News 2008

On display for the first time in the UK at this year’s Grassland event will be the new twin rotor CLAAS LINER, which includes a wider working addition to the twin-rotor range. All of the new models have been designed to provide a clean swath with increased outputs, both in the field but also through savings in time lost to service and transport.

A total of four models are available, all of which have infinitely adjustable working widths. The new LINER 2600, 2700 and 2800 models are direct replacements for the previous LINER 680, 780 and 880 models, and offer raking widths from 6.0m up to 8.3m.

However the LINER 2900 is a new addition to the range and has an infinitely variable working width from 8.0m up to 9.0m, with a central swath width ranging from 1.4m up to 2.4m.

On the new LINER 2900 twin rotor rake, the working width can be infinitely varied from between 8.0m up to 9.0m giving a swath width of 1.4m to 2.4m. As with the rest of the new twin rotor range, the LINER 2900 can be folded to 4.0m high for transport without removing tines and can be towed at up to 50kph.

PROFIX tine fixing

Rotor diameters range from 2.9m to 3.8m and are fitted with 11, 12 or 14 tine carrier arms, each carrying four double tines. On the three larger models, the tine arms are mounted using the new CLAAS PROFIX grooved tine fixing system which holds the arm firmly in place, but allows it to be quickly and easily removed if necessary. These models also use a heavy-duty swathing bell with sealed drives.

Each of the rotors is fitted with a Cardan suspension system that ensures that the tines stay parallel to the ground for clean swathing. The rotors are carried on a four-wheel chassis on which the wheels extend out to the inner edge of the tines to ensure optimum ground following, with the option of a six-wheel chassis on the LINER 2700 and above. To ensure that the LINER accurately follows the tractor when turning and avoid scuffing, all models also feature an active steering system connecting the headstock to the rear wheels.

On the LINER 2700, 2800 and 2900, as standard each of the rotors can be lifted and lowered independently using a three-way valve or with the new CLAAS Standard Terminal (CST) which comes as standard with the LINER 2900 and is an option with the LINER 2800.

Downtime and transport time reduced

To keep maintenance downtime simple and as quick as possible, both rotors are driven through a low-load ‘Y’ gearbox, with all the main drives easily accessible and only need lubricating every 250 hours.

For transport, all four models can be quickly and easily folded from the drivers seat. To further reduce time, the new LINER is designed so that as it is folded, the rotors automatically retract downwards. This not only helps to lower the centre of gravity, but means that even the largest LINER 2900 with its 3.8m diameter rotors folds to a transport height of just 4.0m without needing to remove any tines. In addition, all four models are suitable for transport at 50kph.

In addition to these four new twin-rotor models, the CLAAS LINER range also includes four single rotor mounted models with working widths from 3.5m up to 4.6m, plus the four-rotor trained LINER 3000 with has an infinitely variable working width ranging from 9.6m up to 12.2m.