John Deere: W and T Series combines updated for 2012

The new W Series cab offers more glass than ever before for an excellent view over the header.

The Premium Cab also provides effortless control over all harvest operations, via the CommandTouch armrest, GreenStar 3 CommandCenter or 2630 armrest display, corner post display and dual-tilt steering column.
The Master Control lever incorporates the feeder house, reel and return-to-cut controls with active stubble height and float pressure controls as standard, including an emergency stop, and full adjustment and activation for unloading ensure that operation on the move is made easy. Additionally, a new button enables activation of AutoTrac for straight-line harvesting, which allows increased field efficiency.
The controls of the CommandTouch armrest console are intuitive and quick to locate. All commonly used functions are activated via hot keys, such as harvesting adjustments, transmission and HillMaster controls, air conditioning, radio and lights. The new cab’s digital corner post display provides a quick overview of all primary machine information, that is forward speed, engine rpm, losses and warnings, and includes a new power meter. This displays the current percentage of power being used, enabling the operator to increase utilisation of the machine’s overall harvesting capacity when required.
The GreenStar 3 CommandCenter display puts further fundamental machine and crop information within easy reach, making adjustments quick and simple. Using just one display, the operator can activate a number of settings, including automatic combine adjustment. Intelligent solutions such as HarvestSmart automatic feedrate control, Harvest Monitor yield monitoring, AutoTrac guidance and AutoTrac RowSense also enhance visibility and provide intuitive control. This eliminates the need for additional displays and also puts a full touch screen within easy reach at the end of the armrest. Other service-related functions include warning alarms, calibration wizards and on-board diagnostics. Ease of use and increased control of the harvesting operation were the key areas of focus in these new cabs’ development.
The larger and more powerful GreenStar 3 2630 display is also available as an option, providing greater functionality and control. With its 10.5-inch colour touch screen, this display represents state-of-the-art technology and supports the full John Deere i-solutions package, so it is ideal for those wanting full documentation.
John Deere’s web-based telematics solution gives machinery fleet owners real-time answers to the daily challenges that matter the most. JDLink features machine location, location tracking, geofencing to protect a machine from misuse, maintenance planning, fuel consumption information, machine hour tracking and harvest performance, and enables the fleet manager to determine, for example, if operators need more training.
The JDLink integrated telematics solution is available with three specification levels, allowing it to be tailored to individual business needs.
John Deere’s new W and T Series combines feature Stage 3B compliant 6.8- or 9.0-litre PowerTech PSX engines. These high-pressure common-rail diesel engines are equipped with two turbochargers in series for higher boost pressure, a four-valve cylinder head for enhanced airflow, electronic engine control and an exhaust gas recirculation system to lower peak combustion temperatures, thereby reducing NOx. John Deere’s diesel-only solution requires no urea, because the combination of a diesel oxidation catalyst and a diesel particulate filter reduces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter.
The new PowerTech PSX engines provide a combination of three features – extra power, unloading boost and simultaneous engine governing – to ensure the best engine characteristics and power level when harvesting a crop under load. This makes it easier to harvest up to the limit of the combine’s capacity, especially when unloading while harvesting.
From the massive engine gear casing to the rugged driveshaft transmission, every component is built for strength, simplicity and efficiency. The onboard diagnostic system finds faults fast, and service inspections or parts replacement can be carried out from either side of the machine.

John Deere’s new T Series combines offer power outputs of up to 431hp.

There are three transmissions available – either Push Button Shift or ProDrive on the T Series models, and a three-speed manual shift or Push Button Shift transmission on the W Series combines. The proven ProDrive transmission features smooth automatic shifting between two speed ranges. It offers speed selection for normal harvesting conditions and for faster field work or road transport, and allows individual speed adjustment via the hydrostatic control lever. ProDrive delivers up to 64 per cent more torque at a harvesting speed of 8km/hr, and makes light work of tough conditions.
The newly designed three-speed Push Button Shift Transmission (PBST) makes gear shifting a truly simple exercise. From a standing start, the operator selects the gear by pressing one of three buttons on the armrest. As with ProDrive, this transmission applies the park brake automatically once the hydro lever is pulled into the neutral position. Features like this mean that John Deere combines provide best-in-class comfort and control, along with industry leading drive technology.
The optional John Deere HillMaster feature available on all W- and T-Series combines compensates for slopes of up to 15 per cent by levelling the entire combine body automatically on the move. Combined with the SlopeMaster side-hill kit, this provides full harvesting performance on slopes of up to 22 per cent. With HillMaster, John Deere offers the largest full body self-levelling straw walker combine in the industry, for additional comfort and performance.
High flotation tyres help to reduce soil compaction without having to compromise on machine width. Apart from the normal high flotation tyre options for five- and six-walker combines, John Deere now offers several new tyre sizes. The 680/85 R32 is for customers who require narrow transport widths with the best flotation. Also available are the 800/70 R32 and 800/75 R32, which fit the same rims as 800/65 R32 tyres, but deliver almost twice the ground contact area, providing the highest levels of flotation and less soil compaction.
John Deere’s new W and T Series combines can be equipped with a wide selection of headers, including the 600R Series platforms with cutting widths from 4.3-10.7m. Set up in seconds, all 600R platforms offer single lever attachment of the electrical and hydraulic lines. The massive 660mm intake auger features four-way adjustment and provides plenty of feeding capacity. To ensure a clean cut, a counterbalanced epicyclic knife drive eliminates vibration.
As an alternative, PremiumFlow headers are extremely versatile. Material is actively transported from the cutterbar to the feed auger at a constant flow rate, even in laid crops. Several other specialised headers and attachments are available, including the RapsProfi II for oilseed rape and the 600C Series maize headers.
The John Deere W and T Series combines feature a high-capacity feeder house with an extra long design for better visibility, a durable high torque slip clutch and an 80hp reverser to remove the most stubborn plugged material. The feeder’s front plate can be adjusted fore and aft to compensate for different tyre sizes, crops and working conditions.
John Deere’s tangential tine technology keeps the crop flowing smoothly and directly through the machine without any abrupt changes in direction. Because the crop enters the tine separator from above, the full separation area can be used. With 2.8 and 3.36 square metres of powered separation on the five- and six-walker models respectively, T Series combines rank among the biggest straw walker machines in the industry. Any remaining grain is removed from the straw while flowing over the seven-step walkers.
Ideal for high-yielding crops, the Quadra-Flo cleaning system with its four dual-flow cleaning fans provides a clean grain tank sample with minimal adjustments in varying conditions. The chaffer and sieves easily sort the separated grain, and electric adjustment of the cleaning shoes is standard.
The T Series residue management system chops and evenly distributes an extra-fine layer of residue behind the combine, which is an important precondition for no-till or minimum-till cultivation. To keep an even spread pattern in cross winds or hilly conditions, electrically adjustable vanes on the chopper direct the spread to the left or right of the combine. The alignment of the residue flow with the crop flow allows the chaff and chopped straw to be spread using a powerful air stream. If the operator wants to separate the chaff from the straw, he can change the chaff spreader discharge position, so it can be spread to the side.
Customers who use the straw for bedding or as feed will benefit from excellent straw length, uniformity and weight per bale. For feeding purposes, the chaff can be left with the straw to enhance the volume. Customers who bale straw for bedding can rely on getting tight bales which are clean from chaff.

The new T670 comes as standard with a, 11,000-litre grain tank.

John Deere’s proven W Series combines are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customers, from small and medium sized farms to large arable farms and contractors. Thanks to their massive 660mm threshing cylinder, large diameter beater with a second concave and long 11-stage straw walkers, they provide high performance and flexibility while offering reliability and cost efficiency. The combine components handle grain separation smoothly, and can be supported by an optional PowerSeparator drum which picks trapped grain out of the straw mat before the straw reaches the end of the walkers. W Series combines feature the same dual-flow cleaning fans in the Quadra-Flo cleaning system as the T Series models.
The W-Series residue management system also features a fine-cut chopping system with even residue distribution behind the combine, for effective no-till or minimum-till cultivation. An optional two-speed chopper drive allows the operator to change quickly between the speed ranges when working in different crops. Again, to keep an even spread pattern in cross winds or hilly conditions, electrically adjustable vanes on the chopper can direct the spread to the left or right of the combine.
With both the W and T Series combines, there is no need to compromise on clean grain handling performance. Both ranges offer the largest grain tank available on a straw walker machine, at 11,000 litres. The unloading process is controlled via the master control lever, and the grain tank covers are operated electrically from the cab display. Visibility while unloading is also perfect with the new cab.

T Series combine specifications

W Series combine specifications

For more information visit: www.johndeere.co.uk.