Farms and Farm Machinery – September 2019

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MachineryFieldDays

in lateSeptember,the

ClaasLexioncombine

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of updates.

Lexion

W

ith a new threshing system and about 10 per cent more

capacity, the redesigned Claas Lexion 8000/7000 series of

combine harvesters will make its Australian debut next month.

For Steve Reeves, the Lexion product manager at the Claas

Harvest Centre, the harvester is more productive, more efficient

and easier to operate than before.

“This is not a new series – it’s effectively a new machine,”

he says.

“Every aspect has been re-engineered to meet the needs

of today’s grain producers – increased efficiency and ease of

operation and reduced downtime and operating costs.”

Key changes in the new model include an update to its

accelerated pre-separation [APS] Synflow Hybrid threshing

system, an update to the Hybrid threshing system Claas first

launched in 1995.

“At the time, the Hybrid system was rightly recognised as a

breakthrough in harvesting technology, but the new APS Synflow

Hybrid system takes the technology to a whole new level,”

Reeves says.

The accelerated pre-separation system smoothly accelerates

crop flow to 20 metres per second across all concave areas,

meaning that 70 per cent of separation occurs before the crop

even reaches the twin longitudinal rotors of the harvester.

To improve on this, Claas has increased the diameter of the

threshing drum by 26 per cent to 755mm and the feed drum by

37 per cent to 600mm.

“Likewise, the capacity of the residual grain separation has

increased by 20 per cent,” Reeves says.

The combine’s grain holding and unloading capacity have also

been significantly increased to a maximum of 18 tonnes and 180

litres per second, respectively.

“Combined, these improvements optimise crop flow and

separation efficiency whilst reducing power requirements.”

The new system has undergone more than 6000 hours of

field testing in 10 countries, including Australia, over the past

eight years.

The first three models in the series – the 7600, 7700 and 8700 –

are fitted with the reliable and super-efficient 12.5 L six cylinder

Perkins 2206D engine, which delivers a maximum power of 461,

524 and 571 horsepower (344, 391 and 426kW), respectively.

The 8800 model is equipped with a 15.6L six cylinder

Mercedes-Benz OM 473 LA engine delivering 653hp (487kW).

EFFICIENT SYSTEMS

All new Lexion models will be equipped with two new systems

that Claas says will make the combines more efficient.

The Dynamic Cooling on-demand variable drive cooling

system will help reduce power requirements by 26hp (19kW),

Reeves says.

“The horizontal cooling system creates a ‘curtain’ that prevents

dust from rising,” he says.

By comparison, the Dynamic Power engine management

system automatically adjusts power output to field conditions

for maximum fuel efficiency, with Reeves adding that fuel

savings of up to 10 per cent have been recorded.

All harvesters in the Lexion 8000/7000 range can be equipped

with the 635, 735 and 890mm Terra Trac tracked assemblies or

wide diameter tyres (2.15m front and 1.75m rear) for maximum

traction and comfort. Both variants are capable of 40km/h

ground speed for quick on-road transport.

On-board technology includes Claas’s Cemos Auto machine

optimisation system, which reviews and automatically adjusts

the threshing, cleaning and separation settings for maximum

throughput, grain quality and fuel efficiency.

The accelerated pre-

selection system smoothly

accelerates crop flow to

20 metres per second.

HARVESTERS