Project Xerion.

[Chae1]

Thought that was just the latest incarnation of isobus - but whatever name it has it’s possible.

John deere have something to control forward speed that works with there round balers I think.

 

[njneer]

John deere have something to control forward speed that works with there round balers I think.

Yep be TIM , its the next generation of isobus , only certain implement manufacturers are compliant and only a couple of tractor manufacturers at the moment .
The implement will control certain functions of the tractor to maximise the implements capacity/ productivity.
Can stop tractor and operate spools etc to open and close back door for example but does not restart tractor for Safety Operator has to engage the restart.
Not sure I like the idea to be honest but it’s “progress” apparently.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

To spread lime

Yes. I like to think we do spread quite a lot of lime for a one and a bit man outfit though.

I really like the little spreader that Angus (the local lad to me who does a fair bit for me) runs and so if I can use the Big A myself and set my lad up with a nice lightweight tractor and spreader then I think we will be well placed to get through some work between three of us.

We don’t really need big kit usually. If we get a good run of weather we can get a lot done, but the last two catchy autumn seasons have taught me we could do with another option and I think three sensible sized outfits could do the job better than two big set ups. I’m not going to expect Angus to spend a lot of money on a bigger spreader (what he does for me is not a huge part of his net earnings) and on the flip side I’m not going to get bigger kit and expect him to do less. He’s made a significant investment in both his own business and in mine so I’m committed to him.

 

[YELROM]

If you went back to a multi drive for your lad(i assume it could legally tow the loadall) could you demount the lime spreader and get a sprayer to create some more work and spread your costs

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Maybe, but we’ve enough to do for now.

 

[Mounty]

I think you’re right.

Both the Multistrife and the Xerion were/are excellent in some respects and poor in others. The Xerion is a handful on the road, the Multistrife was a pleasure.
Where I think the Xerion beats the Multistrife hands down is in its strength. It’s made like a tank, although I do concede that adds weight, which is why I spent an enormous amount of money buying the absolute best wheels and tyres I could.

Why is the Xerion a handful on the road Pete? It's size or is it height with low branches etc?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Height and it’s very bouncy. That could be remedied by mucking about with tyre pressures. It has a system fitted but with the last two seasons not being very sparkling I haven’t spent the money to adapt the wheels and connect it all up, which will cost upwards of £3000.

 

[Mounty]

Oh right, wouldn't have that down as a bouncy machine tbh. Bouncy to the point you have to back off on the speed a bit?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Yes, on the wrong road. If the road is smooth then the ride is smooth, but you don’t need much of a dint to get it acting up!

 

[Owen 7040]

I stumbled across this chat and I’ve been looking for ages and I was wondering if you finished the xerion project and if so is there a picture

 

[Cab-over Pete]

 

[Chae1]

Looks the part anyway !

 

[Cab-over Pete]

It does.

It is great in many respects

 

[Right-arm fast]

It does.

It is great in many respects

Is it only the suspension that you would change Pete? Is it load sensing in any way?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

It’s several little things that all add up. Some of them no fault of the machine. I was so hung up on strength after battling with constant failure of the Multistrife that I didn’t see potential problems with the Xerion.

One thing is probably quite unique to my area. I can’t get under several bridges with it which means long and inconvenient detours. You wouldn’t think it much of a problem but when the pressure is on it’s a right pain in the arse.
Another is height in the field with a full load. It’s steady going on anything but flat ground until you’ve got some weight off. Again, something I didn’t give enough thought to.
The big soft tyres are ideal in the field (unless on side hills) but make it lurch about on the road.
The discs are very high which means breezy weather stops me a lot sooner than other machines would. And I can’t lower them because that would interfere with the drawbar arrangement.
There are other niggling snags too, which aren’t really the fault of the Xerion, but all add up to it not being the best idea I’ve ever had.

But I’m glad I had it and gave it a good go. No use wondering what might have been.

 

[CPF]

Take your point about weight @Henarar but as @Chae1 says, a lot of trailed outfits are not far off in weight terms. One of the spreaders I use is a Fastrac with front loader and trailed spreader that weighs 14t empty.
Tyre equipment is key but often overlooked these days. The SP machines tend to tread a lot lighter as usually kitted out with better boots.
The problem with contract lime spreading these days is the need to get stuff done all too quickly, therefore bigger machines are required to try and up the capacity. Most spreaders are still only spreading to 12 metres due to the nature of the product. This was an achievable spread width many decades ago but think how much wider combine headers are now, not to mention cultivators and drills. A lot of agricultural kit and operations have advanced quite a bit over the years but lime spreading hasn't greatly, therefore, if you can have a bigger hopper, it means less trips back to the heap to load and more time spent spreading.

This would be a good outfit.

 

[Andrew]

How much power do these things actually need? Can’t help thinking a small loader tractor with quick hitch and a small spreader on fat tyres going round doing all the little heaps while you concentrate on the big ones would be very useful?

 

[Matthew Britton]

Could you not put the disk bed on a hydraulic linkage so that you can drop them into work and raise them up out of the way for transport?

 

[cheggars]

It’s several little things that all add up. Some of them no fault of the machine. I was so hung up on strength after battling with constant failure of the Multistrife that I didn’t see potential problems with the Xerion.

One thing is probably quite unique to my area. I can’t get under several bridges with it which means long and inconvenient detours. You wouldn’t think it much of a problem but when the pressure is on it’s a right pain in the arse.
Another is height in the field with a full load. It’s steady going on anything but flat ground until you’ve got some weight off. Again, something I didn’t give enough thought to.
The big soft tyres are ideal in the field (unless on side hills) but make it lurch about on the road.
The discs are very high which means breezy weather stops me a lot sooner than other machines would. And I can’t lower them because that would interfere with the drawbar arrangement.
There are other niggling snags too, which aren’t really the fault of the Xerion, but all add up to it not being the best idea I’ve ever had.

But I’m glad I had it and gave it a good go. No use wondering what might have been.

Would one of the larger Unimogs be a option, given that they can have central tyre inflation and four wheel steering ?

 

[dave160cvx]