Scotts Precision Manufacturing has developed a windrowing kit that converts Grimme’s two-row GT170 trailed harvester to a fully functioning windrower.
Allowing the harvester to lift a maximum of six 36” (90cm) rows without moving the crop twice, benefits include creating much needed space when opening up a field and being able to load trailers in half the time.
Directly replacing the GT170’s elevator module, the kit is attached through the existing elevator fixing points. No modifications need to be made to the harvester.
“Our customer had tried other windrowers but was disappointed with the conveyor design or the performance of the machine in general so asked us if we could think of a way of converting their existing GT170,” says Derek Scott, managing director of Scotts Precision Manufacturing.
The result comprises a 5.3m-long cross conveyor that lifts crop over the two rows next to the harvester and deposits it into the middle of the next pair of rows. Discharging to the left or right, the five-section hydraulically-powered conveyor is fitted with a 790mm wide sheeted PVC web.
Integrating into the Grimme control box, the tip ends are controlled by the original elevator swan neck up/down control switches. The main elevator control operates the left and right movement of the conveyor. The conveyor belt drives via the original elevator web drive and the toggle switch mounted on the control box.
A hydraulic ram at each end of the conveyor allows the tip to be lowered to reduce the drop height, and the conveyor folds for transport. The kit, which costs £20,000, comes fully assembled with hydraulic hoses and cables for direct connection to the harvester.
This is the second machine the company has converted for the same grower. “Even though the conversion kit has only been used locally, it has attracted a lot of interest, and we’ve had several strong enquiries, which tells us it should be a popular addition to our range,” adds Mr Scott.
