Nine times Welsh Ploughing Champion and winner of three Gold, three Silver and one Bronze World Ploughing Championships medals, Montgomeryshire farmer Evan Watkin has added to his list of successes recently using a new four-wheel-drive, 107hp Case IH Farmall 105 U. Evan first used the new tractor to fend off 80 other competitors in the Sarn District Ploughing Championships on the Llyn Peninsula, where he was placed first.
“The Farmall 105 U is the perfect tractor for my requirements,” says Evan, an arable and beef farmer from Newtown. “What I look for, particularly, are excellent all-round visibility, excellent engine and transmission, easy adjustment of wheel settings and enough spool valves to cope with the complexity of my two-furrow Kverneland AB85 competition plough, which incorporate hydraulic adjustment of the cross-shaft, top link, levelling box and plough legs.
“The Farmall 105 U is considerably more powerful than my previous Case IH 885L and incorporates the latest technology, which offers significant advantages. The cab is much more comfortable, visibility is vastly better and the electro-hydraulic system provides more precise control over the plough, as well as being much safer. It’s difficult to see how the tractor could be improved.”
Evan took part in his first ploughing competition in 1973 at the age of 15 and although it was another 15 years before he entered the Welsh Ploughing Championship for the first time, since then he has become very well known on the national and international circuit.
Throughout that time Evan has relied on Case IH tractors. In 1996, using a two-wheel-drive International 454, he became Reserve Champion of Wales and qualified to compete in the World Championship in Australia the following year. In 1998 he was again Reserve Champion of Wales and qualified for the World Championship in France in 1999, the year he won his first major title, the Welsh Championship, when it was held in his native Montgomeryshire.
Evan subsequently purchased a new four-wheel-drive Case IH 885L tractor which provided much greater traction, an attribute becoming increasingly important in order to remain competitive in World Championship events, in which he finished runner-up in 2003 and 2004 and in 2012 he was placed third when the event was held in Croatia. Evan still owns that tractor, which has completed 6200 hours, but says that the Farmall 105 U is much better suited to competing at the high level now required to get amongst the medals at international level.
Alun Scott, Product Marketing Specialist for Case IH UK, states: “We are delighted that Evan rates his Case IH Farmall 105 U so highly. The Farmall name is deeply rooted in the history of Case IH, the first of these powerful, versatile tractors to bear this legendary brand being produced in 1923. Today’s Farmall line-up provides modern farms with a range of powerful, efficient, versatile and comfortable tractors which maintain the brand’s hard-won reputation. They appeal to existing Case IH customers looking to update and those who operate other tractor brands.”
THE IDEAL ALL-ROUNDER
The Farmall U range incorporates three, four-wheel-drive models from 99hp to 114hp, the one chosen by Evan Watkin being the mid-range 105 U, which develops 107hp at 2300 rpm and maximum torque of 444Nm at 1500rpm.
The 95U, 105U and 115U feature four-cylinder, 3.4-litre FPT common-rail, Efficient Power diesel engines which are electronically governed to deliver more power and torque whilst using less fuel. Stage IIIB (Tier 4a)-compliant, these powerful, fuel-efficient units feature a power curve which perfectly matches the all-round role for which these tractors are designed, with constant maximum power available from 1900rpm to 2300rpm. With up to 35% of torque reserve, Farmall U engines have the ability to power through the peak loads or haul heavy trailers at speed on the road without the need for repeated gear changing. In addition, the combination of low fuel consumption and a big 140-litre fuel tank ensure that the working day is not interrupted by the need to re-fuel, while longer 500-hour service intervals reduce downtime.
Farmall U models are equipped as standard with an efficient, effective 24 x 24 two-speed powershift transmission, while options include a 12 x 12 40kph gearbox or 20 x 20 creeper transmission that allows forward speeds as low as 255 metres/hour. All transmissions are equipped with a powershuttle facility, which can be modulated for soft/medium/fast response. With 38" tyres and 100% diff-lock on front and rear axles, Farmall U models put their power on the ground very efficiently, with minimal compaction.
The high power-to-weight ratio and excellent manoeuvrability makes the Farmall U particularly well suited to PTO tasks, front loader operation and general haulage work. An extensive range of options, including front loaders, front linkage, front PTO and choice of tyres means that Farmall U tractors arrive fully equipped and ready to work. Cab versions can be customised with performance monitors and ISO connector to enable data transfer between the tractor and implements.
A key feature of the Farmall U is its modern, spacious cab, which features ‘surround’ vision thanks to unsurpassed sight lines, courtesy of full-length glass doors, broad front and rear windows and an opening cab roof window for best-in-class loader visibility, giving unobstructed views in every direction.
Electronic Hitch Control (EHC) is standard throughout the Farmall U range and with up to three rear and two mid-mounted hydraulic remote valves hydraulic flow can be directed to control a wide range of equipment. Rear linkage lift capacity is up to 5400kg.
Farmall U models can be ordered loader-ready from the factory, including a loader sub-frame with rear axle reinforcement, multi-block quick connection, mid-mount valves and integrated joystick. A shuttle lever mounted on the steering column makes for predictable and safe manoeuvring especially during loader work, around the yard or tight headland turns.
9th August 2013