Fendt high power tracked rigs make Aussie debut

Following its North American debut last year, Fendt’s high horsepowered Vario MT range has finally touched down in Australia, offering a heavy-duty, premium tracked product Down Under with power ranging between 380hp and 673hp.

“There’s nothing we haven’t thought of in creating the new Fendt Vario MT track tractors,” said Fendt Product Manager, Tyron Midgley.

“For flotation, ride comfort, fuel efficiency, implement operation, power and reliability, these new track tractors will definitely stand out as a great choice for the heaviest jobs.”

He said the tractors have been designed to handle big crop production jobs, including medium-to-heavy high-speed tillage, as well as the largest planters and seeding implements.

“We’ve added some totally new, Fendt-exclusive innovations, such as a steerable three-point hitch system and a hydraulically controlled swinging drawbar option that make headland turns with large implements smoother for the operator, less demanding on the tractor and gentler on the soil.”

Fendt has made a bold claim that the 1167 Vario MT is the highest horsepower track tractor on the market today.

The 1100 Vario MT range consists of four models – the 1151 with 511hp, 1156 with 564hp, 1162 with 618hp and the 1167 with 673hp.

The first three in the range are powered by MAN 6-cylinder, 15.2L diesel engines while the range topping 1167 is powered by a MAN 6-cylinder, 16.2L diesel engine.

These engines feature the Fendt iD low-rev engine concept that works in unison with the Fendt Tractor Management System (TMS) and stepless VarioDrive transmission to provide maximum torque at 1100rpm and more power to the ground.

In addition, Fendt iD and TMS allow the tractors to run in the maximum torque range while delivering low fuel consumption, Fendt added.

The Fendt 1100 Vario MT tractors offer standard wide gauge settings of 88 to 128 inches and three track styles in three widths from 27.5 to 36 inches. The heart of the new range is the patented Mobil-Trac track system that Fendt claimed is the only mid-wheel design on the market with a suspended undercarriage and rolling midwheels.

By placing the hardbar closer to the front of the tractor, engineers lengthened the wheelbase for better weight and power distribution along the belt to deliver a smoother ride and reduce compaction. These track features, plus the widest belt offering on the market, provide better flotation to minimise compaction and increase return per hectare, Fendt said.

A new Fendt-exclusive Smart Ride Plus load leveling option provides even greater traction and increased ride comfort for both field work and road travel, Fendt added.

This hydraulic system integrates with the front suspension springs to adjust the tractor height, keeping the chassis level to maintain the correct angle between the tractor hitch and rear implements. It also keeps the tractor level when operating heavy front- or rear-mounted attachments.

Because suspension of the leveled tractor can travel equally both up and down, ride comfort is improved. Finally, the self-leveling hydraulics raise or lower the front of the tractor to make attaching or removing the front mono-block weight easier.

Topping off the ride-comfort features of the Fendt 1100 Vario MT tractors is the two-point cab suspension with integrated shock absorbers at the rear and two shock absorbers with rubber bumpers on the front.

In addition to a standard Category-5 free swinging drawbar with 4990kg load rating, the Fendt 1100 Vario MT is also available with two innovative new hitch systems - a hydraulically controlled drawbar and a hydraulically controlled three-point hitch.

Both hitches make headland turns with large implements smoother for the operator, less demanding on the tractor and gentler on the soil, Fendt said.

For towed implements such as large planters and tillage tools, the hydraulically controlled, swinging drawbar allows the operator to guide the implement from the tractor, making contour farming, headland turns and navigating through wet fields easier.

It provides 28 degrees of horizontal swing left and right, allowing the tractor to turn closer to its natural turning point under load. Auto float, fixed and offset modes give the operator total control of the implement. This hitch boasts a hefty 6800kg load rating.

The new steerable three-point hitch system was designed with mounted implements in mind, Fendt said. For tractors equipped with either a standard or high-lift three-point hitch, this new system provides 12 degrees of movement in the hitch and 11.5 degrees of swing with the drawbar, allowing the tractor to steer easily around contours and field obstacles without raising the implement.

This hitch uses two steering cylinders to keep the drawbar in a fixed position or allow it to float with restriction. It is controlled from the tractor cab and integrated with the tractor steering.

The 1100 Vario MT features the Fendt-exclusive dual pump, dual-circuit hydraulic system for up to 440l/min of hydraulic oil flow.  This two-pump system allows implements to be connected according to their oil pressure and flow requirements, high or low.

It keeps full capacity on reserve until the tractor is paired with an implement with high hydraulic demands, such as a large planter. Valves are dedicated to implement control, the steerable hitch drawbar control and power beyond.

Like other Fendt tractors, the 1100 Vario MT has separate hydraulic oil reservoirs for the implement and vehicle hydraulic systems, preventing cross-contamination and extending the service interval to two years or 2000 hours.

The Fendt 1100 Vario MT tractors have been designed with front and chassis options for ballasting. Front weights improve machine balance, headland quality and provide correct belt-to-ground contact for the idler driver. Options include 20 or 36 suitcase weights providing up to 915kg and 1650kg, respectively, or the 2000kg mono block.

Chassis ballasting on the undercarriage places weight near the machine’s center of gravity, using a combination of idler, frame and rear-drive wheel weights. Weight is applied directly to the ground without putting stress on the chassis, axles or final drives to improve drawbar pull capacity.

The inside of a Fendt 1100 Vario MT cab will make operators familiar with the brand feel right at home, Fendt said.

A 10.4-inch Varioterminal, key machine and implement controls and multifunction joystick are all incorporated into the ergonomically designed armrest.

The fully adjustable seat and armrest put machine and implement controls at the operator’s fingertips. The exclusive single-spoke steering wheel allows for effortless steering and offers spring-activated return-to-centre when released, Fendt added.

The Fendt 900 Vario MT range is smaller but no less powerful, Fendt said.

It offers power ranging from 380hp to 431hp and carries across some of the features in the larger 1100 Vario MT range, including the Fendt-exclusive dual-pump, dual-circuit hydraulic system.

The system delivers up to 440l/min of hydraulic oil flow and allows operators to connect implements according to oil pressure and flow requirements, high or low. It keeps full capacity on reserve until the tractor is paired with an implement with high hydraulic demands or until the connected implement requires additional hydraulic power.

Like other Fendt tractors, the 900 Vario MT has separate hydraulic oil reservoirs for the implement and vehicle hydraulic systems, preventing cross-contamination and extending the service interval to two years or 2,000 hours.

Optional flat-face hydraulic couplers allow for easier connection of implements and minimal oil leaks during coupling, keeping the tractor, the operator and the environment cleaner. Since the system is designed to maintain pressure, oil does not heat up as much and energy consumption for cooling is reduced, Fendt said.

Fendt 900 Vario MT tractors are equipped with a standard Category 3/4N three-point hitch and a 2-speed 1000 and 1000E PTO shaft.

The tractors offer standard wide-gauge settings of 72 to 120 inches and three track styles in 4 widths from 18 to 30 inches. 

The range also features AGCO’s patented Mobil-trac system to deliver maximum power to the ground. The steel hardbar acts as a front axle which attaches to the forward point of the roller frame and provides up to 11 degrees of oscillation for an improved ride and minimum compaction.

“Operators receive a noticeably different level of ride comfort when operating the 900 Vario MT tractors, especially over terraces and rough field surfaces,” Midgley said.

“The Smart Ride system combines oscillating mid-wheels, hardbar suspension, cab suspension and seat suspension, giving operators great ride quality without sacrificing the in-field benefits of power, control and traction.

“The tractors also handle well at the maximum road speed of 40km/h, and ride comfort on the road is noticeably better than other track tractors.”

The oscillating mid-wheels contour to the ground over terraces and uneven surfaces, providing excellent track-to-ground contact.

The primary suspension has rugged coil springs and high-capacity shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride compared to hydro-pneumatic suspension systems, Fendt said. The two-point cab suspension system with increased suspension at the rear of the cab absorbs and dissipates the vibration from the ground through the rear axle.

The Fendt 900 Vario MT tractors also feature the 10.4-inch touchscreen Varioterminal in the cab that has an intuitive, smartphone feel. Using the Varioterminal, operators can easily manage all tractor settings and adjustments, plus monitor and control ISOBUS 11783-compatible implements, camera functions, field documentation, variable rate applications, guidance and wireless data transfer, and headland management.

The Varioterminal, joystick, PTO controls and color-coded keypad put all tasks and functions within easy reach of the operator’s fingertips.

Some creature comfort features in the cab include an air-ride seat, larger instructor’s seat and Bluetooth capability.

An LED light package adds more lights at the rear of the tractor, positioned to provide a clear view of each end of a 24-row planter during late nights in the field, for example.

Porch lighting on the cab provides a safe view of the area for operators leaving the field after a long day, and the battery smart-disconnect automatically powers everything down for the night. The 900 Vario MT also has an integrated walk-around platform that provides secure, fast access for cleaning windows.

For more information about the new Fendt Vario MT tractors, visit fendt.com.au

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