First impression: Massey Ferguson MF9130 Plus self-propelled sprayer

When news first broke of a Massey Ferguson sprayer arriving on Oz shores, my first reaction was: “Massey does sprayers?” It isn’t well-known that Massey Ferguson has crop protection products in its stable, mainly because they’re not sold globally.

Massey Ferguson’s sprayers are produced in Brazil and sold only in South America, where they have enjoyed great success for the past seven years.

More recently, Massey Ferguson’s Australian reps headed over to that part of the world to test drive the MF9130 Plus self-propelled sprayer and immediately saw its potential Down Under, and hence decided to bring it to our shores.

Since the arrival of a few evaluation units in the country several months ago, Massey Ferguson Australia said response to the unit has been overwhelming, and we had the chance to take the MF9130 Plus for a spin when it was in Melbourne recently.

Great package

The Massey Ferguson MF9130 Plus self-propelled sprayer is targeted at small to medium sized operators, featuring a 3000-litre commodity tank and a 28m seven-section boom.

While most other sprayers run three sensors along the boom, the MF9130 Plus runs seven sensors – two on each boom and one in the centre to offer superior levelling capabilities.

For $289,900 plus GST, buyers will receive the 210hp unit complete with a plethora of technology in the cab including auto steer, machine guidance, auto rate control and auto section control, as well as AGCO’s C3000 touch screen terminal.

It also features axles that are adjustable from 2.8 to 3.4m.

According to Massey Ferguson product manager, Tim Oldaker, price was one of the major talking points for farmers who showed interest in the machine.

“When people learn what they get as standard on this machine, they’re expecting a much larger figure,” he said.

“So not only are we getting people who are already in the self-propelled market, but also those looking at trailing units who realised there wasn’t much of a price difference to get this machine.”

Engine and efficiency

The MF9130 Plus self-propelled sprayer runs AGCO Power’s tried and tested 6.6-litre 6-cylinder engine that has been powering Massey Ferguson’s tractors for years.

I was told that fuel efficiency of the MF9130 Plus was a very economical 13l/hr during its run in Brazil, but with significantly less challenging terrain in Australia, local fuel efficiency is expected to be higher.

“Already with the evaluation units we’re seeing figures less than that,” Oldaker said. “Everything is pointing to a higher fuel efficiency here than we’re seeing in Brazil.”

He added the engine is capable of delivering full torque at reduced engine revs, hence using less fuel in the process.

“At 1800rpm, we’re delivering full torque to the transmission where most self-propelled sprayers go above 2000rpms.

“So we’re getting excellent fuel economy because of that, without sacrificing torque to the transmission.”

Transmission

The sprayer runs a hydrostatic 4x4 transmission that utilises Bosch Rexroth components.

It has three operating ranges and has a unique cross-drive system featuring two large capacity 90cc pumps that work together to maintain constant traction on all wheels at all times.

One pump drives the front left and rear right wheel while the second pump drives the front right and rear left wheel.

“With other machines, if one wheel got into a wet spot or came off the ground, that wheel will spin and the machine will stop,” Oldaker explains.

“It’s completely not the case with this machine. It’s been able to handle very rough and wet terrain, and power through it.”

We had neither wet nor undulating conditions during our drive so were not able to put the machine’s rough-terrain handling capabilities to the test.

Cab and comfort

What we were able to get a feel for was the excellent comfort and manoeuvrability of the machine. According to Oldaker, the machine has been designed with Brazil’s challenging agricultural conditions in mind.

“If anything, the sprayer is over-engineered for our conditions but that’s a major bonus for us,” he said.

One of the major drawcards for the MF9130 Plus is the simplicity of operation, which means anyone can hop in and start operating within minutes. With ongoing labour issues on farms which means farmers often need to employ workers with very little to no experience on agricultural machines, this is a major plus.

Not having much experience on a sprayer myself, I was perhaps the best test subject for the machine’s simplicity of operation. After a brief rundown, I was able to get the machine up and running, even controlling the boom height to ensure it’s not in the way of fences around the property.

Our test drive took place at the Living Legends Park, near the Melbourne airport, which presented few terrains challenging enough to really put the sprayer through its paces, but the slightly hilly paddocks allowed us to test the comfort of the drive.

The MF9130 Plus features an air bag suspension system that delivers a smooth ride in the field or on the road in transport.

A unique point of the machine is its C-Flex chassis which flexes to allow the machine to traverse slopes, banks and challenging ground contours.

The frame of the machine is not welded at any point, so when the suspension runs out of travel, the chassis itself will flex to allow all wheels to stay in contact with the ground.

An air-adjusted seat in the cab further ensures a comfortable experience for operators.

A simple hydro lever on the operator console controls the transmission speed as well as forward and reverse. There were no jarring movements when pushing the machine forwards or backwards, providing for a very smooth drive. A steering wheel with spinner knob enhances driveability of the machine, also reducing operator fatigue.

Controls are all placed within reach and laid out in an uncluttered manner, with an adjustable armrest provided for extra comfort.

The standard auto-rate, auto section and guidance systems are all controlled via AGCO’s C3000 touch-screen; while transmission range, fence line nozzles, engine revs and front and rear axle adjustments are regulated via switches on the side console.

Tank and transport

The 3000-litre tank on the MF9130 Plus features dual hydraulic agitators and a single oscillating tank rinse nozzle fed by a 240-litre fresh water reservoir.

Filling up of the sprayer is done via an easy-to-access filling station on the side of the machine. A 26.5-litre Hypro chemical induction hopper come standard with adjustable agitation to ensure thorough mixing of the material in the tank.

With booms folded, the MF9130 Plus sprayer measures 3.2m in width, which deems it suitable for road transport without the use of escorts.

Although it has only been out on the market for a few months, the MF9130 Plus has already found several homes around the country, according to Oldaker.

“One of the first machines that went out on evaluation ended up staying with that customer, he was that impressed with it very quickly,” he said.

“Sales have been coming in very quickly from people who’ve gone and had a drive and have seen for themselves what they’re getting, which is terrific.

“It’s finding its mark very quickly and I couldn’t be happier with the way it’s gone so far.”

The Massey Ferguson MF9130 Plus self-propelled sprayer is on sale now in Australia and New Zealand.

Massey Ferguson MF9130 Plus sprayer specifications

Engine: AGCO Power, 6-cylinder, 6.6-litre

Power: 210hp

Torque: 790Nm @ 1800RPM

Transmission: Hydrostatic Full Time 4x4

Suspension: Active airbag with stabilisers

Minimum width for transport: 3.2m

Dry weight: 8900kg

Product tank capacity: 3000 litres

Agitator: Two hydraulic

Boom width: Standard 28m, Optional – 24m

Nozzle spacing: 50cm

Sprayer pump max flow: 549l/min

RRP: $289,900+GST