Practical test: …and Claas claims that its Volto grass tedders, complete with their so-called Permalink driveline, really do ‘go’. Other Volto unit changes include a beefed-up frame and the option of a hydraulic crop deflector, as we found out when put the flagship eight-rotor 870 H model (see ‘The size factor’ box) through profi’s recent and detailed practical test
Why is it that the pto splines never line up when hooking up to a mounted implement? Just one of those facts of farming life. Still, it’s not a problem with the Claas Volto’s new driveline, which allows the tedder’s rotors to turn even when in transport position. Slotting the top link through the elongated hole is also quick, and the front park stand gets a spring-loaded pin so that stowing this item is equally rapid.
So, we’re now coupled up to Claas’s Volto 870 H in double-quick time, and it is good to see that a company has clearly put some real thought into this oftforgotten ease-of-hitch factor. What certainly surprised us, however, was that the headstock on our pre-production machine failed to exactly meet Cat II standards, the result being that we had to open out a stabiliser to get tractor link arms and tedder attachment points to line up. In all fairness to Claas, our machine was pre-production, but this is certainly an area that needs further attention on production Volto tedder units. Still with the tractor, the Volto 870 has the modest requirement of just the one double-acting ram. No problems, there. Perhaps more of an issue, though, is power. Not that the Volto takes much driving; more that it takes hydraulic grunt to hoist its 1,100kg bulk.
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