Min hp for Horsch sprinter

[mountfarm]

What would people say the minimum hp and weight you could get away with for a 4m sprinter converted to either bougault or Dutch openers? Mainly clay soils and will need to drill beans.

 

[Steevo]

I have 185hp on standard Duetts. Did run it with 140hp for a while even on slopes but larger tractor is much better job.

 

[debe]

Mf 6480 though yet to try it in the wet, again on standard duets

 

[solo]

155 hp, 650 tyres on 4m sprinter with duets. It’s on its tractive limits on steep Banks now it’s greasy. Dutch openers due in shortly so should reduce smearing and drag.

 

[Brisel]

45+ hp/m IMO. More if you have steep hills. Is this direct drilling or in cultivated seedbeds?

@dirty harry has more experience with these than me, though he's on a 6m machine.

 

[Steevo]

45+ hp/m IMO. More if you have steep hills. Is this direct drilling or in cultivated seedbeds?

@dirty harry has more experience with these than me, though he's on a 6m machine.

Ah true! All mine is DD which is hard going.

Drilling in maize stubble yesterday could have got away with much less HP as the ploughed ground was much looser and more fluffy - just the wheelings that were an issue.

As above, running out of grip is often more an issue than power, but less easy to rectify.

 

[Brisel]

Grip can be helped with good tyres, ballast, the right pressures and duals. I don't think you'd want much speed for beans on clay anyway if you want good soil coverage plus the legs will trip out with too much hp in hard conditions.

 

[Steevo]

Grip can be helped with good tyres, ballast, the right pressures and duals. I don't think you'd want much speed for beans on clay anyway if you want good soil coverage plus the legs will trip out with too much hp in hard conditions.

Tyres are worn.....but not at the level to warrant changing quite yet.

Ballast is good in the dry, but can be as much of a problem in the wet....especially if you need the power too.

Tyre pressures are pretty close but could be improved.

Duals.....possible but expense, hassle etc.

It's a tricky balance to get right.

 

[Brisel]

Agreed. Easy to say from behind a keyboard, harder to do.

 

[Steevo]

Agreed. Easy to say from behind a keyboard, harder to do.

Easy to do.....if money isn't a factor.

 

[Deutzdx3]

Jcb 4220 close by here with Metcalfe ld points on 4.5m. Boss of it all day. Even on heavy Weald clay.

 

[JDJ]

the weight to hp rotation is just as important as hp. 45-50 kg / HP

We have had a MF 8110 in the old days, it's did struggle. Now I have a a JD 6930, 205 hp / 7500 kg, pulls it really well but a 1000 kg extra for grip wouldn't do any harm.

 

[dirty harry]

I’d say 45hp/m min on dutch would be ideal, more if possible - esp if going deep with beans etc? Cheers dh

 

[Case290]

Are Dutch openers really much better and y seams lots of people moving over to them on the Horsch drills but yet to hear if there any better . ? They also do a foot to fit a Claydon now( I think)

 

[mountfarm]

Thanks guys. We’ve got a Puma 230 on 650’s but wondering if we could drop to a smaller frame lighter tractor instead.

 

[solo]

Are Dutch openers really much better and y seams lots of people moving over to them on the Horsch drills but yet to hear if there any better . ? They also do a foot to fit a Claydon now( I think)

I’ve just swapped to Dutch due to the sprinter duet coulter smearing sandy loam soil when wet. Although the duet smeared badly drilling the winter barley two weeks ago it has emerged perfectly apart from boulder clay patches which are waterlogged. I have yet to try the drill since fitting them but hope too soon. It is also part of a transition into doing less cultivation if conditions will allow. Draft requirement should be lower too.

 

[dirty harry]

Yes they are much better than duetts!! Move less soil = less hp & less snot when this wet, and can put different sizes on to suit job/conditions etc - it’s like letting the handbrake off...!!
I’d put the 230 on the sprinter mountfarm
Cheers dh

 

[solo]

Having read @Charlie Flindt article in Farmers weekly I think he will be reading this with interest. I tried my 4m sprinter using a jD 6410 on 600 tyres and it coped well on the flat but wouldn’t have managed any banks at all let alone if the hopper had more the a ton of seed in it. Power wasn’t really the issue, it was traction. 6155r on 650 tyres at 14psi has the same issue on the steepest land hence going to lower draft coulters. 6410 played with the co3 on duet feet in comparison.

 

[Charlie Flindt]

Having read @Charlie Flindt article in Farmers weekly I think he will be reading this with interest. I tried my 4m sprinter using a jD 6410 on 600 tyres and it coped well on the flat but wouldn’t have managed any banks at all let alone if the hopper had more the a ton of seed in it. Power wasn’t really the issue, it was traction. 6155r on 650 tyres at 14psi has the same issue on the steepest land hence going to lower draft coulters. 6410 played with the co3 on duet feet in comparison.

I had a good first day yesterday with the chipped 6630p and the refurbished Sprinter ST4. Standard tractor tyres, all down to 14psi, and the old Ford set of wafer weights (480kg +the block) out in front on the linkage. Massive hydraulic/electrical DIY work all seemed to hold together! I was going across the slope on some lighter land, and only putting 500kg in at a time (to check callibration). Today I'm hoping to get up to the heavier land, so should make a bit more of a test. We've had a lovely howling gale overnight, which should have helped dry the top.

 

[Bushmog]

I run our 4m sprinter behind a JD 6155 on 650 rear tyres, reduced the tyres pressure to 8psi, you’ve got to love Michelin tyres. The drill is running with 5” open back Dutch openers and I’m only running with a max of 1000kgs seed. The seed weight makes a huge difference.
I direct drilled our winter barley and the wheat went into maize stubbles, the OSR and pea ground had a shallow cultivation.
Personally I think it’s a great combo.