PRACTICAL TEST: The Jaguar 800 is one of those machines that’s standing the test of time. Last year the torch was passed to a new 800 generation, which boasts a little more tech, to make the harvesting job more efficient, but without the cost of stepping up to the higher spec Jag 900.

If you’re in the market for a self-propelled chopper, the choice is fairly limited. Most manufacturers tend to stick with a simple line-up, allowing customers to get trigger happy with the options list and spec up their machines accordingly. Claas on the other hand offers two separate SP forager ranges. Potential purchasers can choose from the top-spec, whistles-and bells 900 series models (497 and 498) with horsepowers from 460hp to 880hp or from the more simple 800s (496) with outputs of between 400hp and 600hp.

Main difference between the two lies in the chopping cylinder. Since 2007 the 900 range has been kitted out with hydraulically driven pre-compression rollers and the V-Max drum with curved profile blades. In contrast the Jaguar 800 has the V-Classic drum with a manual length-of-cut gearbox (profi 10/2014). This key point of separation makes the 516hp Jag 860 £40,000 cheaper than a new 940 with the same power engine. In both cases we’re talking about the base spec machine with four-wheel drive but without a header.

With that in mind, what’s the 860 capable of? The specification of our test machine
was pretty full-on. Here is a list of the most significant add-ons:

■■ Dynamic Power engine control system (£3,175)
■■ 800/65 R32 and 600/55-26.5 front/rear tyres (£3,785)
■■ Stop Rock stone detector (£3,075)
■■ Chopping assembly with a 2 x 12-knife drum and the Multi Crop Cracker Classic M (£1,365)
■■ Auto Fill system (£7,615)
■■ Auto Pilot for guidance along grass swaths and maize rows (£9,560)
■■ 300 HD Profi pick-up (£15,970)
■■ Orbis 600 SD maize header (£62,160).

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