Exclusive: Test Drive Pulverizador MF 9130 Plus

More modern and with more technology than its predecessor models, the MF 9130 Plus has a new look and is full of new features in terms of motorization, design, bars and spray system.

On a cloudy Saturday, we went to Fazenda Querência, located in the municipality of Cacheira do Sul, in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to test the MF 9130 Plus sprayer, a new launch from Massey Ferguson. This equipment replaces the MF 9030 Plus which, in turn, succeeded the launch model MF 9030, tested for Revista Cultivar Máquinas in Lucas do Rio Verde (MT) with publication in the February 2011 edition. The 9030 Plus had been launched at the last Expointer 2016, in Esteio (RS).

The new model, which goes on sale in January 2017, is prepared to comply with the new emissions regulations, which came into force on January 1, 2015, but which established a compliance period for agricultural machines until January 1, 2017 This standard is part of the Proconve MAR-I (Agricultural and Road Machinery-I) pollutant emission control program. Brazil, with this regulation in force, joins a list of countries that require agricultural machinery to have certain limits similar to what occurs in the United States, with the EPA Tier, and in Europe, with the Euro Stage classification.

This, in addition to others, which we will describe in this text, is part of a set of changes to the MF 9030 project, including the MF 9030 Plus. As we have not tested the MF 9030 Plus, we will draw a parallel between what we had seen in the first one and the great evolution we saw in this model, which we now had the opportunity to test.

We immediately saw a major design change to the front grille and the entire hood that surrounds the engine. This new hood and grille are part of a standardization with the new tractor models that the brand currently has on the market. This new visual identity aligns the sprayer with other MF products.

Although this equipment can be widely used in crops across the country, it will mainly serve those farmers with large areas, who need to cover wide spray areas, taking advantage of the good application width and travel speed.

As we said, this equipment we tested is a launch, it replaces the 9030 Plus 2016 model and the biggest difference compared to it is the fact that it meets emissions regulations, something that will only be required for equipment sold from 2017 onwards.

Recovering a bit of history, MF's first self-propelled sprayer was presented at the 2011 edition of the Rural Show, in Cascavel (PR), and at Expodireto 2011, in Não-Me-Toque (RS). The first steps were taken in 2008, when this equipment was designed and field tests were carried out for technical validation, in different working conditions in the country. The way of indicating the model is related to the series, which goes from 90 to 91 and with the capacity of the syrup tank, where 30 is related to the tank capacity, which is three thousand liters.

MOTOR

The MF 9130 Plus is equipped with an AGCO Power engine, model 66CW3.1263 Tier III, supercharged by a turbocharger. It consists of six vertical cylinders in line, with a volumetric displacement of 6.600cm3, electronic injection that meets the requirements of the Air Pollution Control Program for Motor Vehicles (Proconve) MAR-1.

This resolution requires that agricultural and road machinery engines meet a maximum limit for polluting gas emissions. This control standard has been used in the United States and Europe since 2006, however, in Brazil it will be implemented first for machines above 75kW, and from 2019 all agricultural engines must comply with this resolution.

Thinking about this national and international scenario, Massey Ferguson equipped its self-propelled MF 9130 Plus with a power source capable of meeting these regulatory requirements. The engine has a maximum power declared by the manufacturer of 147,05kW (200hp) at a speed of 1.900rpm and a maximum torque of 790Nm at 1.800rpm of the engine.

Unlike the mechanical fuel injection of previous models, the engine's electronic injection system has sensors connected to a control unit that makes it possible to independently adjust the pressure and quantity of fuel that the engine needs to carry out operations. In this way, the system makes the engine more efficient and reduces the level of emissions.

The engine is mounted on the front of the machine, which helps distribute the equipment's weight, as the syrup reservoir is located at the back. The air filtration system is conventional, having two filter elements. The filter is located in front of the radiator, making it easier to maintain from the side platform.

One of the biggest changes to the MF 9130 Plus, in addition to the electronic injection, is the remodeling of the hood and front grille. The hood remains tiltable, facilitating maintenance to be carried out on the engine and other devices inserted in this location.

SPRAYING SYSTEM

Spray management is carried out using the electronic controller model C3000, which works together with the automatic closing of the boom sections (standard) and the Auto-Guide 3000 automatic pilot (optional).

The Hypro brand spray pump is a centrifugal type, made of stainless steel and driven by a hydraulic motor, with its flow proportional to the engine rotation. It has a capacity of up to 549 liters per minute, providing a large flow of product and a wide range of configurable flow rates, so that the producer can adapt it to their needs.

The supply of water or ready-made solution to the sprayer can occur by gravity, by external pumping or, optionally, by a high-flow pump for supplying the product, incorporated into the sprayer. Also manufactured by Hypro, it is a centrifugal type, made of polypropylene and with a maximum flow rate of 568 liters per minute, allowing the sprayer to be quickly recharged. The supply pump hose outlet is located close to the bottom of the tank, preventing excessive foam formation in the spray solution.

The spray system has protection against excessive pressure increases. A relief valve acts in these situations, protecting the system components and providing greater safety in applications. It also has a protection system that prevents it from running dry, increasing its useful life.

STREAMING

The MF 9130 Plus has all-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive using individual hydraulic motors. These hydraulic motors are driven by two pumps, which work diagonally. Thus, each pump drives a wheel on one side on the first axle, together with one on the other side on the second axle.

This type of traction, which is commonly called cross traction, is a differentiator for solving problems arising from wheel support on different types and surface conditions, which can make grip difficult and cause problems when moving. This difference is very important in this type of equipment, as a reduction in travel speed - or even a lateral movement - can reduce the quality of the application being made by a bar, transverse to the direction of travel.

In relation to the MF 9030 model, the MF 9030 Plus had already incorporated an important difference to solve problems of grip and the ability to overcome slopes that were occasionally encountered on the terrain. Through a change in the reducer's transmission ratio, the maximum slope that the equipment can overcome without problems increased from the maximum slope of 24% to 28%. This design detail, which may not be of greater importance on flat terrain, as is found in a large part of the agricultural areas of our country, is relevant for places with undulating terrain, which occurs in the agricultural production regions of the South and Southeast of Brazil.

With the transmission that equips this sprayer, it is possible to carry out applications at speeds from 22km/h to 43km/h, in 3rd gear at the recommended speed of 1.900rpm, with the option of standard tires.

SPRAY BAR

The MF 9130 Plus is equipped as standard with a 28 meter spray bar (25 meters optionally), making it possible to hydraulically retract the tips and work with a length of 19 meters. The boom is mounted on the rear of the self-propelled vehicle and constructed in the form of trusses. It relies on the action of springs and shock absorbers that act in stabilization, both horizontally and vertically.

The bar tips have automatic disarming, which retract when encountering an obstacle and, after overcoming it, it will return to its normal position. The bar's impact protection against the ground is also present on the tips, also called Bar Ski, which also features a spring system to help absorb impacts against the ground.

The spray bar is divided into seven sections, one central and three on each side. The shutdown of each section is electrical, and it is possible to turn it off one by one, a function performed on the cabin control panel. As an optional item, the EndRow nozzle is offered, located at the end of the bar, facilitating finishing operations.

The MF 9130 Plus tested was equipped with boom height sensors, available as an option. There was an increase in the number of sensors from the MF 9030 generation to the MF 9030 Plus, going from three sensors (one on each bar and one central) to five sensors (two per bar and one central). This greater number of sensors allows the bars to better copy irregularities in the ground, resulting in a more efficient and better quality operation. Adjustment is carried out inside the cabin, allowing the operator to adjust the working height according to the soil or the crop canopy. This height adjustment can vary from 0,55m to 1,95m, taking the ground as a reference.

The piping used in the spray bars is stainless steel with a diameter of 25,4mm (one inch), this material being anti-corrosive, not reacting with chemicals and maintaining the integrity of its structure. For better efficiency in the filtration system, the components have a gradual increase in meshes per square inch (mesh). The main filter of the equipment is made up of a 30 mesh mesh, and the line filters, which are arranged one on the central bar and one on each side, are made up of an 80 mesh mesh. Another change from the MF 9030 to the MF 9030 Plus was also found here, which makes day-to-day maintenance easier for the operator. The number of filters equipped on the old model was five units, two per side bar and one for the central bar. The two filter units per sidebar were replaced by a unit with the same filtration capacity, totaling three bar filter units.

The nozzles that equip the bar are of the multibody type, and the tips are the Guardian 12004 model, both manufactured by Hypro. The numeral 120 indicates the fan opening angle in degrees, and the numeral 04 indicates the tip flow rate of 0,4 US gallons per minute (1,5 liters/minute), at a pressure of 2,8bar (39,98psi). ).

Furthermore, each multibody nozzle has an anti-drip system, equipped with a 0,55bar valve. Thus, when spraying is turned off, this system will prevent leaks and, consequently, the loss of products and phytotoxicity problems in the crop. It is acceptable for this drip to last up to five seconds after stopping spraying in accordance with ISO 16122.

CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION

The chassis is made of structural alloy steel and formed by “C” shaped beams. Known as Flex Frame, it allows joints without welding, using only screws. This system, in addition to ensuring greater flexibility, prevents the formation of cracks in the structure of the chassis. machine and also on the bars. Thus, it allows for a longer useful life and reduces downtime for corrective maintenance, which, when carried out during the application period, reduces the machine's operational capacity.

The axles, where the machine's wheelsets are fixed, are formed by independent structures, being joined to the chassis through stabilizer bars and with the presence of air pockets (bags) to carry out the active pneumatic suspension, and control valves for the management. The absence of rigid axles in relation to the chassis, combined with the Flex Frame system, allows the MF 9130 Plus to cross and overcome obstacles, keeping the four wheels in constant contact with the ground, improving traction capacity, stability of the machine and bars , especially in operations in areas with irregular topography. Furthermore, through the action of this system, greater operational comfort is provided and enables better quality in the application, possible due to the better stability of the bars.

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