Blade Cultivators

Summary of Victory Blade Cultivator (9.7 m) (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.80 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Victory Blade cultivator was very good in all working conditions.

The shear bolt trip shanks could lift only 75 mm (3 in) to clear stones. However, the shank assemblies performed well, with no blade or shank damage throughout the test.

Penetration was good in most conditions. In dry, hard soil additional weight was needed to obtain sufficient penetration and to maintain a uniform tillage depth. The Victory was very stable and did not skew appreciably. Skewing was never serious enough to affect weed kill. The Victory followed the contour of rolling land well and left an excellent trash cover. Weed kill was good except in very moist soil conditions. The Victory was capable of clearing heavy trash and plugging seldom occurred.

The Victory blade could be conveniently placed in transport position in less than five minutes. The 230 mm (9 in) sweep to ground clearance in transport position was adequate. The Victory towed well at speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph). Caution had to be observed when towing on public roads due to the large transport width. The 9.7 m (32 ft) wide test machine had a transport height of 4.1 m (13 5 ft), permitting safe transport under power lines in three prairie provinces. Larger models of the Victory have transport heights greater than minimum power line heights.

Adequate adjustment was provided for both lateral and fore-and-aft frame levelling. The hitch jack had insufficient lift for hitching in soft fields. Tillage depth was uniform across the width of the cultivator when the depth control linkages were properly adjusted.

Average draft for the 9.7 m (32 ft) wide test machine in primary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph), varied from 28.1 kN (6180 lbs) at 50 mm (2 in) depth to 48.5 kN (10670 lbs) at 125 m (5 in) depth. In secondary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph), average draft varied from 18.4 kN (4050 lb) at 50 mm (2 in) to 45.6 kN (10030 lb) at 125 mm (5 in) depth.

In primary tillage, at 8 km/h (5 mph) and 75 mm (3 in) depth, a tractor with 115 kW ( 154 hp) maximum power-take-off rating will have sufficient power reserve to operate the 9.7 m (32 ft) wide Victory blade. In secondary tillage, at the same depth and speed, a 105 kW (141 hp) tractor is needed.

The Victory was equipped with transport lock pins for safe towing. No slow moving vehicle sign was provided. No operator's manual was available.

Only minor mechanical problems occurred during the 225 hours of field operation.

Summary of Noble Model NBB7623 Blade Cultivator (11.9 m) (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 0.80 MB)

Overall functional performance of the Noble Model NBB7623 blade cultivator was good. Performance was reduced in loose heavy trash due to plugging at the centre shank.

The shear bolt trip shanks could lift 405 mm (16 in) to clear stones. Performance of the shank trip assemblies was fair. Shank and rockshaft damage occurred three times during testing.

Penetration was good in most conditions. In dry, hard soil additional weight was needed to obtain sufficient penetration and to maintain a uniform tillage depth. The Noble NBB7623 was very stable and did not skew appreciably. Skewing was never serious enough to affect weed kill. The Noble NBB7623 followed the contour of rolling land very well and left an excellent trash cover. Weed kill was good except in very moist soil conditions. The Noble NBB7623 was capable of clearing most trash but in loose, heavy trash, plugging occurred between the dual centre wheels and the centre shank.

The Noble NBB7623 could be conveniently placed in transport position in less than ten minutes. The 140 mm (5.5 in) sweep to ground clearance, in transport position, was usually adequate. The Noble NBB7623 towed well at speeds up to 32 km/h (20 mph). Caution had to be observed when towing on public roads due to the large transport width. The 11.9 m (39 ft) wide test machine had a transport height of 3.9 m (12.9 ft), permitting safe transport under power lines in the three prairie provinces.

Adequate adjustment was provided for both lateral and fore-and-aft levelling. The hitch jack provided for convenient hitching. Tillage depth was uniform across the width of the cultivator as long as the depth stop collars were properly adjusted.

Average draft for the 11.9 m (39 ft) wide test machine in primary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph) varied from 34.5 kN (7590 lbs) at 50 mm (2 in) depth to 59.5 kN (13090 lbs) at 125 mm (5 in) depth. In secondary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph), average draft varied from 22.6 kN (4970 lbs) at 50 mm (2 in) to 55.9 kN (12300 lbs) at 125 mm (5 in) depth.

In primary tillage at 8 km/h (5 mph) and 75 mm (3 in) depth, a tractor with 141 kW (189 hp) maximum power-take-off rating will have sufficient power reserve to operate the 11.9 m (39 ft) wide Noble NBB7623. In secondary tillage, at the same depth and speed a 129 kW (173 hp) tractor is needed.

The Noble NBB7623 was equipped with transport lock pins for safe towing. No slow moving vehicle sign was provided. The operator's manual was clear, concise and well illustrated.

Some mechanical problems occurred during the 217 hours of field operation. A blade and a turnbuckle pin broke. One shank cracked and one shank bent.

Summary of CI Nobe (Versatile) Model 5000 Blade Plow (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.08 MB)

Quality of Work: The CI Noble (Versatile) Model 5000 blade plow was equipped with autotrip three-way hydraulic standards. The trip forces on the standards could be varied by changing the hydraulic pressure of the trip cylinders. The standards, when tripped, were allowed to pivot from side to side or straight back. The standard would occasionally bind in the tripped position. Maximum lift height of the standards, when tripped directly back, was 6 in (152 mm) at the nose and 28 in (711 mm) out on the end of the wing. Maximum lift height when the blade was pivoted to one side was 3 in (76 mm) at the nose and 13 in (330 mm) out on the end of the wing.

Penetration was very good in all field conditions but performance could have been improved in dry fields and some stubble fields by the addition of weight tubes. Weight tubes were especially needed on the end wings. Penetration was uniform across the blade plow width, provided the unit was properly levelled. The Model 5000 was very good at following rolling field contours.

Trash clearance of the Model 5000 was excellent. Clearance between the tires and blades was large enough to prevent any plugging.

Some of the trash was buried in the furrows left by the standards of the blade. The field surface was left smooth when the blade was operated in normal field conditions. Skewing of the blade was not significant. Weed kill was very good.

Operation in stony conditions was very good. The autotrip system provided adequate protection.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Hitch weight was only 180 lb (80 kg) in the transport position so the rear mounted jack occasionally had to be used when hitching.

Transportation of the Model 5000 was very good. The unit towed well at a transport speed of 20 mph (32 km/h).

Transport width was 18.5 ft (5.6 m) and transport height was 12.3 ft (3.8 m).

Levelling the blades took considerable time and involved several adjustments. A separate instruction manual for levelling was provided. Front to back levelling of the unit was done by adjusting screwjacks on the hitch.

Depth adjustment required positioning the depth stop collars on three hydraulic cylinders. Caution had to be taken to move all the depth stop collars the same distance when changing depths.

One man could remove and replace the seven blades on the Model 5000 in about two hours.

Power Requirement: Tractor size depended on soil type, moisture content, ground speed and tillage depth. Overall tractor size needed to pull the Model 5000 at all tillage depths in all conditions was 235 pto hp (176 pto kW).

Operator Safety: The Model 5000 was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. Transport locks were provided for the depth control cylinders and the transport wheel. Lock pins were provided for each wing.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. A parts manual was also provided.

Mechanical History: The coulter hub nuts and collars had to be tightened throughout the test. A hydraulic hose rubbed on a tire and wore through.

Summary of Cereal Implements 3000 Ultrasweep (Evaluation Report - PDF File - 1.06 MB)

Quality of Work: The 3000 Ultrasweep tested was equipped with autotrip three-way hydraulic standards. The trip forces on the standards were varied by changing the hydraulic pressure of the trip cylinders. The standards tripped from side to side or straight back.

Penetration of the 3000 Ultrasweep was very good. Adding weights may improve the penetration of the unit in dry fields or hardpan conditions.

Penetration was uniform across the blade plow width if the unit was properly levelled. The unit followed most rolling field contours. Large variations in tillage depth occurred in fields with abrupt contour changes.

Soil finishing of the 3000 Ultrasweep was very good. The majority of the trash was left on the surface in all conditions. The amount of trash buried in the furrows depended on tillage depth, speed of tillage and soil conditions. The sweeps did not totally scour in moist soils and in fields that required shallow operating depths.

Trash clearance of the 3000 Ultrasweep was very good. Trash was cleared in all test field conditions except a heavy stubble field where the unit plugged at the dual wheels on the center section.

Operation in stony conditions was very good. No damage occurred to the standards or the sweeps (hardfaced and plain) during the test.

The 3000 Ultrasweep was used to apply anhydrous ammonia fertilizer during the test. Good retention of fertilizer occurred in average secondary fields but did not always occur in primary fields. Ground speed and tillage depth affected the amount of fertilizer lost to the atmosphere in primary fields.

Ease of Operation and Adjustment: Ease of performing routine maintenance on the 3000 Ultrasweep was very good.

Ease of transporting the 3000 Ultrasweep was very good. Transport width was 16.5 ft (5.0 m), while transport height was 13.5 ft (4.1 m). The unit transported well at a speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). Hitching to the 3000 Ultrasweep in field position was difficult because of the negative hitch weight.

Ease of maneuvering the unit in the field was good. Visibility of the end standard was blocked by the wing frame.

Ease of setting the tillage depth and replacing the sweeps was very good. Two men required one hour to remove and replace the thirteen sweeps on the unit.

Power Requirements: Tractor size needed to pull the 3000 Ultrasweep at all tillage depths was 215 pto hp (161 kW).

Operator Safety: The 3000 Ultrasweep was safe to operate if normal safety precautions were observed. Transport locks were provided for the depth and the wings. A slow moving vehicle sign was provided. A safety tow chain and accommodations to secure a safety tow chain were not provided.

Operator's Manual: The operator's manual was very good. A parts manual was also provided.

Mechanical History: Fasteners used to secure the socket assemblies loosened during the test.