As yields and farm size continue to increase, professional growers may find themselves facing unprecedented harvest challenges such as more grain throughput, heavier plant material, tougher stalks and stems and the need to harvest despite wet soil conditions.
The new Gleaner® S7 Series Class VI and VII transverse rotor combines from AGCO, introduced to the farming public at the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, IA, are designed to handle these types of challenges, while meeting upcoming emissions regulations.
As the first fully Tier 4 Interim-compliant combine on the market, the S7 Series is powered by the AGCO Sisu Power 8.4 CWA-4V liquid-cooled, turbocharged engine featuring AGCO’s e3 SCR technology. More fuel efficient at higher horsepower ratings than previous models, the Model S77 delivers 370 hp @ 2,100 rpm with a power bulge at 1,950 rpm that jumps to 398 hp.
The rear-mounted engine of the S7 Series distributes weight and results in less noise and vibration, and the walk-in rear engine compartment is the industry’s largest, offering better accessibility for service and maintenance. The machine also features a four-speed hydrostatic transmission and heavy-duty final drives to provide ultimate power and reliability. The rear adjustable steering axle and factory- or field-installed rear wheel assist (RWA) keep the combine moving through soft field conditions.
The S7 Series combine features a fully welded frame and low center of gravity that help eliminate flex and improve torque distribution. This, plus its light weight contributes to the machine’s maneuverability in a variety of field conditions.
“During the past 32 years, the transverse rotor combine from Gleaner has gained a reputation for reliability, performance, low loss levels and high grain sample quality,” says Kevin Bien, combine product marketing manager.
The Gleaner S7 Series has been in development for three years. “We’ve joined engineering smarts with field smarts to ‘supersize’ the harvest capacity, capability and efficiency of our R6 Series machines to deliver performance without all the physical size, weight and complexity. The Gleaner S7 Series, which at just under 30,000 lbs, are the lightest Class VI and VII rotary combines on the market.”
The new Gleaner features the largest standard grain bin on the S77 (330 bushel) and an optional 390-bushel (13,743L) grain bin available on the S67 and S77.
The business end of the machine is its 30-inch transverse rotor, which offers 360 degrees of surface area for threshing and separating. Positioned transversely, it allows for what AGCO calls “natural-flow feeding.”
Fed by two, four-strand feed chains, the width of the crop mat is maintained throughout the entire crop feeding process to eliminate pinch points and expand throughput capacity before the crop enters the processor, helping deliver greater material throughput. Delivered at a constant angle to the concave and cylinder, the Natural Flow system pulls rather than pushes material and also eliminates twisting and turning of the crop to constantly feed the threshing rotor, increasing performance and productivity.
Because grain coming from the processor is evenly fed across the entire cleaning shoe, the combine can operate on slopes of up to a 23% incline without the need for self-leveling devices.
The S7 Series is designed to have the fewest belts, chains, augers and gear drives possible, reducing the total number of moving parts and points of potential wear or breakage, and as a result, the number of hours required for service. The combine’s overall low center of gravity puts most machine parts within easy reach from the ground. Easily accessible suction-type hydraulic filters, single reservoir and sight-level tube all work to limit service time demands without risking hydraulic system integrity. An optional auto-lubrication system eliminates one more tedious service task.
Painted galvanized exterior panels prevent rust, corrosion, expensive repairs and static electricity buildup associated with steel or plastic.
The Gleaner ComforTech II cab and controls are designed for comfort and convenience to improve the efficiency of every task and every operator. In the center of the cab is an adjustable air-ride high-back comfort seat with armrests that position the operator within an easy-to-use and efficient reach of the control and monitoring system. A large service door opposite the entry makes access to the console quick and convenient, while a large rear cab window offers a complete view into the grain tank.
The new standard LED lighting package features six new lights on the lower cab, rear, grain bin and unloader to provide even greater lighting at night.
