Tractor keeps villagers a cut above
Tractor keeps villagers a cut above
By Sue Meeken
Good management of grassed areas and open spaces is one of the most important considerations for residents as a means of creating civic pride. By choosing equipment that combines high work-rates with quality performance, local authorities and their contractors can ensure that the highest standards are achieved.
This has been proved by the residents of New Ash Green, a village in Kent on the scenic North Downs. The management of its playing fields, highway verges and communal areas is co-ordinated by an elected Village Association.
Green space has great importance for the village, which was built in the 1960s as a blueprint for providing quality, affordable housing in desirable rural locations. All houses face or back on to a communal green.
Village Association Manager, Paul Yeoman, is responsible for the upkeep of the green space at New Ash Green, which amounts to some 430 acres. He and his team of six work all year round, and they recently took delivery of a new TN60D-A 60hp New Holland tractor supplied by Martin Fordham of local dealer, Haynes Agricultural Ltd.
Designed for high torque and enhanced performance, the tractor reflects New Holland's aim to design tractors for the 21st century with modern styling throughout. Their curvaceous panels look good and are highly practical, such as the sloping engine hood, whose narrow profile gives excellent all-round visibility.
"We have had New Holland tractors in the past and, even after looking at several other makes, we had no hesitation in choosing the TN60D-A," says Paul Yeoman. "It offers many more features than the others, yet was the most competitively priced. It is ideal for us, being able to undertake a host of year-round tasks. The ergonomic design makes it easy to operate and the modern styling fits well with the advanced New Ash Green methodology."
The tractor is used for cutting school fields and communal greens with gang mowers, and is also used with attachments like rotary mowers, spikers and overseeders. It is also put to work for removing felled trees and gritting roads.
The TN60D-A is available with a choice of three main transmissions, each with a creep speed option.
Paul Yeoman chose New Holland's 'Blue Cab' for his tractor. Its pressurised cab sealing system ensures that only air that has been passed through anti-pollen and air recirculation filters enters the cabin for a clean, safe working environment. The Blue Cab also provides air conditioning and can be specified with carbon filters for operation where pesticides are handled.
To minimise noise, heat and vibration, the cab is mounted on rubber isolation blocks and the floor is lined with an acoustic shield mat.
Paul Yeoman is delighted with the New Holland machine. "It is a genuine all-round workhorse and can tackle anything we ask of it including mounting a snowplough on the TN60D-A's Category II front linkage for vital clearance work."
The TND60-A is from a renowned and award-winning family of tractors from New Holland, and its success at New Ash Green demonstrates how the manufacturer offers units for all users and applications. Tractors are available with power outputs ranging from 18hp to 285hp, a span that few other manufacturers can challenge.
Amongst the latest additions to the line-up are the TC31D-A and TC35D-A, which have 31hp and 35hp capacities respectively. To minimise weight and the risk of compaction, New Holland has used the same chassis as is used on the existing 27hp TC27D-A. This gives more power without any significant weight increase. Both models have 4-wheel drive and can be fitted with New Holland's unique SuperSteer™ front axle, giving an unrivalled 76° of turn angle.
Other recent introductions include the innovative TZ Sub Compact Tractors, particularly suitable for professionals working in cramped locations and busy urban environments. Available with 21hp and 24hp diesel engines, and only 1175mm wide, they can travel easily along pavements, yet have enough power to tackle demanding tasks. Operation is easy thanks to power steering, and two-range hydrostatic transmission gives infinite speed control.
Groundcare professionals find that compact New Holland units like the 18.5hp TC18D and the 21.5hp TC21D are well suited to work in and around graveyards, nurseries and other municipal sites. Besides powering attachments, they can pull heavy and bulky loads in trailers and fulfil other transportation tasks.
The TC18D is powered by a three-cylinder liquid cooled diesel engine developing 18.5hp at 2,600rpm. It has a 9 forward and 3 reverse speed mechanical transmission, and a driven front axle as standard. It is specifically designed as a simple, rugged workhorse.
The same mechanical transmission can be fitted to the TC21D, which produces 21.5hp at 2,600rpm. It can also be specified with an advanced, dual range hydrostatic transmission providing infinitely variable operating speeds of up to 17kph. The hydrostatic transmission has a 2,000rpm mid-PTO specifically for use with mid-mounted rotary mowing decks, which New Holland also manufactures.
The hydrostatic transmission on the TC21D incorporates an electronic 'cruise control' feature. This provides a fixed operating speed for applications including mowing and driving attachments like drainage and trenching equipment.
Both these models feature exceptionally strong axles. These are designed to take the additional loads of heavy mounted equipment including a front loader or a rear backhoe.
It is little wonder that, for the quality conscious local authority, a modern high work-rate tractor like those available from New Holland's is utterly indispensable.