Convert Claas laser pilot to Trimble GPS

[johnhair]

Our 2009 Claas Lexion 580 currently has laser pilot. But at harvest time we have a Trimble FMX system spare. Does anyone know if it’s possible to retrofit the gps to the combine? As it must already have a steering valve in it.

 

[lostdog]

Interesting.

 

[Bruce_D]

It’ll be possible, but it may not be simple. It’ll all depend with how much hacking and programming you want to try and do.
In simple terms you’ll have to create a controller or something that converts the steering commands from the Trimble, to the steering commands for the laser pilot.
If both system are ISOBUS compliant that it should be relatively simple.

 

[principal skinner]

Yes but I don’t think they will use the steering valve iirc

 

[Robt]

They do use the steering valve. At that age it’s a bang bang valve rather than a proportional valve. I’ve done it with topcon. Not sure if others could make the bang bang behave like a proportional valve .

 

[jon9000]

Why not get an ez pilot. That's what we did. Well woth it and much better than the laser guide stuff

 

[Chae1]

Why not get an ez pilot. That's what we did. Well woth it and much better than the laser guide stuff

How much was kit to fit it to combine? Already have a ez pilot and fm 750 in a cnh tractor and would like to transfer it to a lexion 570 at harvest.

 

[Sandy]

How much was kit to fit it to combine? Already have a ez pilot and fm 750 in a cnh tractor and would like to transfer it to a lexion 570 at harvest.

Ask Steven from Ravenhill Plm he’s the boy

 

[Chae1]

Ask Steven from Ravenhill Plm he’s the boy

Asked him about it yesterday! Said if it was a new Holland combine no bother. But not straight forward on a claas.

 

[MickW]

Talk with A S Comms (Vantage)

 

[Bomber101]

Sadly not easy. We had to buy a new platform kit and new steering valve circa £6k including fitting and associated pipework. Took about a day to fit with two fitters. As mentioned the Claas steering uses a "bang bang" valve which is not compatible with the Trimble which needs a proportional valve. It works a treat but was a bitter bill to swallow! This was for a Class 770 but I believe is true for older Lexions aswell.

 

[Giles Scrote]

Asked him about it yesterday! Said if it was a new Holland combine no bother. But not straight forward on a claas.

Simple to fit an EZ-Pilot system to a Claas combine .... why not contact the Northern UK Trimble dealer SoilEssentials and get them to do it?

 

[Chae1]

Depends what your willing to spend on a 14 year old 3.5k hour combine i guess. They haven't said it isn't possible.

 

[e3120]

The only bit you should need to buy is the boss to fit onto the claas splines. Common approach is to butcher an old wheel (I doubt manners run out of them). Everything else is brackets.

I don't dismiss the faff of swapping over; it's not going to be really tidy either end, plus you can guarantee that you want it on the tractor mid-harvest.

 

[Bruce_D]

Have you considered looking at a new steering unit, something like the MDU-G4. This system you can leave brackets permanently attached to tractors and the just hot swap the mechanical drive motor and gps sensors. Not sure if you can get an MDU to work with your Trimble GPS, but they’re fairly universal when it comes to fitment.