New vario models good for contractors
It's taken them a while, considering the 're-birth' of McCormick was in 2001, but manufacturer Argo has realised the need for a 'vario' style tractor, and has launched the VT range.
The series is called Vario 200 and it integrates this respected manufacturer‘s high-horsepower technology into a tractor that’s manoeuvrable and compact height-wise. It suits many tasks.
Notable design features are a cooling system for extremes and good hill safety.
Power comes from a newly developed, water-cooled 3-cylinder engine from AGCO Sisu Power (Finland), designed with Fendt engineers. The engine has 3.3 L capacity and is Tier 3 emissions compliant.
The ‚short‘ design of the 3-cylinder engine allows for a new cooling unit without sacrificing the compact design, Fendt says. It has large intakes to reduce the amount of dirt in the radiator and so give best cooling under extreme conditions. The air filter’s cyclone precleaner extends filter life and makes for less maintenance.
The engine has speed-independent common-rail high-pressure injection and all-electronic engine control. Hill safety benefits from a low centre of gravity, optional front axle suspension and anti-roll control.
Suiting row-cropping are the Vario 200’s low weight and large steering angle. For specialty operations or when harvesting vegetables, the transmission allows optimum ground speed adjustment to match the conditions.
And for loader work there are generous glass areas, standard roof window and compact chasis, plus the maker‘s matching front loader, all good for tight spaces.
Fendt says at least 120,000 of its tractors with Vario transmissions have been working since 1995. Now the transmission has been adapted to the size and „special needs“ of the compacts. The transmission has only one driving range for working speeds from 20m/h to 40km/h, including stepless, wear-free reversing.
Top speed is achieved at 1750 rpm. There are no gear steps and ground speed can be adjusted to any kind of work independent of the engine speed, allowing an increase of up to 10% in productivity with a marked drop in fuel use. Acceleration is 0-40km/h in only seven seconds.
The maker’s tractor management system (TMS), used in the other Vario ranges, sharpens fuel economy. It controls the engine and transmission: ground speed is selected with the accelerator pedal, then engine speed and transmission settings are automatically adjusted for best economy.
Controls are nifty: the VarioStick integrates them all in one – main gearshift lever, range lever and crawler gear lever. Any desired speed from 20m/h to 40km/h can be adjusted continuously, no changing levers.
www.fendt.com.au.
