Morris introduces monster Contour drills

McIntosh Distribution has announced the arrival of Morris’ Contour C3 drills that it said is a significant step up from the previous C2 range in terms of efficiency and technological advances.

There are two widths available in the C3 Contour range – 80ft (24m) and 90ft (27m) which complements Morris’ 40, 50, 60 and 70ft Quantum drills introduced into the market two years ago.

According to McIntosh Distribution representative, Duncan Murdoch, the C3 drills have been developed off the back of customer demand and combines tried-and-tested traits from the C2 range with ftechnology from Morris' Quantum range of seed drills.

Some of the key features of the C3, according to Murdoch, include:

“There has been significant development in hydraulic cycle times, in response to requests from local Australian farmers,” Murdoch said.

“We have also developed our own in-house testing facility, including undertaking engineering for tine and hose kit tests, to ensure Australian specifications and demands are met.”

Morris has added new live hydraulics to the C3 drills to enable Auto-Lift and Auto-Pack control technology, the latter providing the variable pressure packing that is also available on the Morris Quantum air drills.

“Morris Auto-Pack enables you to create the most ideal seed germination environment. When dry sowing heavier country, you can be left with clods and poor seed-to-soil contact," Murdoch said.

“Capillary action can draw moisture into the clod zone, but pockets of air can see it wastefully evaporate. Different packing pressures are required in different soil conditions and Auto-Pack achieves this.

“If you are seeding an AB line and you go into a headland, it will automatically lift and you don’t have to touch anything. It’s just one less thing for the operator to do and it takes the strain off them, especially when it may be dusty or they’re tired and it’s the middle of the night.”

A notched cam-and-pin system with the Morris C3 Contour drill adjusts the depth at 6mm intervals. The row unit features a depth shim system to allow deeper digging or seeding. A removable shim under the depth cam can also increase seeding depth by a further 25mm.

Murdoch said the new, Australian-made upright air kits were designed to achieve the best product delivery possible.

The kits were made of stainless steel, which not only prevents corrosion but also has low levels of friction that reduces the energy requirement to move product through the system, Murdoch added.

The upright design has also allowed easier configuration with the bars. “When bars fold over, you have to get the heads right. Some go up through the frame that folds on top of it, and you need to have high quality brackets to support the heads and risers’’ Murdoch said.

“You have to be precise with the mounts too. We are going to fit the primary kits, including the heads and risers, at McIntosh Distribution, to ensure accuracy and to save dealers this job, which can be very time consuming.

“When they are sent out, the wings are folded on top of each other, so all the checks will be done at McIntosh Distribution.”

The C3 Contour drills are fitted with Trelleborg lug tyres for improved floatation and reduced risk of sealing.

“At the front, where most of the weight is when you are working, they will give very good floatation, especially on the sandplain,” Murdoch explained.

“At the rear there will be less susceptibility to sealing. Ribbed tyres are a greater risk of this, but lug tyres just fluff things up and reduce the risk of sealing.”

He added the Morris C3 Contour drills are suitable for most broadacre CTF systems.