Over the past decade there has been a massive trend towards shallow working, short disc harrows. However, for those who want to dig a little deeper, Lemken has come up with the Rubin 12, which still sticks with the compact disc format. We pit a 3.0m Rubin against a 4.0m.
Compact discs are great for quickly getting over ground, tilling the upper layers and chopping trash. Where they’re not so good is for deep soil loosening, which is more the domain of tined machines. This is where the Lemken Rubin 12 slots in, with its 740mm discs that can dig down as deep as 20cm. Back in our 12/2014 mag we had a brief walk around the 6.0m version, but now it’s time to do a more thorough job — with an in-depth practical test that compares the 3.0m Rubin 12/300 U model with a 4.0m 12/400 KUA. So, let’s get to it.
A key difference is the wider machine is semi-mounted with conventional running gear for travelling down the road. Even with its short drawbar, tractors up to 3.3m wide can put in tight 90° turns thanks to the threepoint-linkage headstock. When parked up, the headstock is locked in place by relocating the top link pin; only minor issue here is there is nowhere to store the top link ball if you like to leave one on the implement.
In comparison the Rubin 12/300 is a mounted machine when in work. Once lifted, the single rear wheel automatically lowers to the ground and carries the weight of the heavy roller, reducing the load on the tractor. If you opt for one of the lighter roller options you can save up to 500kg and also do without the rear wheel. As for depth control the 3.0m machine needs just the one double-acting spool. The hoses are easily identified and, together with the electric connector, are stored in a neat holder.
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