FARGO, North Dakota – The original Versatile bi-directional tractor was a hit with farmers. It could perform a variety of chores and more work from one machine spells efficiency.
The final version of the original Versatile platform was the 9030. When New Holland replaced it with their TV140 design in 1998, many farmers felt the larger size would spell the death of the BiDi concept thinking it could not be as nimble as the original.
Two months ago, when New Holland introduced its latest version, the TV6070, it sent a clear message. The BiDi concept is alive and well at Case New Holland.
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“Farmers liked the old Versatile BiDi because they could get into so many places,” says Russ Stoltman, co-ordinator of four-wheel drive development at CNH in Fargo, North Dakota.
“But really, it’s all a matter of perception. The old 9030 articulated 35 degrees. The new bi-directionals pivot 45 degrees and actually have the same turning radius as a 9030.
“The old and the new have the same clearance circle without their loaders. And they are both about the same width.”
Stoltman says the picture changed when the loaders were installed on the 1998 TV140. The old 9030 had a 12-foot high loader.
When New Holland brought out its larger TV140, it had a 14-foot high loader, which created a larger clearance circle than the 9030. To solve the problem, the company designed a shorter loader frame with a 12-foot lift that tucked in closer to the tractor.
“With the loaders attached, this actually gives us a tighter clearance circle than the old 9030. Most people don’t know that,” says Stoltman.
He says starting with the TV140 10 years ago, the tractor had larger tires than the 9030, giving it a better ride and better flotation in livestock facilities or in the field. Larger tires on a centre-articulated tractor called for a longer wheelbase so the tires would not touch in a tight turn. The longer wheelbase also contributes to a better ride for the operator.
“The old bi-directional had a lot of power for such a small tractor,” says Stoltman.
“That can be a problem with the old drop box type of axles. Some of those Versatiles went 20,000 hours without a problem. Others failed by 4,000 hours if you had to do a lot of throwing back and forth.
“In the mid-1990s, when we started to design a new bi-directional, we knew for sure we had to eliminate the drop box. Everything had to be more heavy duty on the new tractor. We used more actual tractor parts instead of the expensive specialty parts found on the 9030. We wanted everything to be bigger and stronger so it would last longer.”
In the original design, only the seat, steering wheel and instrumentation swiveled. The control handles were mounted on the cab walls. When the operator changed drive directions, the controls were backward.
“A lot of operators didn’t like this. To make the entire operator platform swivel, we needed a bigger cab. A bigger cab required a bigger chassis. There was no other solution.”
When the TV140 came out, it shared some components with other New Holland implements, including the cab, front axle, rear axle, three-point-hitch and a list of smaller parts. Eliminating the special components found on previous BiDis also helped reduce production costs on the new platform.
The new TV6070 has a new 105 horsepower engine. The previous engine had been dropped from production because it did not meet Tier III emissions standards for off-road machinery.
To help reduce outside costs, New Holland opted for an Iveco engine, which is part of the overall Fiat/Iveco/CNH family.
The 6.7 litre engine has mechanical fuel injection. An optional reversing fan on the radiator is available for tractors that will be used where there is a lot of chaff or dust.
This Iveco engine is used in other CNH implements and is approved to run on 100 percent biodiesel, providing the fuel meets international standards.
However, because biodiesel more readily picks up moisture during storage and handling, Stoltman recommends operators order a factory-installed prefilter if they plan to use significant amounts of biodiesel.
Until now, the TV series drove through a three-range hydrostatic transmission. The new TV6070 has eight speed ranges.
“More speed ranges allows the tractor to absorb and use more of the engine’s power, either in bucket fill force or in speed. The new TV is 105 h.p., same as the previous tractor. But the new tractor can do more work.”
Much of the improved efficiency is attributed to the variable displacement motor. When loop pressure reaches 3,500 psi, it automatically increases the displacement of the hydraulic motor. In effect, it downshifts to give the operator more working power.
“With the old three-speed system, the operator could manually shift down to a lower range to get better bucket fill effort, then shift up to a higher range driving to the dump spot.
“But in reality, it seldom happens that way. Typically an operator puts it into one range and leaves it there.”
With the new system, the hydraulic motor automatically changes to the highest displacement when the operator pushes into the pile. The operator gets maximum bucket fill force.
When transporting to the dump spot with a full bucket, the operator can push the lever forward and the motor will automatically respond and accelerate at its maximum capability.
“It manages itself,” says Stoltman. “The pump and motor talk to each other hydraulically through small signal lines. There’s no electronics involved. Just those small hydraulic lines.”
He says when the hydraulics sense there is a load reduction, the transmission shifts up to the highest of the eight speeds, within the range the operator has selected.
When the system senses a heavy load, it shifts down to the appropriate lower range. The operator concentrates on the job at hand.
The ability to run mowers, windrow heads and other hydrostatic implements is another feature of the BiDi.
Stoltman explains the auxiliary drive on the TV6070 can be described as half of a hydrostatic system – the power component half. The other half is the hydraulic motor that runs the available implements.
The auxiliary system supplies 35 gallons per minute at 4,000 psi and is independent of the main system. The auxiliary uses low-restriction ¾ inch couplers.
The same ¾ inch couplers are available as an option on the main hydraulic system, which pumps out 30 g.p.m. at 3,000 psi.
Both ends of the TV6070 can be equipped with three-point hitches, pto systems, hydraulic valves and drawbars.
In some applications, the tractor can push an implement and pull an implement simultaneously.
Stoltman says more customers want to do more things with the same tractor. That will be a key element in the long-term BiDi plans at New Holland.
“Our market research says there’s a demand for a more powerful bi-directional. It might be slightly larger to accommodate larger tractor components.”
