Long-term tractor test: Claas Axion 830 When unveiled at the end of 2006, the five-model Axion family showed how Claas was clearly putting its own stamp on a previously inherited tractor offering with a newfrom- the-ground-up range. Now, four years down the line, there are over 500 Axions at work in the UK – but what are they like to live with? Mervyn Bailey finds out

The five-model Axion range is the most powerful conventional tractor line on the current Claas UK price list, with a choice of semi-powershift Hexashift transmission or Cmatic CVT. Effectively replacing the phased-out Ares 800, the much higher spec Axion line-up spans a rated 164hp up to a boosted max of 260hp (ECE R24). Back in the October 2008 issue an Axion 850 came under the profi tractor test spotlight and, moving the story on, here we look at a mid-range 830 to see how the design has fared so far in the field.

Our test steed has managed to rack up 2,722hrs to date, with this early example starting its life as a demonstrator before joining our host’s line-up, where it has taken over the heavy muscle jobs. But, as our contractor explains, it was not a clear cut deal for the Claas. A Case IH CVX 195 was also in the running; in fact, the red tractor was a fraction cheaper than the Axion, but known dealer back-up and service swung the deal back in favour of the French-built Claas.

Although there was a chance that the Axion could have had the best part of 400 hours on the clock by the time it finished its demonstrating duties, it was eventually welcomed into the fleet of our arable/grass contractor showing just 150 hours. Moreover, the Axion’s arrival marked a change in direction for the host contractor’s grass services: out went a Jaguar 830 self-propelled chopper, to be replaced by a Pöttinger Torro 5100 forage wagon, while a Veenhuis VMB10 slurry tanker and injector combination was added to help spread the business’s workload eggs into more baskets. With hills to tackle and a big area to cover, plenty of power and a 50km/hr box were the order of the day.

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