Four-cylinder 120-150hp: The bread winners
Note: hydraulics details show output of main pump plus gear pump for steering, clutch packs, etc, where fitted.
ArmaTrac 54-series
With its synchro shuttle 16x16 transmission, the 120hp ArmaTrac 1254 Lux CRD4 is in many respects one of the simplest tractors in this power category.
But it is also pretty well equipped for what many would regard as a ‘budget’ tractor, having air conditioning, electronic rear linkage control, a pick-up hitch, fender-mounted linkage and pto controls, and so on. Power comes from a 3.6-litre four-cylinder Deutz TCD engine equipped for Stage IV emissions rules.
Case IH Maxxum
For something a little larger with a higher permissible all-up weight, the Maxxum models in this power band offer no fewer than three transmission options. Simplest is ActiveDrive 4, a semi-powershift unit with – as its title suggests – four powershift steps available in each of four ranges for a 16x16 set-up plus creep option.
An extra ratio is added (ie 17x16) for Eco 40km/hr or 50km/hr gearing, which is handy for fuel economy if a lot of road travel is on the workload. Next up is CNH’s still relatively new ActiveDrive 8, which is available with the feature-loaded Multicontroller specification that includes a seat-mounted control console and touch screen.
While standard mechanical spool valves can be upgraded to fingertip operated electric versions, electrics are standard with CVXDrive, CNH’s own stepless transmission, which can be had in 40km/hr and 50km/hr versions. ActiveDrive 8 and CVXDrive are packaged with a 150-litre/min load-sensing hydraulics system, although in both cases this can be down-graded to an 86-litre/min gear pump for a bit of a saving but it also reduces rear lift capacity from the standard 7.86 tonnes.
Case IH Vestrum
The four-model Vestrum line-up – which starts at 110hp – is a dedicated continuously variable transmission (CVT) machine for operators who like the smooth manoeuvring characteristics of this type of drive, particularly for loader work.
The CVXDrive transmission comes with 40km/hr gearing only but a suspension front axle is standard (though the tractor can be ordered with a rigid unit), with braking up front a useful option if a lot of trailer work is envisaged to ease the rear axle brakes’ workload.
FPT’s widely-used 4.5-litre NEF engine delivers the 120hp, 130hp and 140hp outputs available, and load-sensing piston pump hydraulics come as standard, delivering 110-litres/min and supplemented by a 36-litre/min gear pump
