very good. The windrower maneuvered easily and was very stable on slopes. Ease of transporting was very good. High range provided adequate speeds for short moves.
Ease of adjustment was very good. Ease of lubrication and maintenance was very good. Daily lubrication took about 10 minutes. Routine maintenance was easily performed. The draper pump drive belts could not be tightened properly.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The diesel engine had ample power and consumed about 2.4 gal/h (11.0 L/ha) while operating.
Operator Safety: No safety hazards were apparent on the NH 1100. Adjustments and controls were safe. A seat belt was not provided.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manuals were very good. Separate manuals were supplied for the traction unit, the diesel engine and the header. They included concise and well illustrated information on operation, servicing and assembly.
Mechanical History: Several mechanical problems occurred during the test. Most problems were related to the hydraulic systems on the traction unit and header.
Summary of Massey Ferguson 613 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.79 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds, for the Massey Ferguson 613 windrower, were 5 to 6 mph (8 to 10 km/h). Maximum speed was about 7 mph (11 km/h). Average work rates varied from 10 to 16 ac/h (4.0 to 6.5 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was very good. Crop was not flattened or hairpinned by the right divider. Some crop was lost over the left divider in tall leaning crops. Reel performance was very good. Cutting ability was very good in all crops. The knife cut well and had sufficient power, but the one-piece cutterbar dragged along the ground or missed crop in sharply rolling land. Table flotation was good. The flotation springs provided adequate knife protection, but the table bounced excessively. Draper performance was very good, but correct speed setting was critical for optimum windrow formation.
Windrow formation was very good. Parallel and herringbone were the predominant windrow types formed. Windrows were typically 4.5 ft (1.4 m) wide, but width was adjustable. Windrow uniformity was excellent as uniform windrows were, formed in all crops.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: The header and reel heights controls were very good, Lighting was good, depending on the tractor. A rear light improved windrow viewing. Handling was very good. Left and right corners were easily made. Side skewing occurred only on steep slopes and in soft sandy soils. Ease of transportation was excellent. The windrower could be placed into transport by one man in less than 3 minutes.
Ease of adjustment was very good. All adjustments were accessible and easily made. Ease of lubrication and maintenance was excellent. Daily lubrication took about 3 minutes. Routine maintenance was easily performed.
Tractor Requirements: Average power required was about 21 hp (16 kW). A tractor with gross weight of at least 5000 lb (2270 kg) was recommended by the operator's manual for safe operation.
Operator Safety: Safety was very good. No safety hazards were apparent on the MF 613. Adjustments were safe to make and controls were located for safe operation. Lighting and decals were adequate for safe road travel. to transport, the reel obscured rear vision.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It was easy to follow, accurate, and well illustrated. It contained useful information on operation and adjustments.
Mechanical History: A few mechanical problems occurred during the test.
Summary of Haukaas Pull-Type Windrower Stabilizer Attachment (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.25 MB)
Quality of Work: The ability of the Haukaas Stabilizer Attachment to control side skewing of a pull-type windrower was excellent. Side skewing was greatly reduced when operating up or across steep slopes and in soft soils.
Windrower maneuverability was excellent. The Haukaas Stabilizer did not restrict normal left or right turning of the windrower. The stabilizer folded up for transporting.
Ease of Installation: Ease of installing the Haukaas Stabilizer was very good. It took one man about 1/2 hours to install.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of operating and adjusting the stabilizer attachment was very good. It was easily disconnected for transporting or when not required. Few adjustments were needed.
Operator Safety: No safety problems were apparent.
Operator's Manual: Installation instructions were adequate. An operator's manual was not available.
Mechanical History: No mechanical problems occurred during the test. Windrower hitch and frame stresses were not decreased or increased by the Haukaas Stabilizer, but the strong springs reversed the direction of the loads on the hitch.
Summary of Swift Pull-Type Windrower Stabilizer Attachment (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.25 MB)
Quality of Work: The ability of the Swift Stabilizer Attachment to control side skewing of a pull-type windrower was very good. Side skewing was reduced when operating up or across steep slopes and in soft soils. It was less effective in very soft soils as the disk plowed sideways.
Windrower maneuverability was excellent. The Swift Stabilizer did not restrict left or right turning of the windrower. The stabilizer disk could be raised for transporting.
Ease of Installation: Ease of installing the Swift Stabilizer was excellent. It took one man about 20 minutes to install.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of operating and adjusting the stabilizer attachment was good. In firm soils, the stabilizer disk was difficult to engage. No adjustments were required.
Operator Safety: Hand injuries could result from disengaging the spring-loaded lever for transporting. No other safety hazards were apparent.
Operator's Manual: Instructions for installing and operating the Swift Stabilizer were not provided.
Mechanical History: No serious mechanical problems occurred. Windrower hitch and frame stresses were neither increased nor decreased by the Swift Stabilizer when windrowing on steep hills or when turning corners.
Summary of Muxlow Super Swather Model 21-21 Tractor Mounted Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.03 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the Muxlow Model 21-21 were 4 to 6 mph (6 to 10 km/h). Average workrates varied from 16 to 20 ac/h (6.5 to 8.1 ha/h). Maximum workrate was about 30 ac/h (12 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was fair. The side header right divider flattened a strip of crop. A powered divider was needed in rapeseed. Reel performance was good. The reels could not be adjusted far enough forward. Cutting ability was very good. The knives had adequate power. The cutterbar followed ground contours well. Header flotation was very good. Draper performances was good. However, the front draper was easily overloaded with crop, which caused the drive roller to slip. The optional rapeseed rollers worked well.
Windrow formation was very good. Mostly parallel windrows were formed. Two windrows could be placed 21 ft (6.4 m) apart, or together side-by-side or stacked. Single windrows were 4 ft (1.2 m) wide. Double side-by-side windrows were 6 to 9 ft (1.8 to 2.7 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was good. Uniform windrows were formed in most cereal crops and flax Bunching occurred in rapeseed. forward leaning tall crops, and heavy cereal crops.
Ease of Installation: Ease of installing was good, It was installed or removed by one man in about 45 minutes. Instructions were adequate.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Controls were good. The console was convenient to use, and the header height gauges were helpful. Visibility was good. The side header was easily viewed, but the front header was partly obstructed. Handling was good. Considerable operator experience was required. Corners were easily made. The windrower and tractor were very stable on slopes. Ease of transporting was very good. it was placed in transport in less than 1 minute.
Ease of adjustment was very good. Ease of lubrication and maintenance was very good. Daily servicing took less than 10 minutes. The hydraulic system maintained a safe oil temperature.
Tractor Requirements: Minimum power required was 18 hp (13 kW) pto. The manufacturer suggested the Muxlow Super Swather be mounted on at least a 100 hp (75 kW) tractor with dual rear wheels.
Operator Safety: There were no mechanical header safety locks. The front tires on the test tractor were overloaded by 58%. The operator's manual contained no safety tips.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good. It contained adequate assembly and mounting instructions and a troubleshooting guide. There were no sections on safety or operation.
Mechanical History: The hydraulic cylinders and hoses were of poor quality. Several mechanical problems occurred.
Summary of Massey Ferguson 885 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.99 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the Massey Ferguson 885 windrower were 4 to 6 mph (6 to 10 km/h). Maximum working speed was about 8 mph (13 km/h). Average workrates varied from 12 to 16 ac/h (4.9 to 6.5 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was very good. The optional header height gauge wheel flattened a strip of crop causing some crop loss. Reel performance was very good. Cutting ability was very good in all crops. The knife had adequate power. The skid plates or optional gauge wheels prevented the cutterbar from dragging along the ground. The gauge wheels also provided excellent contour following and helped maintain the cutting height. Header flotation was very good, Draper performance was very good when single windrowing and fair when double windrowing. Some crop material slid from the drapers onto the knife, especially when double windrowing.
Windrow formation was very good. Parallel and fantail windrows were formed in centre delivery. Parallel and angled parallel windrows were formed in end delivery. Single windrows were 3 to 5 ft (0.9 to 1.5 m) wide. Double windrows were 5 to 10 ft (1.5 to 3.0 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was excellent when single windrowing and good when double windrowing. Bunching occurred in very tall or short crops and when travelling too fast while double windrowing.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Operator comfort was very good. The cab was clean and quiet, Cab noise level was about 87 dBA. The header and stubble were easily viewed. The controls were very good. They were well placed and convenient to operate. The instruments were easy to view.
Handling was very good. The windrower maneuvered easily and was stable on slopes. A side-loading transporter was needed for transporting even short distances.
Ease of adjustment was very good. Ease of lubrication and maintenance was very good. Daily lubrication took about 10 minutes. Routine maintenance were easily performed.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The diesel engine had ample power and consumed about 2.3 gal/h (10.5 L/h) while operating..
Operator Safely: No safety hazards were apparent on the MF 885. Adjustments and controls were safe. A seat belt was not provided.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. A separate manual was supplied for the diesel engine. The manuals included concise and well illustrated information on operation, servicing and assembly.
Mechanical History: A few mechanical problems occurred during the test. There were some hydraulic leaks and draper roller failures
Summary of Fuma Sabre Crop Divider (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.35 MB)
Quality of Work: The ability of the Fuma Sabre to cut and separate the crop at the windrower divider was excellent. In rapeseed and flax, hairpinning on the windrow divider was prevented. This reduced crop loss and cutterbar plugging. In cereal crops, the powered divider was removed.
Ease of Installation: Ease of installing the Fuma Sabre crop divider was good. Complete installation took one man about 3 hours. Hydraulic hoses were not supplied. Instructions did not adequately explain the hydraulic hookup.
Ease of Operation and Adjustments: Ease of operating and adjusting the Fuma Sabre was excellent. Height and speed adjustments were suitable. Very little maintenance was required.
Power Requirements: Required power was about 0.4 to 1.0 hp (0.3 to 0.8 kW). Suggested operating speed was 250 rpm. Hydraulic oil flow was 3.3 gpm (0.21 L/s). Maximum hydraulic pressure was about 500 psi (3450 kPa).
Operator safety: Drive components were shielded. The exposed blades were potentially dangerous, but warning decals were supplied.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good. It was clearly written and illustrated. Suggested operating speed was not given. Hydraulic installation instructions were not adequate.
Mechanical History: No major problems occurred.
Summary of Cereal Implements 722 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.77 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the Cereal Implements 722 were 5 to 7 mph (8 to 11 km/h). Average workrates varied from 15 to 22 ac/h (6 to 8.8 ha/h). Maximum workrate was about 28 ac/h (11.2 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was good. The header gauge wheels trampled some crop that was pushed aside by the base of the dividers. Reel performance was very good. The range of vertical and fore-and-aft reel adjustments was suitable for all crops. Cutting ability was very good. The knife had adequate power in all crops. The header height indicator greatly aided in setting minimum cutterbar height. Header flotation was very good, and minimized cutterbar damage in stony fields. Draper performance was very good when single windrowing and fair when double windrowing. When double windrowing, the crop material slid down onto the cutterbar as it was conveyed the entire width of the header. The platform angle was 17 degrees at a cutting height of 6 in (150 mm) and was not adjustable.
Windrow formation was very good. Mostly parallel windrows were formed. Depending on the width of windrow opening, single, centre delivery windrows were normally 3 to 5 ft. (0.9 to 1.5 m) wide. Side-by-side double windrows were usually 6 to 9 ft. (1.8 to 2.7 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was excellent when single windrowing and good when double windrowing. When double windrowing in short crops, some bunchy windrows resulted when material slid forward on the drapers and the reel had to be lowered to sweep it back.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Operator comfort was good. The seat was positioned too far forward to suit tall operators, and cooled air was blown at the operator's back. Operator station sound level was 84 dBA. Ease of operating the controls was very good. The instruments were very good, and were easy to observe. The lighting was very good. There was ample lighting for operating at night.
Handling was very good. Steering was very quick and responsive. The windrower was very stable on slopes. A sideloading windrower transporter was needed for road travel.
Ease of adjustment was very good. Most adjustments were easily made.
Ease of lubrication and maintenance was very good. Daily servicing took about 15 minutes.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The engine had ample power for all conditions. Average fuel consumption was 2.5 gal/h (11.5 L/h).
Operator Safety: No safety hazards were apparent on the Cereal Implements 722. However, normal safety precautions were required. Safety stops were not provided for the header lift cylinders. The header should be fully lowered or properly blocked when working near the header or when the windrower is left unattended.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It contained much useful information on operation, adjustment, lubrication and maintenance. A separate manual was provided for the diesel engine.
Mechanical History: A few mechanical problems occurred during the test. Two hydraulic cylinders leaked, and a reel hub weld failed.
Summary of Honey Bee TM-50 Series III Tractor Mounted Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.93 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the Honey Bee TM-50 were 4 to 7 mph (6 to 11 km/h). Average workrates varied from 20 to 35 ac/h (8 to 14 ha/h). Maximum workrate was about 40 ac/h (16 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Performance of the dividers was good. The right divider only flattened tangled standing crop. Reel performance was very good. The range of vertical and fore-and-aft reel adjustments was suitable for all crops. Cutting ability was good. Initially, the knife plugged frequently in heavy crops. This was rectified by installing larger knife drive motors and a larger hydraulic pump. Care was required when setting cutting height especially while cutting short crops to prevent the cutterbar from dragging on the ground. Header flotation was good, provided the headers were not resting firmly on their gauge wheels. Draper performance was very good. Platform angles were adjustable and were suitable for all crops encountered.
Windrow formation was very good. Mostly parallel windrows were formed. Single windrows from the side header were usually herringbone. Single windrows were about 4 ft (1.2 m) wide. Double side-by-side windrows were usually 7 ft (2.1 m) wide. Double stacked windrows were usually 6 ft (1.8 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was very good for both double and single windrows.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installation was good. After initial installation and when familiar with the procedure, the windrower could be removed or installed by one man in 90 minutes. Instructions were adequate.
Ease of operating the controls was good. Considerable operator experience was needed to control both headers. Visibility was good. The side header was easily viewed.
Material flow on the front draper could not be seen from the tractor cab. Handling was good. Larger diamond tread front tractor tires greatly reduced skew on hillsides or on damp fields. Ease of transporting was very good. Three modes of transport were provided.
Ease of adjustment was good. Converting windrows from side-by-side to stacked, or from double to singles was inconvenient when changeovers were frequent.
Ease of lubrication and maintenance was very good. Daily servicing took less than 15 minutes.
Tractor Requirements: Minimum power required was 20 hp (15 kW). The manufacturer suggested the Honey Bee TM-50 be mounted on at least a 100 hp (75 kW) tractor with or without dual rear wheels.
Operator Safety: No safety hazards were apparent on the Honey Bee TM-50. However, normal safety precautions were required. The windrower did not have warning decals to indicate all dangerous areas. Safety stops were provided for both header lift cylinders. No hitch safety chains were provided.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good. It contained adequate assembly and installation instructions, as well as information on adjustment, operation and troubleshooting. It did not include servicing instructions, and did not emphasize operator safety.
Mechanical History: Because of cutting problems, the knife drive motors and hydraulic pump were changed to larger sizes. The front tires of the tractor were changed to tires with a greater load rating. Several minor mechanical problems occurred.
Summary of Wilger Stripper II Snow Trapping Attachment (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.5 MB)
Rate of Work: The Stripper II could cut up to 7 mph (11 km/h). A few grain heads were missed at speeds over 5.5 mph (9 km/h).
Quality of Work: Cutting ability was very good. The knife had adequate power and stubble was level and uniform. Short plants were missed if the reel was set too high. Crop delivery to the windrow was very good. The cut grain heads were placed on the windrow. and easily picked by the combine. The 4 ft (1.2 m) wide barrier strips were spaced one windrower width apart. Barrier height varied with reel height. Research on barrier stripping attachments has shown dramatic increases in soil moisture and yield.
Power Requirements: The hydraulic knife drive required 0.5 to 0.9 hp (0.4 to 0.7 kW). Flow at 600 rpm was 3.1 US gpm (0.20 L/s). Maximum hydraulic pressure was 500 psi (3500 kPa).
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installing was very good. It was assembled and mounted by one man in 4 hours. It fit most makes of windrowers, but hydraulic hookups varied. Ease of operating was excellent. No separate controls were needed. Ease of adjusting was good. Some awkward adjustments were required during initial operation. Ease of servicing was very good.
Safety: The cutterbar was shielded for safe installation. The operator's manual emphasized safety. A safety decal was supplied.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It was complete and well organized.
Mechanical History: Two minor problems occurred. The stubble deflector was bent and some bolts on the hinge loosened.
Summary of Hesston 8100 Self-Propelled Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.85 MB)
Rate of Work: Average speeds for the Hesston 8100 were 5 to 7 mph ( 8 to 11 km/h). Average workrates varied from 15 to 22 ac/h (6 to 8.8 ha/h). Lower workrates resulted from the draper slowing down from heavy load in canola. Maximum workrate was about 28 ac/h (11.2 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Divider performance was very good. The smooth dividers did not flatten crop except in leaning canola or tangled crops. Reel performance was very good. The adjustments were suitable for all crops. Cutting ability was very good. The knife had ample power in all crops. In green, tough or weedy crops material collected on the guards at the center of the header where the knives overlap and required frequent cleaning. When cutting short in rolling terrain, extra care was required to prevent the cutterbar from contacting the ground, since the center of the cutterbar was slightly lower than the outer ends. Header flotation was very good, and minimized cutterbar damage in stony fields. Draper performance was good. The drapers ran at suitable speeds in most crops but slowed down from heavy loads in canola. The platform angle was 14° at a cutting height of 6 in (150 mm) and could be adjusted to 17°.
Windrow formation was very good. Mostly parallel windrows were formed. Depending on the width of the windrow opening, single center delivery windrows were normally 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) wide. Side- by-side double windrows were usually 7 to 10 ft (2.1 to 3.0 m) wide. Windrow uniformity was excellent when single windrowing and very good when double windrowing. When double windrowing in short crops, slightly uneven windrows resulted when the reel hit the crop material that collected along the front edge of the drapers.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Operator comfort was very good. The ride was smooth. Operator station sound level was 81 dBA. Ease of operating the controls was good. They were conveniently located but reel and draper speed controls were not identified in the cab. The draper speed control also controlled draper position. This was inconvenient as draper speed had to be readjusted each time the drapers were shifted. The instruments were good, and were easy to observe. Audible alarms were provided only for engine coolant temperature and park brake engagement. No warning system was provided for the hydrostatic drive. The lighting was excellent. There was ample lighting for operating at night.
Handling was very good. Steering was very responsive but not overly sensitive. The windrower tipped forward on level ground during sudden stops. The wide header made meeting traffic on roadways inconvenient. A side loading transporter was used during the test.
Ease of adjustment was good. Most adjustments were easy to make but reel-to-cutterbar clearance and draper alignment were inconvenient to adjust.
Ease of lubrication was good. Daily servicing took 20 minutes. Some grease fittings were greased more frequently than stated in the manual.
Engine and Fuel Consumption: The engine had ample power for all conditions. Average fuel consumption was 2.2 gal/h (10 L/h).
Operator Safety: No safety hazards were apparent on the Hesston 8100. However, normal safety precautions were required. Safety stops were provided for both the reel and header lift cylinders. All guards were bolt-on type. A side loading transporter was used and the transport width required extreme care on narrow roads or when allowing traffic to pass.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manuals were good. They contained much useful information, however, they did not show all locations for greasing. No procedure was given for adjusting the reel-to-cutterbar clearance.
Mechanical History: A few mechanical problems occurred during the test. A rear wheel castor failed, the sliding draper decks derailed, and the left draper deflector failed.
Summary of Cereal Implements 702 Pull-Type Windrower (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.54 MB)
Rate of Work: Typical speed for the Cereal Implements 702 ranged from 5 to 7 mph (8 to 11 km/h) with a maximum attained speed of 9 mph (14 km/h). Workrate varied from 17 to 24 ac/h (6.8 to 9.6 ha/h) in straight level fields with even crop stands. Workrates at the maximum speed of 9 mph (14 km/h) was 30 ac/h (11 ha/h).
Quality of Work: Crop dividing was good. The crop divider pushed some plants down. Most were cut on the next round but in short, lodged or tangled crop, some trampled crop was missed. The small draper at the right end of the header provided adequate clearance when laying double windrows.
Header flotation was good. The hydraulic accumulator when properly set, prevented damage to the cutterbar; however, the header bounced slightly on rough terrain.
Cutting ability was good. The knife had adequate power in most crops and left ideal stubble. As the knife sections under the pressure clips wore, clearance increased, cutting was reduced and plugging occurred in damp crop.
Crop handling was good. The reels worked well in most crops, moving the crop over the cutterbar with minimal threshing and crop loss. The draper angle was suitable for most crops when centre delivering the windrow. When end delivering, in short stands, crop tended to slide down and bunchy windrows resulted. The draper had adequate power to convey all crops encountered and the speeds available were appropriate. The windrow opening was adequate in typical crop stands, but was marginal in heavy stands.
Windrow quality was good. In average crop stands, windrows were uniform with the crop laid in a parallel pattern. In heavy stands of bushy crop some bunching occurred and the windrow formation changed to a fantail pattern. End delivering short crops resulted in slightly bunchy windrows. Single windrow widths for cereal grains varied from 3 to 6 ft (0.9 to 1.8 m), while canola windrows were often 7 to 10 ft (2.1 to 3.0 m) wide.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of operating the controls was very good. The windrower's control console provided fingertip selection and control of windrower functions. The tractor's hydraulics operated the reel lift, header lift, hitch swing and transport positioning. Once latched together the draper tables could be easily shifted from the cab for laying double windrows.
Adjustment was very good. Initial adjustments were not difficult although more precise instructions would have been helpful. Day to-day adjustments such as draper tensioning and setting reel position were quick and easy to do. Adjusting windrower opening was time consuming and shifting the rollers was difficult.
Handling was very good. The windrower was quick and easy to switch from transport to field position. The windrower tracked well and handled slopes up to about 14 degrees. The absence of a PTO drive enabled very tight cornering without driveline vibrations. The adjustable hitch angle was very convenient. The windrower quickly and easily swung into transport with a width of 11.8 ft (3.6 m). It towed well at speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h). Caution was required when turning left as the hitch jack limited the turning angle.
Lighting was fair. Only one light was provided. It only shone on the cutting table. Extra lighting from the tractor was essential. Additional lighting was required to illuminate the windrow.
Ease of servicing was excellent. All grease fittings and maintenance points were easily accessed.
Tractor Power Requirements: The manufacturer's recommendations for tractor size were found to be appropriate. On a level field in a moderately heavy crop stand of wheat, drawbar power was about 17 hp (12.7 kW) and an additional 21 PTO hp (15.7 kW) was required to operate the windrower for a total of 38 hp (28.4 kW).
Operator Safety: The Cereal Implements 702 windrower was safe to operate if the safety precautions laid out in the manual were followed and normal caution was used. The drives were shielded and warning decals identified dangerous areas. A slow moving vehicle sign was provided but not a hitch safety chain. The front wheel of the windrower was overloaded while in transport position according to the Tire and Rim Association Guidelines.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It was well organized and illustrated. It contained much useful information although some instructions were incomplete and unclear.
Mechanical History: Only a few mechanical problems were encountered. The knife sections supplied wore rapidly which meant the pressure clips had to be adjusted often or cutting was affected. As well, the wear life was short.
MacDon Conventional Knife System (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.80 MB)
Rate of Work: The MacDon Conventional knife system cut smoothly and effectively up to about 6 mph (10 km/h) in lentils and peas when rigid vine lifters were used. Without lifters, speed had to be reduced for better operator control.
Quality of Work: Quality of cut was very good with rigid lifters and fair without lifters. Lifters reduced cutting loss from 5% of the total crop yield to less than 1%. With a clean cutterbar, and sharp knife, the stubble was a uniform height and cut cleanly, but as gumming occurred cutting effectiveness decreased. The ability to cut without shattering was fair. About 2 to 2.5% of total crop yield was lost due to shattering in mature lentils. The ability to operate effectively as crop adhesion or gumming occurred was fair. Gumming usually became severe enough that the cutterbar had to be cleaned about every 10 hours.
Power: About 1.7 to 2.6 hp (1.3 to 1.9 kW) was needed to drive the 21 ft (6.4 m) knife.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installation was very good. It took two people about 1 hour to install the guards and an assembled knife. Ease of adjustment was good. No shims or wear plates were required. Ease of cleaning was good. The knife was easily removed if the hold-downs were loosened. Ease of servicing was good. It took about 15 minutes to change one knife section when using a rivet tool.
Operator Safety: As with all cutterbars, extreme caution was required when servicing or repairing the knife.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was fair. No separate manual on the knife system was available. Discussion in the Westward 7000 windrower manual was limited.
Mechanical History: A total of 23 knife sections and 9 guards had to be replaced during 33 hours of cutting.
Schumacher Easy-Cut Knife System (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.8 MB)
Rate of Work: The Schumacher Easy-Cut knife system cut smoothly and effectively up to about 6 mph (10 km/h) in lentils and peas when rigid vine lifters were used. Without lifters, speed had to be reduced for better operator control.
Quality of Work: Quality of cut was very good with rigid lifters, and fair without lifters. Lifters reduced cutting loss from 5% of total crop yield to less than 1%. Under all conditions with a sharp knife, the stubble was a uniform height and cut cleanly. The ability to cut without shattering was fair. About 2 to 2.5% of total crop yield was lost due to shattering in mature lentils. The ability to operate effectively as crop adhesion or gumming occurred was good. Although cutting effectiveness was not reduced, gumming did cause knife power requirements to increase greatly.
Power: About 1.6 to 2.5 hp (1.2 to 1.9 kW) was typically needed to drive the 21 ft (6.4 m) knife when clean. As gumming occurred, up to 14 hp (10 kW) was needed.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installation was very good. It took two people about 1.5 hours to install the guards and assembled knife. The 3/8 in (10 mm) guard bolts in the 7/16 in (11 mm) holes on the windrower made guard alignment awkward. Ease of adjusting was excellent. No adjustments were needed at any time. Ease of cleaning was fair. The knife was difficult to remove. Ease of servicing was very good. It took about 5 minutes to change one bolt-on knife section.
Operator Safety: As with all cutterbars, extreme caution was required when servicing or repairing the knife.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. It contained thorough and well illustrated instructions on installing and maintaining the knife system.
Mechanical History: A total of 8 knife sections and 1 guard had to be replaced during 32 hours of cutting.
Westward Twin Tooth Knife System (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.8 MB)
Rate of Work: The Westward Twin Tooth knife system cut smoothly and effectively up to about 6 mph (10 km/h) in lentils and peas when rigid vine lifters were used. Without lifters, speed had to be reduced for better operator control.
Quality of Work: Quality of cut was very good with rigid lifters and fair without lifters. Lifters reduced cutting loss from 5% of the total crop yield to less than 1%. With a clean cutterbar and sharp knife the stubble was a uniform height and cut cleanly, but as gumming occurred cutting effectiveness decreased. The ability to cut without shattering was very good. Less than 1% of total crop yield was lost through shattering in mature lentils. The ability to operate effectively as crop adhesion or gumming occurred was fair. Gumming usually became severe enough that the cutterbar had to be cleaned about every 10 hours.
Power: About 2.2 to 2.7 hp (1.6 to 2.0 kW) was needed to drive the 21 ft (6.4 m) knife.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installation was fair. It took two people about 1 hour to install the guards and assembled knife. The top and bottom guards had different hole sizes, and the mounting bolts were not supplied. Ease of adjusting was fair. The wear plates had limited adjustment so shims were required. Ease of cleaning was good. The knife was easily removed if the top guards were loosened. Ease of servicing was excellent. It took only 3 minutes to change one bolt-on knife section as guards did not have to be removed.
Operator Safety: As with all cutterbars, extreme caution was required when servicing or repairing the knife.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was poor. No written instructions were provided.
Mechanical History: A total of 46 knife sections and no guards were replaced during 33 hours of cutting.
Crary 4 in 1 Knife System (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.8 MB)
Rate of Work: The Crary 4 in 1 system cut smoothly and effectively up to about 6 mph (10 km/h) in lentils and peas when rigid vine lifters were used. Without lifters, speed had to be reduced for better operator control.
Quality of Work: Quality of cut was very good with rigid lifters and fair without lifters. Lifters reduced cutting loss from 5% of total crop yield to less than 1%. With a clean cutterbar and sharp knife, the stubble was a uniform height and cut cleanly, but as gumming occurred cutting effectiveness decreased. The ability to cut without shattering was very good. Less than 1% of total crop yield was lost due to shattering in mature lentils. The ability to operate effectively as crop adhesion or gumming occurred was fair. Gumming usually became severe enough that the cutterbar had to be cleaned about every 10 hours.
Power: About 1.6 to 2.4 hp (1.2 to 1.8 kW) was needed to drive the 21 ft (6.4 m) knife.
Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of installation was good. It took two people about 1 hour to install the guards and assembled knife. Ease of adjusting was good. The shims and wear plates required occasional resetting. Ease of cleaning was good. The knife was easily removed if the hold-downs were loosened. Ease of servicing was very good. It took about 4 to 5 minutes to change a bolt-on knife section.
Operator Safety: As with all cutterbars, extreme caution was required when servicing or repairing the knife.
Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was good. Detailed instructions for several makes of combines were provided, but not for the Westward 7000 windrower.
Mechanical History: A total of four knife sections and no guards had to be replaced during 31 hours of cutting.
Vine Lifters (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.8 MB)
Cutting performance of all four knives was greatly enhanced through the use of vine lifters. Vine lifters reduced the number of missed plants of any knife system from 5% to less than 1.5% of crop yield. Vine lifters also reduced the incidence of plugging, and permitted faster travel speeds, up to 6 mph (10 km/h), in most pea and lentil fields. The study showed that vine lifters are a very economical investment for harvesting peas and lentils. The crop saved is substantial and will pay back the purchase price quickly.
Rigid lifters were preferred over skid lifters in all cases. They penetrated the soil to lift completely flattened vines. Skid lifters rode over the lowest vines, causing losses.
In short and medium height pulse crops the smaller rigid lifters, performed best. In taller, longer vined crops, longer and taller lifters like most half moon designs performed best. Lifters worked best at 9 or 12 in (230 or 300 mm) spacing. Closer spacing caused plugging between lifters, while wider spacing caused some vines to slip under the cutterbar.
The adjustment of rigid lifters was critical. Each lifter had to be shimmed to match the angle of the guards so that the tip of each lifter barely contacted the ground with the header fully lowered. Instructions varied slightly for each manufacturer, and some recommended different settings for different crop conditions.
Crop material adhered to the side of the lifters just as it did to the knives. However, gumming normally did not affect lifter performance.
Eight different types of vine lifters were examined in this study, and many more makes are available from prairie manufacturers.
** Louis Medernach Rigid Lifter
** Modified Half Moon Rigid Lifter
** Half Moon Rigid for Quick Cut Knife Lifter
** Diamond Wedge Rigid Lifter
** "The Maze" for Kwik Cut Skid Lifter
** Inland Steel Skid Lifter
** Schumacher Special Series Skid Lifter
** Pealifter Skid Lifter
Polyethelyne Skid Cover (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.8 MB)
Polyethylene is marketed as a friction and adhesion reducing surface cover for ground-contacting parts of many agricultural implements. On windrowers, polyethylene is sold as a cover to reduce mud buildup and drag along the cutterbar skid.
A polyethylene skid cover was compared to the conventional bare steel skid on the test windrower. In dry soil conditions both the steel and the polyethylene skids stayed clean. In slightly moist soil conditions, soil began to build up on the steel skid, while the polyethylene remained clean. In wet conditions or damp clay soil, particularly with green undergrowth, material adhered equally to both the steel and the polyethylene. The buildup was most severe along the sharp crease just under the cutterbar on the Westward 7000 windrower. Adhesion may have been less of a problem on other makes of windrowers with a more gently curving skid. |