Project Xerion.

tomlad

Member
Location
nr. preston
Being a over the hedge bitch farmer ive noticed local mon roundup ed cereals presumably on standard widths .surprising the amount of crop flattened by the edges. Prob two row either side of each tyre. Thats got to add up on a few hundred acres .
 
Thank you.

I wondered whether the vid might find its way here.

I was thinking the other day how I ought to give all you helpful folk an update.

I’m quietly pleased with it so far. First few days I was disappointed with the ride quality. It was quite simply an animal on the road and field, and I’d had enough after a week, but we faffed about with tyre pressures and have found a happy-ish medium, which is ok for now. Once I get time to fit the Central Tyre Inflation system it will obviously be much easier to tweak things there.

As regards getting spreading done it is very capable. Oodles of power but at a cost, fuel use is way above the other machines. It smokes a bit (normal smoke, not burning oil or unburnt fuel) which I’m told is fine for the Cat C9, but I’m wondering if I can re-map the engine to burn a bit less? I certainly don’t need all it can offer.

There’s loads of spare hydraulic capacity so powering the Bredal is no problem. Both conveyor belt and discs are easily controlled from the seat which is nice .

There’s not much oscillation on the front axle. I took one of the shims out either side to give a little bit more but it’s still barely enough. The offside tyre now catches the steps on full tilt so I can’t get any more, but it’s a bit tricky getting through really rough gateways or undulating ground. That, coupled with the weight of a full load being high up makes for “interesting “ language from the driver when you hear it bang onto the stops!

Talking of weight, it’s heavier than I hoped. I was told they were about 12 tonnes chassis cab, but it seems this is a weight given with no wheels fitted! All up, she tips the scales at over 15 tonnes and can carry just about 10 tonnes of lime - 25.5 tonnes gross. That bothered me a bit but after a bit of scribbly figuring out she actually travels lighter than the Multidrive did at 19.8 tonnes gross, albeit only a fraction better. The 800/70-38 tyres are well on top of the job. I felt a bit happier when I heard a 200hp tractor and 10t trailed Bredal spreader with grab weighs over 14t

It’s not a bad place to spend the day. Reasonably quiet and the climate control is good. Main direction stick control is typical German, clunky and functional but it works well. I can’t seem to find a good spot to use the foot throttle though. I only need it on headland turns and occasionally on the road, but it really makes my leg ache! Probably more to do with me than the tractor, but it gets tiresome by mid afternoon. I’ve tried the seat in all positions and the latest idea is a block of wood glued to the pedal, which seems to work! All that technology and still the old ways are sometimes the best.

The buyer of my Multidrive fell in love with the seat I bought and fitted into it so I had to let it go. It was a fantastic seat so I might see if I can get one for the Xerion.

I’m not sure I’m getting the best from it. There are many settings I can use to make the job a bit more refined, but getting to grips with all that will have to wait until I’m a bit less busy.
I think once I’ve mastered all the tech it will have been a very worthwhile change.

Once again, thanks to you all who have helped. Opinions, advice and experience from you all has been greatly received.

@Xerion cheers mate. (y)(y)

You’ve all been helpful but Max just doesn’t stop dispensing advice once asked, even mithering his former colleagues at Claas on my behalf!!
 

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Thank you.

I wondered whether the vid might find its way here.

I was thinking the other day how I ought to give all you helpful folk an update.

I’m quietly pleased with it so far. First few days I was disappointed with the ride quality. It was quite simply an animal on the road and field, and I’d had enough after a week, but we faffed about with tyre pressures and have found a happy-ish medium, which is ok for now. Once I get time to fit the Central Tyre Inflation system it will obviously be much easier to tweak things there.

As regards getting spreading done it is very capable. Oodles of power but at a cost, fuel use is way above the other machines. It smokes a bit (normal smoke, not burning oil or unburnt fuel) which I’m told is fine for the Cat C9, but I’m wondering if I can re-map the engine to burn a bit less? I certainly don’t need all it can offer.

There’s loads of spare hydraulic capacity so powering the Bredal is no problem. Both conveyor belt and discs are easily controlled from the seat which is nice .

There’s not much oscillation on the front axle. I took one of the shims out either side to give a little bit more but it’s still barely enough. The offside tyre now catches the steps on full tilt so I can’t get any more, but it’s a bit tricky getting through really rough gateways or undulating ground. That, coupled with the weight of a full load being high up makes for “interesting “ language from the driver when you hear it bang onto the stops!

Talking of weight, it’s heavier than I hoped. I was told they were about 12 tonnes chassis cab, but it seems this is a weight given with no wheels fitted! All up, she tips the scales at over 15 tonnes and can carry just about 10 tonnes of lime - 25.5 tonnes gross. That bothered me a bit but after a bit of scribbly figuring out she actually travels lighter than the Multidrive did at 19.8 tonnes gross, albeit only a fraction better. The 800/70-38 tyres are well on top of the job. I felt a bit happier when I heard a 200hp tractor and 10t trailed Bredal spreader with grab weighs over 14t

It’s not a bad place to spend the day. Reasonably quiet and the climate control is good. Main direction stick control is typical German, clunky and functional but it works well. I can’t seem to find a good spot to use the foot throttle though. I only need it on headland turns and occasionally on the road, but it really makes my leg ache! Probably more to do with me than the tractor, but it gets tiresome by mid afternoon. I’ve tried the seat in all positions and the latest idea is a block of wood glued to the pedal, which seems to work! All that technology and still the old ways are sometimes the best.

The buyer of my Multidrive fell in love with the seat I bought and fitted into it so I had to let it go. It was a fantastic seat so I might see if I can get one for the Xerion.

I’m not sure I’m getting the best from it. There are many settings I can use to make the job a bit more refined, but getting to grips with all that will have to wait until I’m a bit less busy.
I think once I’ve mastered all the tech it will have been a very worthwhile change.

Once again, thanks to you all who have helped. Opinions, advice and experience from you all has been greatly received.

@Xerion cheers mate. (y)(y)

You’ve all been helpful but Max just doesn’t stop dispensing advice once asked, even mithering his former colleagues at Claas on my behalf!!
Nice to hear all that @Cab-over Pete (y)

One of your main reasons for change was towing on the road (legally) IIRC? I take it, the xerion does it with ease?
 
No, it’s not.

I did try and explain briefly, let me give you more details.

This one lorry load of Fibrophos was ordered to go onto land to be drilled with OSR. Nearly all the land was to be direct drilled into wheat stubble except for the one field you see here. For whatever reason that was cultivated.

I called the customer to see what he thought about doing the job before we left the last job. He thought it was a bit windy but, as we were virtually passing his gate on the way home, he said come and give it a go. We got there and it was too strong a breeze by then so decided we would give up. He then remembered the cultivated field and the forecast rain so we decided to just put a bit in the spreader and get that bit done. Maybe 4 tonnes was spread that evening.

Is that ok with you? Sorry, but I didn’t think to ask your opinion on the day. As for a “terrible advert for farming “, I should think maybe 5 people would have been able to see what was going on and three of those were us in the field.

There are just odd occasions when we need to push on in less than perfect conditions. On those odd occasions it’s good that we have some like minded and go-ahead customers to help us out.

I’ve no idea who you are @Fuzzy or where you Farm, but if you’re the kind of customer who likes every single thing done just your way then don’t call me, there’s a good chap. Life just isn’t that perfect in the world of bulk spreading.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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