Versatility has been one of the key criteria when designing the R-Series Balers. Due to a narrow weather window and increasing amounts of difficult crops, such as heavy silage, growers do not want to risk losing any more time during the season.
Cam-track technology provides an efficient solution for such needs. The traditional stripper design provides reduced space between the pickup tines and rotor feeder, while the tine motion helps to avoids pinching.
The cam-less technology requires long strippers, creating a dead zone between the tines and rotor. Additionally, fixed tines can easily pinch crops in sticky conditions, causing plugs that need to be manually removed.
Looking at potential component wear, the cam-track pickup features a low turning speed and big bearings on both side of the tine bars. Also, the cam lever is made of forged steel. These features guarantee a long component life and low maintenance.
R-Series Balers are designed for the most demanding operators. The pickup features only premium components and concepts such as:
By using the HC Premium rotor – a device implemented on John Deere round balers since 2012 – the R-Series feeding system offers:
The overall result is optimized crop flow that avoids all dead area where crops stay for a long time.
This smooth and regular crop flow guarantees high feeding capacity, especially in short crops such as brittle straw or sticky silage.
R-Series Round Balers can be delivered with a RotoFlow HC premium non-cutting solution.
All other John Deere round balers are equipped with a rotor feeder:
The RotoFlow HC Premium design has been used for five years on John Deere variable-chamber balers and has demonstrated unsurpassed capacity (John Deere 900 Series official productivity world record) and very high versatility.
As an alternative to the RotoFlow HC Premium, R-Series Balers can be delivered with the MaxiCut HC 13 Premium rotor.
As with the non-cutting system, the rotor features:
The precutter function offers:
For enhanced forage quality or for special application (poultry bedding, fruits, and vegetables application), MaxiCut HC 25 Premium can be assembled on R-Series Balers.
As with the RotoFlow HC Premium or MaxiCut HC 13 Premium, this fine chop precutter features:
The fine-chop precutter function offers additional features such as:
The knife slot fillers set is delivered as standard with all machines featuring the precutter. When using the MaxiCut HC Premium pickup without knives, dust and harvest matter can fill knife slots. This keeps the knives from returning to the cutting position, and plugs must be manually removed to free the knives.
The knife slot fillers take the place of knives when not cutting crops. Drop-floor holes are then filled, allowing quick and easy knife re- engagement. When cutting, the knife slot fillers are stored and locked in a convenient bracket located on the right-side of the baler
Hardox is a trademark of SSAB Technology AB.
R-Series Balers are delivered standard with a drop-floor unplugging system. In case of a clog, the drop floor is managed from the display simultaneously or independently from the knives. When lowering the floor, the parallel kinematic gives 40-mm (1.6-in.) extra free space under the rotor and converging augers.
By providing a constant free space, the John Deere drop floor avoids bottlenecks existing on balers by using a movable floor with front or rear hinge. No need to have a huge opening (that sometimes causes crop loss); only a few free centimeters (inches) are enough to remove the plug.
The worst plugs generally happen when turning with the baler. The bunch of crops is blocked under the converging augers and the clog must be manually removed.
The unique John Deere full-width drop floor protects the full pickup and rotor width. Even when plugged at the converging auger level, the clog can be easily removed by the operator from the cab.
Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG) official silage bale test
Test data | |
Date | 23 June 2012 |
Harvested crop | Grass silage |
Baler | John Deere 960 |
Bale number | 12 |
Bale weight | 786 kg (1732.8 lb) |
Bale density | 505.8 kg/m3 (31.6 lb-ft) |
Bale diameter | 127 cm (50 in.) |
Bale width | 123 cm (48.4 in.) |
Dry matter content | 68.8 percent |
Density setting | 100 percent |
Number of knives | 13 |
Driving speed | 14.3 km/h (8.9 mph) |
DLG official straw bale test
Test data | |
Date | 13 August 2012 |
Harvested crop | Wheat straw |
Baler | John Deere 990 |
Bale number | 3 |
Bale weight | 472 kg (1040.6 lb) |
Bale density | 125.3 kg/m3 (7.8 lb-ft) |
Bale diameter | 192 cm (75.6 in.) |
Bale width | 126 cm (49.6 in.) |
Dry matter content | 88.5 percent |
Density setting | 100 percent |
Number of knives | --- |
Driving speed | 17.7 km/h (11 mph) |
The V451R can produce bales up to 1.6-m (5.2-ft) diameter with a 1.21-m (4-ft) bale chamber width. The MaxD – Maximum Density – bale chamber has been designed to deliver very heavy, dense, and perfectly shaped bales, officially proven by DLG.
The V451R density is provided by an offset tension arm that applies hydraulic tension to the belts and not directly to the bale. This heavy-duty component is not involved in belt length compensation, so 100 percent of hydraulic power is involved in belt tensioning.
Density is easily set from the monitor and can be adjusted from 0 to 100 percent of hydraulic pressure. A virtual gauge located on the main working page continuously follows the density increase without looking back to the baler.
Density can also be adjusted manually from the hydraulic valve in case of major failure.
The V451R Round Baler features two wide 573-mm (22.56-in.) belts, meaning that only three free spaces are observed (one between the two belts plus one on each belt side). Using two belts optimizes bale coverage by approximately 4 percent. The result is significant crop loss limitation and more efficient baling process.
In order to handle huge stress transmitted by the density arm, the belts have no lacers.
An advanced belt tracking system, including wide front pulleys and several guides located throughout the chamber, ensures accurate belt positioning, even when working in slopes or when overloading one pickup side. All edges of parts potentially in contact with the belts are chamfered to avoid belt side damage. A take-up arm manages belt tension compensation during the unloading process to avoid potential belt tracking issues.
Belts are driven by two large-diameter rubber rolls with a large contact surface that avoid belt slippage in very wet conditions. Springs linked to the density arm are located on both chamber sides and give enough tension to the belts from bale starting.
To limit crops from sticking, belts feature a smooth pattern. Paddles on the belts’ driving rolls, cleaning augers into the density arm, and other scrapers located in several places through the belts’ paths continuously clean the belts and remove crop accumulation around the bale chamber.
MaxD bale chamber features three powered rolls to improve versatility and bale quality:
Heavy bales, high density, high baling speed, and high tractor power directly impacts baler durability. The R-Series Round Balers include several heavy-duty components in the bale chamber to meet long lifetime expectations:
The V451R and V461R both benefit from a standard advanced softcore system management:
Accurate softcore settings allow:
Hardox is a trademark of SSAB Technology AB.
Both V451R and V461R can be delivered ex-factory with optional hydraulic belts scrapper. This device limits sticky/wet/sugared crops accumulation in density arm. Thanks to the rubber pad, this cleaning system is particularly gentle with belts. Scrapper is automatically deactivated during bale ejection.
For enhanced lifetime, scrapper can be manually shut-off when baling dry materials.
Code |
Description |
8170 |
Hydraulic belts scrapper |
Official Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG) Fokus Test 6112F measurements
Test run | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Density setting (percent) | 100 | 50 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 50 | 85 |
Number of knives | 25 | 25 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Bale diameter | 1.25 m (4.10 ft) |
1.25 m (4.10 ft) |
1.25 m (4.10 ft) |
1.26 m (4.13 ft) |
1.40 m (4.59 ft) |
1.41 m (4.63 ft) |
1.26 m (4.13 ft) |
1.23 m (4.04 ft) |
1.25 m (4.10 ft) |
Bale width | 1.23 m (4.04 ft) |
1.23 m (4.04 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
1.22 m (4.0 ft) |
Driving time (seconds) | 64.2 | 55.0 | 57.8 | 49.8 | 73.6 | 51.6 | 82.8 | 76.3 | 49.5 |
Holding time (seconds) | 10.9 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 12.0 | 12.1 | 10.5 | 10.5 | --- |
Wrapping time (seconds) | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 5.8 | --- |
Ejection time (seconds) | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | --- |
Driving speed | 13.7 km/h (8.5 mph) |
13.8 km/h (8.6 mph) |
14.8 km/h (9.2 mph) |
15.2 km/h (9.4 mph) |
15.6 km/h (9.7 mph) |
15.1 km/h (9.4 mph) |
9.5 km/h (5.9 mph) |
9.4 km/h (5.8 mph) |
17.4 km/h (10.8 mph) |
Large farms and contractors usually have to work quickly to deliver a large amount of bales every day, and every second must be optimized. Ejection time is generally a time loss on traditional round balers, requiring up to 20 seconds for a complete opening/closing cycle on some balers.
John Deere FRS greatly decreases this non-productive time and directly boosts overall baler productivity. As summarized by official DLG Fokus test 6112F: "The signature trait of this baler is the innovative ejection system, which provides considerable advantage through a very short bale ejection time. This shortens the hold time of the baler during ejection, which can consequently lead to a higher rate of productivity."
The FRS benefits operators in many ways, demonstrated by some easy calculations:
Others balers = 60 seconds/hour x 60 mm (2.4 in.)/hour x 10 hours/day divided by 60 seconds/bale = 600 bales/day
John Deere R-Series = 60 seconds/hour x 60 mm (2.4 in.)/hour x 10 hours/day divided by 55.1 seconds/bale = 654 bales/day
As a result, John Deere R-Series Balers produce 54 more bales a day – or allows the operator to save about one working hour per day.
FRS provides a light structure, and less than half of the traditional tailgate weight that opens the chamber quickly and removes belts from the bale.
Compared to a traditional tailgate:
Moving side sheets helps prevent the bale from getting stuck in the chamber. When the light structure opens, each side of the chamber automatically moves 50 mm (2 in.). There is no more contact between the bale and the chamber; the bale is released and quickly falls by its own weight. Even in the worst wet conditions, the unloading process is as efficient as in dry straw.
This unique feature does not require complicated hydraulic or mechanical systems to be actuated. When the tailgate goes down, simple bearings push on cams located on both side sheet sides and lock the chamber sides in the baling position. When the tailgate opens, the pressure on the side sheets cams is automatically released, then a return spring quickly moves the chamber walls outside.
Locks located on both baler sides lock the FRS when tailgate is closed.
For any monitor, all R-Series Balers use ISOBUS architecture and can be fully set from the display. There is no need for the operator to leave the cab, even for density or greasing parameters (when equipped with optional automatic greasing system), as everything is managed on the display through drop-down menus. V451R and V461R Balers offer:
Settings
Information
As a universal solution, the Implement Display 1100 monitor offers all key functions for regular users. This ISOBUS monitor features an 11-cm (4.3-in.) diagonal color screen with backlit keys.
The display provides all functions and information listed previously. The Implement Display 1100 is not able to manage Tractor Baler Automation (TBA) mode. The Implement Display 1100 monitor is delivered with a cab harness that must be connected to a 12-V COBO® plug.
NOTE: Monitor support is not delivered and must be ordered independently.
For the most demanding operators, the V451R and V461R can be delivered with the 4240 Universal Display. This ISOBUS display offers a comfortable 21.5-cm (8.4-in) diagonal color screen and can manage the Tractor Baler Automation (TBA) function. The touchscreen offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that easily allows the operator to adjust and control parameters similar to the Implement Display 1100 and all TBA parameters.
The 4240 offers extended capabilities for guidance, spraying management, farm management, and FarmSight™ applications.
To be used with ISOBUS or non-ISOBUS tractors, the 4240 Universal Display option is delivered with the following components:
NOTE: Monitor support is not delivered and must be ordered independently.
For operators already using a built-in or external ISOBUS certified display, R-Series Balers can be delivered without a monitor. Thanks to the ISOBUS connectivity, just connect the baler to the tractor/monitor and bale.
This cost-efficient solution offers full baler functions (except TBA mode when the baler is plugged into a non-compatible John Deere tractor or to a competitive tractor).
All V451R and V461R Balers are delivered as standard with TBA mode. There is no need for an additional baler activation key. TBA makes baling easier than ever by managing most of the baling process. It offers operators the following advantages:
When used with a John Deere ISOBUS tractor, electric selective control valve (E-SCV), and Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT™), the system will be able to:
The only action remaining is to forward reverser and manage the steering.
If the John Deere tractor is not equipped with IVT (e.g., with PowrQuad™ transmission or DirectDrive) but has E-SCV and ISOBUS, opening and closing can be automated.
A single touch on the SCV, brakes, or reverser will disengage the automation. In the same way, automated open/close can be momentarily stopped when unloading in hilly conditions. TBA does not require additional SCV plugs or load sensing/power beyond features.
The TBA system can be fully set according to operator habits. Acceleration and deceleration duration can be easily adjusted from monitor.
Even if no activation key is required on the baler side, a tractor activation key can be mandatory depending on John Deere tractor specifications.
B-Wrap is a trademark of Tama Plastic Industry. COBO is a trademark of C.O.B.O. S.P.A. Joint Stock Company Italy.
You can more clearly and conveniently keep an eye on the baling process with an updated video camera on V4X1R Balers equipped with Vision Pack.
The factory-installed camera offers:
The camera is focused on the bale unloading process on V4X1R.
If you are not using a John Deere tractor with the 4240 Universal Display or GreenStar 3/Gen 4 integrated CommandCenter™ system, a dedicated screen is available.
Bale | V451R Current Model |
Size | Diameter 0.8 to 1.6 m 2.6 to 5.25 ft Width 1.21 m 3.97 ft |
Weight | |
Baler | |
Base weight | 4200 kg 9259 lb |
Weight | |
Length | Gate closed With bale ramp - 5.5 m 18.04 ft |
Height | Gate closed With smallest tires - 2.82 m 9.25 ft With highest tires - 2.87 m 9.42 ft |
Width | With narrowest tires - 2.55 m 8.37 ft With widest tires - 2.92 m 9.58 ft |
Bale forming | |
Forming chamber | Variable - two endless belts + two front rolls + starter roll |
Belts-other | |
Enclosed percent of bale surface | |
Belt splices | |
Density control | Setting - from the display Softcore - density and diameter fully adjustable from the monitor |
Bale size indication | |
Bale Shape | |
Regular pickup | |
Width | |
Drive | |
Bars | |
Number of teeth | |
Tooth spacing | |
Lift control | |
Gauge wheels | |
Stripper diameter | |
MegaWide Plus pickup | |
Type | |
Width | Inside Tine to tine - 1.92 m 6.3 ft 2.2 m 7.22 ft |
Drive | Cam track |
Bars | Five |
Number of regular teeth | |
Number of mega teeth | |
Tooth spacing | |
Lift control | |
Gauge wheels | Fixed or castor action |
Stripper diameter | |
High-capacity pickup | |
Type | |
Width | |
Drive | |
Bars | |
Number of middle teeth | |
Number of mega teeth | |
Tooth spacing | |
Lift control | |
Gauge wheels | |
Stripper diameter | |
Wrapping system | |
Control | From monitor |
Type | Standard Net tying only Capacity for three net rolls Net system on front of baler |
Twine arms | Optional - two independent twine arms |
Twine ball capacity | Ten twine spools |
Monitor | |
Monitor console for tractor | |
Gate closed | Yes |
Bale forming | Yes |
Bale size | Yes |
Near full bale | Yes |
Full bale | Yes |
Twine arm position Indicator | |
Auto wrap | Yes |
Oversize bale | Yes |
Surface wrap | |
Tire size | |
Standard | |
Optional | 16/70-20 500/55-20 520/55R22.5 600/50-22.5 |
Driveline | |
Drive protection | Camclutch |
PTO speed | Available on all except MaxiCut HC 25 Premium - 540 rpm 124 kW 166.3 hp Optional or in base on MaxiCut HC 25 Premium - 1000 rpm 136 kW 182.4 hp |
Type | |
PTO lockback collar on tractor hookup | |
PTO 60-degree free rotation | |
Tractor Requirements | |
Minimum PTO | |
Hydraulic SCV valves | |
Silage baler features | |
Starter roll scraper | |
Powered scraping auger | |
Spirals on gate roll | |
Pre-cutter/slicer | |
Additional information | |
Maintenance chains | Automatic chain lubrication is standard Bearings greasing - centralized greasing zerks or automatic greasing system (tank) |
Date collected | 2-February-2018 |
Key Specs | |
Bale size indication | |
Belts-other - width | |
Density control | |
High-capacity pickup - Number of mega teeth | |
High-capacity pickup - Number of middle teeth | |
MegaWide Plus pickup - Number of mega teeth | |
MegaWide Plus pickup - Number of regular teeth | |
Regular pickup - Bars | |
Regular pickup - Number of teeth | |
Regular pickup - Tooth spacing |