QUADRANT undergoes a heavy duty evolution

CLAAS QUADRANT big square balers have undergone a comprehensive technical upgrade to boost their output and durability. Wear costs have been reduced by increasing the use of highly-resilient components borrowed from the CLAAS JAGUAR pick-up and by re-engineering and strengthening bearings, intake panels and other key components.

CLAAS Harvest Centre Product Manager – Greenline, Blair McAlwee, says the QUADRANT EVOLUTION configuration will greatly reduce the total cost of ownership. “In an internal test involving 40,000 bales per machine under extreme conditions in some cases, the new design was found to reduce wear of key components by up to 40 percent,” he says. “This has the added bonus of smoother running, reduced noise levels, simplified maintenance and longer service intervals.”

All QUADRANT EVOLUTION models have a new mechanically-driven HD pick-up. “The performance of the pick-up has been tweaked to further improve raking quality and output whilst maintaining gentle, loss-free crop flow,” Blair says.

“It now boasts five rows of 18 double tines. That extra row of tines allows the pick-up to rotate more slowly, while the speed of the feed roller has been increased. The spring-mounted feed roller compensates for uneven swaths and can be fitted with extra paddles when harvesting short-stalked crops.”

The pick-up has a unique two-cam design for maximum torsional resistance and exceptional robustness. The release torque on the friction clutch has been increased to 1,600 Nm and the diameter of the pick-up main drive shaft has been enlarged. Semi-automatic chain tensioning ensures reliable pick-up drive and automatic lubrication is fitted as standard.

CLAAS has also made a number of modifications to the bale chamber. The top section, incorporating the header plate and side panels, has been redesigned and strengthened to produce an even better bale shape and higher bale density.

Optional side knives and deflectors help to reduce material build-up in the ram guide area when baling straw, maize or sugarcane, further increasing operational safety and reducing cleaning requirements.

The automatic baling pressure control responds even more rapidly – and even more sensitively – to twine tension or load in the intake area.

The use of additional Hardox HD bearings for the ram guide reduce wear in the bale chamber, knotter area and intake and significantly extended the service interval.

The 5300 has a completely new front frame and headstock and a new hitch frame that provides additional hitching positions for drawbar eyes or K80. The hitch frame includes a double-acting hydraulic stand that is longer than the previous generation. Kennfix quick-release hydraulic couplers and a 10 L hand-washing tank are fitted as standard.

Modifications to the twine boxes have also made life easier for the operator. “The twine guide swings out and can be locked in position, allowing the operator to thread the twine whilst standing beside the machine without having to use a stepladder,” Blair says. “The twine brakes can also be adjusted from the ground without tools, saving time and increasing workplace safety.”

The bale ramp can now be opened and closed hydraulically from inside the cabin. This function also enables the final bale to be ejected from the driver’s seat, eliminating the need to step down from the cab and actuate the lever beside the bale chamber.

EVOLUTION models are controlled using the CEMIS 700 terminal or any other ISOBUS-compatible terminal in the tractor. “The operating system has just two working and three settings menus, meaning the operator can rapidly navigate through the baler settings and performance,” Blair says. “In auto mode, the baler’s capacity utilisation is displayed based on average bale weight and baling pressure. In addition, the driver can now monitor the oil temperatures and oil levels in the baler.”

The driver can also keep an eye on working areas, such as the knotters, the bale chute or the reversing area via the optional PROFI CAM 4 camera and additional display.