Profi - Kverneland kultistrip

SPECIAL REPRINT FROM 03/2017

Kverneland Kultistrip 6000F tillage tool:

Strip and poop

Kverneland has developed a hydraulic-folding version of its Kultistrip tillage tool, which does what it says on the tin — cultivate a strip of ground. And there’s even the option to incorporate slurry. We caught up with the injector in Luxembourg, to find out how easy it is to set up and how it copes with trash

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Tel: 01744 853200 Website: http://uk.kverneland.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/KvernelandUK Address: Kverneland Group UK Ltd Walkers Lane, Lea Green St Helens, Merseyside WA9 4AF

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Driving impression

Kverneland Kultistrip 6000F tillage tool:

Strip and poop

Kverneland has developed a hydraulicfolding version of its Kultistrip tillage tool, which does what it says on the tin — cultivate a strip of ground. And there’s even the option to incorporate slurry. We caught up with the injector in Luxembourg, to find out how easy it is to set up and how it copes with trash

K

verneland has been making a 4.5m and 6.0m Kultistrip cultivator since 2014, but they’re fixed frame units.

For modern-day farming, that’s a bit of a non-starter. So, it was back to the drawing board to come up with a hydraulicfolding version.

We mounted the new, folding 6.0m strip till cultivator on a Holmer TerraVariant to apply slurry ahead of sugar beet. The test machine was kitted out with 12 rows on a 50cm spacing, though Kverneland points out that a 45cm spacing is possible ... even down to

37cm if you remove the row clearing stars.

It’s worth noting that an uneven number of rows is also an option.

The frame is rated for up to 650hp, and to work with this sizeable chunk of power the 3.0m wide frame behind the tanker is built from two 180x180x12mm lumps of box section. In the middle between these two tubes is the 180x180x10mm frame for the wings.

The individual tools in each row are maintenance-free, while all pivot points on the parallelogram frame sport composite bearings. In addition, each 250kg assembly can

be weighted up with another 70-210kg by moving a spring to one of three positions.

This is located in the middle of the parallel linkage between the Pitman arms.

Soil-engaging bits kick off with a straight 520mm cutting disc to open the soil ahead of each loosening leg. Its depth is controlled by two 400mm gauge wheels running alongside the coulter and adjusted on a nine-hole pin setting system. All the following tools are then set in relation to the gauge wheels.

This includes two inwardly curved 320mm

The hydraulic-folding version of the Kultistrip has a working width of 6.0m and can be used with 650hp self-propelled tankers.

row cleaning stars, which remove the trash.

Although the two stars have individual suspension, their depth is altered in unison and without tools — excellent. In the test field the stars did a brilliant job and effectively ripped through the phacelia volunteers.

There are three types of loosening leg — straight, slightly curved and very curved.

All three are made from Hardox 500 steel, and the points and wings can be replaced separately. Their working range can be adjusted from 10-30cm in 25mm increments by refitting a pin. On the rear of the leg is

Data sheet Kverneland Kultistrip 6000F

A double frame in the centre takes the strain from the unfolded wings.

There is a choice of three consolidation tools — cage roll, finger roll and Farmflex wheel — ...

... and three tine options for applying slurry and fertiliser.

pipework for placing fertiliser and slurry to a maximum depth of 20cm. The slurry is applied through a 60mm tube, the pipe for fertiliser measures 35mm. The tubes do taper as they get closer to the coulter and can be tweaked independently of leg depth for more precise fertiliser placement.

A pair of discs run either side of the tine to limit soil throw. They are adjusted in three ways — in the direction of travel, pitch and depth. This job does require a 19mm spanner, which is supplied with the Kultistrip.

Firming action comes from one of three options: the cage roller, a Farmflex roller or a pair of V finger firming wheels. A crank handle together with a reasonable scale makes setting nice and easy.

Other points worth mentioning: ■■ The two parallelogram linkages on the sides are secured during transport with plastic blocks ■■ A lighting kit is a £607 option ■■ The frame is primed and powder coated ■■ Slurry components including the macerator are sourced from Veenhuis ■■ List price for the 6000F is £50,488, with the slurry kit adding another £2,240. profi 3/2017

Working width 6.0m Total weight 4.2t Weight per unit 250kg Additional force per unit 70, 140 or

210kg Max no. of rows 13 Minimum row spacing 45cm Tools Cutting disc (ø 520mm), two clear-out stars (ø 320mm), two side discs (ø 460mm), fertiliser/ slurry boot (ø 35mm/60mm), firming roller (ø 360m, 200mm wide) Coulter depth range 10-30cm Fert/slurry placement depth 0-20cm Tine/coulter width 15-30mm/12cm Depth control Parallel linkage,

two gauge wheels

(ø 400mm) Attachment Cat III or IV Impact protection Hydraulic auto-reset Power requirement Min 300hp,

max 650hp Hydraulic requirement Two double acting Accessories Veenhuis slurry injector Price £52,728 Manufacturer’s information The result: Slurry was applied very accurately, and the effect on soil structure was consistent, too (below).

Summary: Kverneland has extended its strip-till range with the addition of hydraulic-folding models. It should be possible to optimise Kultistrip performance in all conditions thanks to the level of tinkering that can be done on each tool element — possibly too much for some operators. Kitted out with all of the slurry gear, the 6.0m, 12-row Kultistrip tips the scales at 4.2t, and, if that weight is anything to go by, it should be man enough to cope with 650hp.

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