Following a direct request from the market, McHale’s design team has developed the company’s new Pro Glide R310 non-conditioner rear mower.
Offering a 3.0m cutter bar with a seven-disc bed to provide a cutting width of 3.1m, the mower utilises proven technology from the conditioner mower range and benefits from a number of novel features that result in better ground-following ability and quicker reaction times to changes in ground conditions.
“Our conditioner mowers have established themselves in the world market as a premium product, but some customers are requesting a plain, non-conditioner mower,” McHale’s UK sales manager, Kieran Hughes, said. “This heavy-duty non-conditioner mower leaves a clean-cut crop and stubble to produce quality forage.
“Our team of engineers have designed the mower to provide superior flotation over rough ground using the same 3D Ground Tracking Technology as our conditioner mowers. I feel these mowers offer a number of unique features which will deliver better ground flotation ability and a clean quality cut.”
The new R310 non-conditioner mower is equipped with a number of common features as standard such as unique patented ground-following technology, adjustable ground pressure control and robust bed design that make these mowers a smart choice for farmers and contractors alike.
Similar to the conditioner mowers from McHale, the Pro Glide R310 utilises the same 3D Ground Tracking Technology to provide excellent ground following capabilities to deliver superior flotation. The three-dimensional ground contour tracking allows the mower to easily mow on rough or undulating terrain and still deliver optimal results.
Most rear mowers have a central pin that only allows the mower to move left and right and not to adjust to changes in ground conditions. The McHale Pro Glide R310 mower is different in that it’s fitted with a patented 3D ground tracking suspension unit that delivers better cutting performance by allowing the mower to move independently of the tractor in the following movements:
- move left and right;
- move forward and back; and
- let the cutter bar move back and up if it collides with an obstacle.
The 12-degree forward/back movement of the mower ensures a precision flotation of the cutter bar for a clean cut in all ground conditions while the 17 degrees left/right movement means the cutter bar smoothly glides over humps and hollows. The flotation of the cutter bar is achieved using a large compensating spring to provide excellent ground following. This easily adjusted pressure system delivers a superior cutting performance in a quick and simple manner.
If the mower comes in contact with an immovable object, the mechanical break-back will be triggered. The break-back will swing the machine backwards and over the obstacle before the spring-loaded design automatically returns the cutting unit to the original working position when clear of the obstacle.
The cutter bar on the Pro Glide non-conditioner mower is powered by a heavy-duty, right-angle gearbox that is positioned behind the inner top hat. In comparison to using drive belts, that can slip in heavy crop, the direct drive ensures an even and continuous distribution of power across the gears in the cutter bar.
The design of the rounded low-profile front edge lets the fully welded cutter bar glide smoothly over the ground. The slanted leading edge of the cutter bar allows for clean forage separation and reduces ground contamination even when working in lodged crops and wet conditions.
Large heavy-duty 25mm spur gears take the PTO power and transfer it to the discs. Each individual disc is driven by a smaller spur gear. The spur gears that drive the individual discs are mounted forward on the cutter bars, which deliver maximum cutting performance even when working in lodged crops.
The mowing discs are specifically designed to maximise crop flow. Each has its own individual protective safety mechanism; if a collision occurs, the mechanism will shear in order to protect the drive.
The quick-change blades are angled at 10 degrees to ensure a clean and even cut. They are also free to spin 360 degrees which makes them self-cleaning and stops them fouling on the knives on neighbouring discs. The knives orbit with a generous overlap, which ensures a clean cut and a smooth flow of cut material is discharged to the rear of the machine.
For transport, the R310 mower folds vertically to position itself behind the centre point of the tractor for safe transport. This position allows the mowers to distribute its weight evenly across the rear of the tractor for ease of transport on the road while also providing the driver with a clear view from the rear-view mirrors.
