New McHale terra drive axle option
Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing Match.
The New Zealand distributor is Power Farming Group.
McHale marketing manager Paul McHale says the new F5000 balers “have higher intake capacities, more chopping options, higher bale density, lower running costs, smoother drop floor operation, better controls, make 10% higher density bales and have better operator comfort.”
“Our aim is to simplify life for the operator, and deliver a machine more reliable and easier to maintain.
“After testing various types of pickup we decided all the F5000 machines would have 2m galvanised high-intake pickup. And for more difficult short grass the F5500 and F5600 will be fitted with a five-tine bar pickup system. We estimate this will give 25% better ground cleaning and 25% more crop transfer.”
The F5000 line up consists of 3 models: The F5400 non-chopper baler. The F5500 15 knife chopper baler and the F5600 fully automatic, load sensing, 23 knife machine chopper baler.
Pickup reel and chopper are mounted for flotation on undulating ground. New (optional) is a small-diameter, high throughput crop roller for the F5000. This helps to level out uneven swaths and can increase baler throughput.
On the F5500 and F5600 the knives can be raised and lowered from the tractor cab. And on both machines the operator may upgrade the chopper unit to a selectable knife system. On the F5500 this gives three options: 1) engage and chop with a bank of 8 knives; 2) engage and chop with 7 knives or; 3) if the need is for fine chopping, engage both knife banks. Chop length with option (3) is about 65mm.
Likewise on the F5600 the operator can choose to engage and chop with a bank of 12 knives or a bank of 11 knives. For fine chopping, engage all 23 knives (chop length about 46mm).
For monitoring chop quality on the F5500 and F5600: 1) the control box shows the knife working pressure, and 2) sensors monitor the distance between the knife tip and the rotor spine. Any changes activate an alert.
All machines use the maker’s drop floor unblocking system – simple, effective and run from the tractor cab, Paul McHale says.
The F5000 range can make bales 10% more dense than earlier machines, in a 1.23 x 1.25m bale chamber with 18 rollers.
A new netter allows adjustment of net tension using a variable pulley. This netter has stepless tension adjustment to ensure best net usage and bale shape and 180-degree wrap around on the rubber feed roller, eliminating any net slippage during feeding. It handles net rolls 1300mm wide x any length.
On the F5400 and F5500, net can be adjusted by moving a handle on the machine. On the F5600, net adjustment can be controlled from the control box in the tractor cab.
Three control boxes are offered, notably on the F5500 a ‘Wizard Control Console’ with a four-digit display showing all the machine’s functions.
There the operator can see floor position, knife pressure, knife and tailgate position, net feed, voltage supply and lube alarm.
“This is a user-friendly box giving great functionality and visual displays,” Paul HcHale says.
The F5600 also has an ‘Expert Plus Control Console’ which, combined with a load-sending valve, is capable of automating tailgate opening and closing. The operator can also adjust the net and density from the tractor cab. If the machine is equipped with the selectable knife option, knife banks can be selected from the tractor cab to get the required chop length.
A graphic display constantly shows knife pressure and position, tailgate position, net feed status and lubrication alerts.
Tel. 021 190 2362 (NI) or 021 975 533 (SI).
