Tractor drivers ‘like’ gethitched.ie
Tractors are well covered in the media, so this week I by-pass the four-wheel-drive monsters, to report on other highlights at Millstreet.
You might think that you were at the wrong type of show, when you see the gethitched.ie website address on one of the stands.
You couldn’t be blamed for further confusion, seeing a sales pitch tag line of ‘Take the frustration out of attachment’.
But what Monaghan duo Jim Cassidy and Pat McKenna were showcasing wasn’t wedding or marriage consultancy, but a safety device for attaching an implement to a tractor.
The product is called Safehitch, and there is genius in its simplicity. It is the type of product that makes you stand back and think why was it never invented before.
Safety in attaching an implement to a tractor’s lower three-point linkage has always been an issue. In most cases, the operator is tempted to enter the dangerous area between the tractor and the implement.
At this point, they find themselves lifting and pushing heavy implements and link arms to position them correctly aligned for attachment.
This is the hazard that Safehitch was invented to remove. The inspiration came from a growing realisation that tractors and implements are getting bigger, farmers are getting older, and it’s one of the areas where children can be endangered if their help is enlisted.
The frustrations of implement alignment often lead to shortcuts without safety in mind, which in turn lead to farm accidents.
The Safehitch device is a sliding bar with preset increments identified by numbers, which correspond to the spacing of your implements.
The operator allocates a number which matches the spacing of the implement they wish to attach.
With the link arms secure in position and set at the correct width, the operator is able to reverse into the implement and raise the link arms.
The link arms’ quick-attach should click secure, and the frustration of implement alignment is done away with.
Cork Farm Machinery had the Kuhn FBP 2135 Mark II on their stand. The baler-wrapper combination was a popular attraction at the show.
The upgraded FBP first saw action less than 12 months ago.
The model is standard with a 2.3m pick-up width, but is available with two different intake rotors, the Optifeed or the Opticut 14.
The Optifeed rotor uses double Hardox feeding tines and integrated augers with the purpose of feeding an even flow of crop into the bale chamber.
The Opticut 14 rotor is fitted with 14 knives to provide a theoretical cutting length of 70mm and which evens out the swath by force-feeding the crop into the baler to increase throughput.
Each of these knifes is spring-protected against damage from foreign objects in the feed.
A main PTO clutch which is automatically activated if a blockage occurs protects the intake unit. In addition, the complete cutting floor can be lowered, to allow blockages to be cleared.
Some of the new features from Kuhn include the Pendulum pick-up system, Powertrack roller, and integral rotor technology.
The Pendulum pick-up gathers the densest of swaths at high forward speeds and has height adjustable guide wheels.
The Powertrack chamber consists of 18 recently re- designed rollers, all of which are roll-formed and laser-welded on one side and made of 3.35mm thick high-strength steel.
The integral rotor is a maintenance-free and short distance intake system which ensures even feeding, regardless of variations in crop quality.
With the hydraulic rear door cylinders working in combination with a hydraulic lock valve, fast door opening and closing increases bales per hour.
Transfer of the bale to the wrapping table is done in no time, using the twin loading forks.
Bale wrapping is gentle but fast, utilising the standard Kuhn IntelliWrap wrapping technology.
All FBP models are ISOBUS-compatible, so tractors fitted with these terminals will not require a separate control box for the baler.
Operating chainsaws can be hazardous at the best of times. Trying to support a log at the same time adds greatly to the dangers.
Des Geraghty of Glebe Fabrications was at Q8 Oil Spring Farm Machinery Show in Millstreet to demonstrate his log holder.
The Irish-invented and manufactured Timbercroc is a clever and easy way of holding logs of varying sizes while cutting them with a chainsaw.
The logs are held securely in place by a lightweight frame and pendulum-like teeth.
The secure grip makes the process much safer. It makes log cutting a one-person operation.
The company have also introduced a 3-point link version of the Timbercroc. By making it attachable to a tractor, it can now be transported easily around farmland and forest tracks.
Des didn’t have quite the same calibre of visitor to his stand in Millstreet as he had at last year’s Royal Devon Agricultural Show, where Princess Anne purchased a Timbercroc in person.
Malone Farm Machinery from Mayo had the new Pro-Air 570 on show. This model is the 5.7 metre, 4 rotor tedder.
There is also a 6-rotor, 8.4-metre working width available in the range. The range was launched at last year’s Ploughing.
The tedders have a robust design, well suited to tough terrain and working conditions.
The Pro-Air is designed to follow the contours of the ground closely, with a consistent and even spread to ensure quality wilt.
The operator can switch from transport to work position without leaving the tractor cab.
There are seven tine arms per rotor, with hook tines designed to lift the crop into the air. The transport width is three metres.
The tedder features automatic headland management and easily adjustable height function.
Like with all Malone Engineering machinery, these are tested in the rugged terrain and damp conditions of the west of Ireland.
