New tractors from the more established brands seen at Nampo.
YTO 70F
The 3,7-litre engine in the YTO 70F orchard tractor from VB Agri produces 52kW, powering a 12-speed gearbox and independent PTO.
AGCO Challenger MT 865c
The MT 865c (seen here with vintage Caterpillar) is powered by a Caterpillar C18 Acert six-cylinder turbocharged and aftercooled 18,1-litre engine producing 391,5kW. Basic weight is 19t.
Valtra A series
The Valtra A63 is one of the three new A-series tractors introduced at Nampo. The A63 is rated at 50kW and has a 12F+12R transmission with fully synchronised shuttle and two-speed PTO. It’s available with either a cab or platform with rollover bar and removable canopy. This is a narrow model, ideally suited to orchard and vineyard operations as well as general farming.
Agrico 4+160i
The Agrico 4+ series is the only agricultural tractor designed and manufactured in SA (Bell Equipment makes tractors specifically for haulage). There is a range of six models, from 125kW to 400kW. The articulated design can accommodate rear and front linkage or a shovel. The 4+160i, with a 23t bottom-dump goose-neck trailer, is aimed at the construction industry. It has a Mercedes OM906LA 6,4-litre six-cylinder engine rated at 170kW with a ZF torque converter transmission.
Prototype YTO
South Africa is recognised as ideal terrain for trying out new agricultural equipment and Chinese Company YTO is testing a prototype tractor, the YTO 1504 (above), locally. The transmission is a powershift from the former McCormick (Case) factory in France, now owned by YTO. Gearbox options include mechanical, hydraulic and full electronic powershift. The tractor has a new Kintra YTO front axle and an economical YTO 112kW, seven-litre engine. The 1504 has already done about 7 000 hours in China and VB Agri will test it for a year in SA.
From Farmtrac
Farmtrac manufacturers Escorts Limited is based in Faridabad, India, and the tractors are distributed locally by Dicla Farm & Seed. The range (below) extends from the model 35, rated at 29kW, to the 65kW 80DTS, based on the design of the original Ford 1000 series. The more sophisticated FT6075 4WD Heritage is powered by a turbocharged, intercooled four-cylinder 2,8-litre engine producing 74,5kW at 2 200rpm, with 285Nm torque at 1 400rpm. It has an 8F and 2R gearbox, power steering and oil-immersed disc brakes.
Issue date: 13 June 2014