Raft of Lexion updates

Kiel, Germany, was the location for this year’s Claas International Press Event, where the company unveiled a host of updates to the Lexion. Simon Henley reports.

Raft of Lexion updates

The biggest news for Claas’ UK customers from its latest press event was the plethora of updates to the company’s Lexion combine ranges.

These include the introduction of a new generation cab, which was launched on the Trion combines last year.

The new cab provides increased space with more head and leg room, as well as additional floor space. Storage has been improved by the introduction of cubby holes integrated into the cab interior and the option of a 30-litre cool box. Footrests are also available, for improved seating comfort.

Working visibility has also improved by the introduction of slimmer A-pillars and roof-mounted cantilever mirrors. The new cab design adds additional glass area for improved visibility of the front and sides of the cabin.

Inside, the cab features a high-resolution, 12-inch Cebis monitor, with direct access buttons located on the adjustable control armrest for instant access to the harvester’s threshing and cleaning settings. The armrest also integrates the CMotion multifunction lever, for single-handed operational control.

The cab comes with a new split-level, dual-airflow climate control system, which can warm the operator’s feet while it blows cool air-conditioned air to the upper body and face. Options include Dynamic Steering (which reduces steering wheel input by a claimed 40%), a 360-degree LED lighting package and a multimedia system which includes a

The Claas Lexion 550 straw walker and Claas Lexion 7700 Hybrid (inset) are the latest combines to benefit from the availability of the Claas slopecompensating Montana hillside chassis.

high-output sound system with a subwoofer and gooseneck microphone.

New to the Lexion 8000 Series line-up is the Lexion 8600/8600 TerraTrac model. This is touted by Claas as a high-performance hybrid, which has been developed to slot in between the existing mid-size Lexion 7700 and the high-capacity 8700 model.

Performance

Equipped with a 1.7-metre wide drum and powered by a 549hp Man D26 12.4-litre engine, the 8600 was successfully launched in the USA in 2019.

It has since been evaluated by Claas in Europe, where, the company says, testing and performance comparisons have revealed the new model provides unrivalled efficiency and harvesting performance in this sector of the market.

Moving up the Lexion range, the existing 8700 and 8800 models both enjoy a power increase, with ratings of 626hp and 700hp respectively. The additional power in the 8800 is provided by the same MAN 16.2-litre D42 engine employed in the range-topping 8900. The 8700 meanwhile, will now use the same threshing system and technology used in the 8800 and 8900 to provide greater output.

To further optimise crop flow, Claas has also announced all Lexion 7000 and 8000 models will now feature a new segmented feed drum between the threshing unit and the rotors. This has been introduced to improve crop distribution and flow to the rotors, particularly in difficult crops and extreme operating conditions.

Another noted development is the debut of a slow retraction feature on the Lexion reversers. Once a clump or restriction is cleared, the push of a button sees the reversing motor itself reversed so crop can be fed slowly back into the rotors to avoid peak loads.

Additional updates include an increase in grain tank capacity for some Lexion models. Claas has also announced the introduction of an optional pivoting spout, on Lexion combines with 330mm and 420mm unloading augers.

Slope-compensating

For parts of Europe where combinable crops are grown in hilly or mountainous regions, Claas has extended its hillside slope-compensating Montana chassis to the straw walker Lexion 5500 and Hybrid 7700 models.

They join the six existing Trion Montana models, extending the hillside range from 258hp (five-walker) to 549hp (hybrid).