Grimme GL 430 and GB 430 potato planters

Last time we saw how two Grimme potato planters compared in terms of technology and accuracy. Now we’ll see what the pair is like to work with

Subscription Required

Subscribe to profi now to unlock this article and get access to over 3,500 tests and reviews in our Test Centre.

Alternatively, you can purchase this article for a one-off payment, by selecting ‘Purchase One-Off Access’.

Single access purchasers must complete the transaction at shop.kelsey.co.uk and click ‘Back to Main Site’ to download this PDF.

Already a subscriber? Login

Last time we saw how two Grimme potato planters compared in terms of technology and accuracy. Now we’ll see what the pair is like to work with

A recap for starters. This comparison features a cup-fed Grimme fourrow planter (the GL 430) and its belt-fed equivalent, the GB 430. The belt machine was brand new, while the 2012 cup model had covered about 1,000ha. The idea is to see which machine best suits which type of farm.

High on the list of a user’s priorities for any machine are ease of attachment and ease of adjustment in work. We covered attachment last time — no problem with a K80 ball hitch on both planters — though adding a GR 300 Rota Tilla brought some compromise.

While this could mount between the tractor and GL 430 thanks to an optional headstock, it couldn’t with the B-for-Belt GB 430. So the effective, multi-tine soil-preparing unit had to be carried on the front linkage of one of the test’s 176kW/236hp Fendt 724s, which didn’t much help with that outfit’s length or steering.

For more up-to-date farming news click here and subscribe now to profi and save