We have put parts that are subject to wear to a test

We field tested the durability of spare parts on our TERRALAND TN 3000HD7R chisel plough in extreme conditions this year. This year´s drought and a lack of precipitation in the region of Rakovník during the growing season were ideal for testing. The following story reveals how this unique project developed.

Up to a depth of 45 cm, the TERRALAND was aggregated with a 250HP MASSEY FERGUSON tractor

With a maximum depth of 65cm, the TERRALAND was aggregated with a 380HP JOHN DEERE tractor

TERRALAND TN 3000 HM7R in the farming enterprise of Probiosa.s. Kounov

Last summer the farming enterprise replaced their traditional plough, which was worn-out and at the end of its service life, with a chisel plough. The TERRALAND has 7 shanks with a non-stop hydraulic auto-rest system and its rigid frame allows a maximum working depth of 65cm. In comparison to competitive products, the setting of the working depth is much more convenient with the TERRALAND as it is carried out from the tractor cab via the hydraulic rear packer. The operator does not need to get out of the tractor unnecessarily and can quickly adjust the working depth as required. Details such as the working depth indicator, which is readily visible from the driver´s seat unlike those of competitive brands played an important role in the purchase. Both the machine operators and the company management are satisfied with last year´s decision to go for the BEDNAR brand.

Area and testing conditions

The testing was carried out in cooperation with the farming enterprise of Probiosa.s. Kounov which farms 860ha of agricultural land. The company farms land of various soil types, from red soil to sandy soil in the area of Rakovník. The entire area is situated in the rain shadow of the Ore Mountains and is ranked one of the driest areas in the Czech Republic.

Results obtained with soil probes

The photograph and description of the soil probe say it all

Placement of shanks

The first row of three shanks on the TERRALAND TN 3000 HD7R chisel plough were fitted as follows: behind the tractor wheels the 70mm LONG LIFE chisel with LONG LIFE wings and 70mm wide chisel with weld deposits and standard wings. The middle shank was fitted with a standard 70mm wide chisel and with standard wings. The second row of shanks was not used for the testing.

The first row of shanks was fitted like this

LONG-LIFE chisel and wings

Basic 70mm chisel and wings

70mm chisel with weld deposits and basic wings

How was the testing carried out

Soil tillage up to a depth of 45cm was carried out at the end of July and in the month of August. In October and November, the plots of land were processed to be ready for winter up to the maximum depth of the chisel plough, i.e. 65cm, so that any water during the spring thaw would be absorbed into the soil to minimize surface drainage. During the testing, all the spare parts subject to wear worked in the same conditions.

Comparison of a regular wing after 44 hectares

Comparison of a LONG-LIFE wing after 44 hectares

Basic 70mm chisels and wings

These are working sections which do not feature any cemented carbide coating. In such harsh conditions, they were subject to most wear. The chisels had to be replaced for the first time as early as 7.3ha. For the test to be as accurate as possible, several chisels were employed. After 250 hectares, the replacement interval settled at 15ha on average. The front part of the regular wings is not made of sintered carbides and that is why they soon lost their shape. They were replaced after 53ha on average.

70mm chisel with weld deposits

It is very similar to the LONG-LIFE chisel; the chisel tip is made of cemented carbide. The abrasion surface and sides of the chisel are protected by the weld deposits and the entire chisel is reinforced. The chisel had to be replaced for the first time after 140 hectares. A weak point of this chisel is the fact that it wears down unevenly.

LONG-LIFE chisel and wings

The tip and the entire abrasion area of the abrasion chisel are covered with plates made of sintered carbides. The front part of the wings is made of carbide plates that minimize wear and tear in the width and maintain the same shape and functionality the whole time. The entire test was conducted on 250 hectares of agricultural land and the working sections did not need to be replaced at all during that time.

LONG-LIFE chisel after 140 hectares

Chisel with weld deposits after 140 hectares

Conclusions drawn from the testing

In the conditions of the Rakovník area, where we tested the wear and tear, the testing revealed that the LONG-LIFE chisel lasts up to 17 times longer than the basic chisel and twice as long as a chisel with weld deposits. LONG-LIFE wings last five times longer than regular wings without weld deposits. After approx. 250ha, the LONG-LIFE chisel is in such top condition that the operator estimates that it will be able to work at least another 200 hectares next season. This will support the investment profitability even more as the profitability is not expressed merely by the number of the hectares covered and the financial costs, but also by the time savings in connection with the chisel replacement as well as with ordering, transporting and collection from each farming enterprise warehouse. It is certainly worth paying a little bit extra for better quality, especially if it leads to an increased quality of work and significant money savings.

LONG-LIFE chisel and wings after 250 hectares

Karel Rais, BEDNAR FMT s.r.o. [email protected]

Marketing specialist

It´s a pleasure to farm with us

GALLERY