Test Drive Massey Ferguson 6690 HD Hybrid harvester

Launched in February 2024, the MF 6690 HD Hybrid is a class V harvester, equipped with a hybrid threshing and separation system and configured to work with high performance in slopes.

16.08.2024 | 13:40 (UTC -3)

With all the difficulties imposed by the closure of Porto Alegre airport and the recent floods in Rio Grande do Sul, the team from the UFSM Agrotechnology Laboratory and Cultivar Máquinas traveled to Londrina, Paraná, to evaluate the Massey Ferguson 6690 HD harvester . After a journey of more than 11 hours by car, traveling to Passo Fundo airport and returning from Pelotas airport to Santa Maria, plus the air journey passing through Campinas before arriving in the north of the state of Paraná, we finally arrived to a beautiful region, where at this time the fields are covered with crops of off-season corn and wheat.

The machine we tested was at Fazenda Monte Cristo, in São Luiz, still in Londrina. After many reminders to be careful, we put on the main personal protective equipment in the region, which are leggings, protecting us against bites from rattlesnakes, frequently found in the region.

Amidst the corn and wheat fields, we found the Cunha family, natives of Cambé (PR). A team made up of uncles and nephews received us with great courtesy and opened up the possibility of carrying out the test with all their patience. There were moments of getting to know each other and relaxing with this family who own a farm in Cambé, where they are from and rent areas from rural owners in a region with a radius of around 70 kilometers. At the time, they were harvesting off-season corn at Sítio Eldorado, which is on the old Ouro Fino road, in the town of Bela Vista, in Londrina, where they allowed us to do the test.

Listening to the life stories of the brothers Gilberto da Cunha and Luiz da Cunha, who run Agrícola Cunha, with their children and nephews, one understands the agricultural vocation and the persistence with which farmers face the harsh routine and difficulties of agricultural production. . Anyone who thinks that agribusiness is a bed of roses needs to know the history of idealistic men like these. In general, in leases, payment is made with a stipulated and fixed amount in bags of soybeans per hectare, regardless of what happens during the cycle. The tenant has his share of product guaranteed, harvested and delivered. The struggle is daily to save and minimize problems. Currently, the Cunha family's production area is 210 bushels or just over 500 hectares, in which soybeans are produced in the summer, corn in the off-season and wheat in the winter.

The area where the test drive was carried out is full of slopes and contour lines, which were used to evaluate the work of the MF 6690 HD Hybrid in adverse conditions.
The area where the test drive was carried out is full of slopes and contour lines, which were used to evaluate the work of the MF 6690 HD Hybrid in adverse conditions.  

With the technical assistance of Anderson Schofer, Massey Ferguson harvester specialist, we were able to learn every detail of the MF 6690 HD Hybrid and also the modifications that were made to update this machine and reach this Heavy Duty version.

To remind readers, there are currently three systems on the market that equip grain harvesters. The first is the traditional radial track system, where the track and a large part of the separation are made through a set of cylinders and a concave. What is not clean grain will go to an element called a straw remover, which will finish separating the grain, a heavier element, from the lighter straw. The straw will come out on top and the grain will be deposited in a sieve that will carry out the final cleaning. In the second, completely different system, called axial, the threshing, separation and part of the cleaning will be done by one or two rotors that work together with an element called a grate, also concave in shape. There are still sieves for final cleaning. A third system was created trying to take advantage of the qualities of the two previous systems, which is the hybrid. In machines that use this system, the traditional cylinder and concave assembly is maintained for the threshing function and the straw extractor is replaced by axial rotors that carry out the final separation and from there the grains go to the sieves. Currently, traditional systems are decreasing in application and axial track systems are gaining prominence in larger machines and hybrid systems in small and medium-sized machines. An evaluation of the systems allows us to conclude that for ideal conditions the axial system apparently allows better results, but in conditions of variation in the quality of the crop and land the hybrid system shows better adaptation, including allowing earlier harvesting, with greater grain moisture.

This machine with the designation HD was launched in February this year, at the Coopavel Rural Show, in Cascavel and is already in full commercialization, with many machines already working this harvest. There are three models in the series, the 4690HD, with 218 hp, the 5690HD with 224 hp and the 6690HD, which we tested with 262 hp of maximum engine power. The main application of these HD series machines will be aimed at versatility with characteristics to serve customers from various agricultural crops. Perhaps the only exception, among the main grain crops in the country, beans are not the objective of this machine, because to track this crop it is necessary to install a rotor angular speed reducer.

The harvester we tested was equipped with a corn platform model MF 3013, with 13 rows, with a spacing of 45 cm.
The harvester we tested was equipped with a corn platform model MF 3013, with 13 rows, with a spacing of 45 cm.  

Engine and transmission

The engines used in the series are AGCO POWER, with six cylinders and 6,6 liters for the 4690HD model and six cylinders, with 7,4 liters for the two largest, the 5690HD and 6690HD. The injection management is electronic and features an internal EGR gas pollutant reduction system. According to user information, this machine consumes between 23 and 24 liters per hour, depending on conditions, meaning the 470-liter fuel tank provides excellent working autonomy.

In the transmission of power to the wheelsets and mechanical subsystems that provide the machine's functions, the big difference between previous models is noticeable. A new transmission was designed with a 115 cm³ hydraulic pump and new 89 cm³ hydraulic motor, more powerful, and a more robust final reduction. With all these modifications, MF brought the machine closer to its European version of the V class. It can be seen that the machine was reinforced, in some sense even oversized. An example of this are disc brakes that now have two calipers on each side.

It should be noted that the company made the choice to offer a machine capable of working in more demanding conditions, such as slopes and various other situations that may arise for a multi-crop harvester, as in this case.

During the test we saw very tough working conditions with a lot of steep terrain, which requires additional resistance from the machine, for maneuvering in a short space and even when unloading grains, with the machine in motion and the grain trailer in a different plane from the harvester. . We favored level routes, but some had to be done uphill, which made the machine much more demanding and showed the increased ramp capacity provided by the new transmission.

The extension of the grain tank rises and can be controlled from inside the cabin
The extension of the grain tank rises and can be controlled from inside the cabin  

But for us, the biggest apparent change was the replacement of a three- to four-speed gearbox, compared to previous models. A second gear was designed especially for harvesting operations in most cases and situations that arise under the conditions we mentioned before. The speed range of this gear, with the variator, allows speeds used in most cases to be reached, reaching 10 km/h. Therefore, first gear is only occasionally used in cases where very low operating speeds are required and third gear is used in exceptional cases of high harvesting speed. The big news is the provision of a fourth gear, intended for moving the machine. In the previous transmission, the maximum speed was 26 km/h in third gear and now it is possible to transport the machine at speeds of up to 34 km/h in fourth gear. A save of time.

Tracking, separation and cleaning system

During the test we used a corn platform model MF 3013, with 13 rows, with a spacing of 45 cm. But the options present themselves according to the culture. This same machine can work with a rigid platform, 20 or 23 feet, if the crop is rice, or a flexible platform, 20 to 25 feet, if it is for grains such as soybeans, for example. In the case of this largest model in the series, it also supports the 25-foot draper platform.

As we all know, a harvester is a complex machine, made up of a series of mechanical subsystems, which require power to activate and all of which comes from the same source, which is the engine. The main subsystems are threshing, separation and cleaning, but remember that a good part of the power has to be allocated to moving the machine and activating the discharge when necessary.

Detail of the baffles installed longitudinally below the separation grids and high dividers along the length of the sieves, which reduce grain migration on sloped terrain
Detail of the baffles installed longitudinally below the separation grids and high dividers along the length of the sieves, which reduce grain migration on sloped terrain  

As it is a hybrid machine, the track is made in the conventional way, with the traditional cylinder and concave elements. This is seen as an advantage, as these elements are dedicated to this function. A high-inertia cylinder 1.270 mm long and 600 mm in diameter is combined with a concave cylinder that varies in type depending on the crops, with bars being used for the majority of grains. There is a third universal concave option for machines called multicrop, changing crops without needing to replace the concave. In the rice version, to avoid excessive wear, wear plates were installed and the tooth cylinder is standard, as well as the rotor grilles are changed. The speed range ranges from 420 to 1.260 rpm, depending on the type of drive motor, whether mechanical or electronic. The variation is made by the operator directly on the panel, hydraulically activated.

Next, the separation of the grains from everything that you do not want to take to the grain deposit is done by two helical rotors that work together with concave grids placed longitudinally in the machine. These extensive rotors, 3,5 meters long and 47 cm in diameter, work at approximately 510 rpm, driven by a belt that drives two 90-degree boxes, by the movement that comes from the engine's power take-off. As a standard, there is a grid for corn crops, with a large spacing between the wires and another that is used for other crops, with a smaller spacing.

The cleaning function in this machine is carried out by two scale-type sieves, with opening adjustment. The upper sieve measures 1,58 m long and 1,20 meters wide and can be extended to increase the area. The lower sieve is 1,55 m long and 1,20 m wide. A 460 mm diameter centrifugal fan is used to blow air from the bottom up into the sieves, removing small plant debris that has reached there.

As this machine is also aimed at producers who work in areas with slopes, to ensure that the grains from the rotors reach the entire sifting area, without lateral concentration, we saw that the project included several deflectors that direct the processed material in the separation to all parts of the sieves. There are lateral and central baffles in all positions, so that the material falls from the grates onto a portion of the sieve, which also has its baffles. Depending on the particular situation, the deflectors can be adjusted, directing the grain flow differently.

From the sieves, part of the grain with impurities goes to the tailings that work by gravity and what passes through the sieves and what is considered clean grain goes directly to the grain tank, which in the case of the 6690HD has 7.000 liters, compared to 5.500 liters of the smaller models in the series. An interesting new feature is the extension of the grain tank, which rises and can be controlled from inside the cabin.

The straw removed from the machine after processing can go to a chopper made up of rotating knives and counter-fixed knives and the spreader, depending on the producer's option. In general, the chopper has been used more by soybean and wheat producers and the spreader has been used more for corn and rice.

For straw processing, the 6690 HD Hybrid has chopper and spreading options
For straw processing, the 6690 HD Hybrid has chopper and spreading options  

Other systems and features

We assessed the ability to transfer the product to the truck or bulk trailer, verifying something that is very important for producers in sloped areas. The grain tube leaves the machine at the top, not at a lower level, as in other machines. This is an advantage in areas with sloping terrain, because if the machine is on a lower plane than the truck, unloading is still possible, whereas if the pipe is lower, approach and unloading are somewhat impossible.

As for the wheelsets, the machines in this series use single wheelsets as standard, however for the larger model that was tested, a double wheelset made up of pairs of 18.4-38 R1 specification tires may be available, as was the case with the test machine. Rear-wheel drive is also optional, so the standard is that the single wheels and the machine without auxiliary rear traction are generally used in flat and dry areas, but in the condition that we had a lot of slope and undulating terrain, the double wheels and The auxiliary rear traction is used as a support and stability element for the machine.

We also analyze the quality of the machine's maintainability, verifying that items such as grease lubrication, ease of access to elements such as filters, belts, etc. and changing components for specific conditions is quite easy.

The grain tank discharge tube is located on the top of the harvester, facilitating use on rough terrain
The grain tank discharge tube is located on the top of the harvester, facilitating use on rough terrain  

Technologies

As for electronic technology items, the MF 6690HD offers as standard items the crop loss sensor and the C1000 monitor, which is a communication interface regarding operational parameters. As for the autopilot, in the standard version the customer can choose to receive their machine without a pilot, or prepared for pilot and telemetry. Fuse Pro Sense, Auto-Guide 3000 decimeter autopilot and telemetry with MF Connect are offered as options, as the customer desires. The MF Connect data is private to the producers, but if they wish to share it with the concessionaire, they can issue alerts and monitor the work, including forecasting maintenance. The MF Pro Sense is an optical productivity measuring sensor, formed by the joint work of a transmitter and a receiver, both placed aligned in the grain lifting tube. This makes it possible to measure grain productivity with much greater precision than with the impact sensors used in other cases. As an interesting technological resource and to avoid reading errors on steep terrain, there is an inclinometer that corrects the information.

To the operator's right is the console with all the harvester movement and operation controls. Two monitors, the X25, the result of AGCO's partnership with Topcom, and the C1000, which is standard on this model, provide all the machine's work information.
To the operator's right is the console with all the harvester movement and operation controls. Two monitors, the X25, the result of AGCO's partnership with Topcom, and the C1000, which is standard on this model, provide all the machine's work information.   

Also as an option, the producer can purchase the Monitor area in tons per hectare. Also, by having this monitor, the customer will be able to migrate the autopilot information that would previously be on the C25 monitor to it.

For many hours of the day we remain inside the cabin, which is accessed via a vertical ladder, with two movable and four fixed steps. Inside, the operator's and passenger's seats and a control panel completely to the operator's right. In the right column at the front are the two monitors. On a small panel to the operator's left are the lighting and flush switches. At the bottom, almost on the floor, is the lever that determines the approximation of the concave to the track cylinder, which can vary from 1 to 17 points.

The average harvesting speed during the test drive was 4km/h
The average harvesting speed during the test drive was 4km/h

We carried out several assessments of the quality of the operation, varying the rotation of the cylinder, fan and the position of the concave. We found the best grain cleaning conditions and lowest losses at the rear of the machine with 570 cylinder rpm, 880 fan rpm and concave position 9. Interestingly, it is easy to assess quality by analyzing the grains through a small opening next to the cabin door. In the variation of positions between 8 and 10 we saw a little broken grains in position 8 and a little impurities in position 10 and a huge quality in position 9. The ideal working speed for the farming conditions was 4,0 km/ h. In the end we saw the satisfaction of the producers, as they reported to us with each return of the truck the few discounts that the receiving unit had been applying, as harvesting with 20% humidity, the level of impurities did not exceed 2%.

The test drive was carried out in an area planted by Agrícola Cunha, in the interior of Londrina, Paraná
The test drive was carried out in an area planted by Agrícola Cunha, in the interior of Londrina, Paraná  

After testing the machine in the field and listening to the impressions of the producers who participated in the test, providing the area, it can be seen that the machine had excellent performance, harvesting in very harsh conditions, with very steep terrain and high corn productivity, maintaining a speed standard operating mode. We also evaluate the discharge capacity quite well, both in terms of flow rate and the position of the tube. Something to highlight positively is the new transmission that allows operation in just one gear, in all situations and very efficient braking, almost automotive. Finally, according to the producers' assessment, excellent grain cleaning was easily achieved, reducing discounts. Total harvest losses were greatly reduced, at around 20 kg/ha.

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