Farmers who consider improving the power delivery of their harvesters typically do so for two reasons. First, it is about improving the harvest by saving operating costs.
This is done by adjusting the harvester’s electronic control unit to change its values.
The higher power delivery thus does not cause higher fuel consumption, but means that a harvester can operate in a higher gear, resulting in lower fuel consumption. The second reason is purely about the higher power output and the resulting higher speed at which work can be done, leading to saving time.
A 9 litre engine (level 1 type) can expect around 26 to 40 kW more power with fuel injection. This is especially beneficial for farmers who plan to purchase new machinery to now extract the maximum amount of power from their harvester engines, but at a fraction of the cost of a new combine. The adjustments still keep the engine’s power output within limits and remain within the engine parameters set by the manufacturer.
Manufacturers design engines with various power output options in mind to meet every need. Footprint Performance uses these guidelines to ensure that the machinery will function optimally for years to come.
There are several advantages to adjusting a harvester’s power delivery.
Where a harvester struggles with performance, there is no longer a need to upgrade to a larger model because the farmer can simply add the necessary power to his existing harvester at a much lower cost.
This already presents a financial benefit for the farmer, as the price difference between harvesters within a range can be significant.
The fuel benefit should also not be underestimated. Fuel is one of the major expenses on a farm, and where it can be managed better and used more efficiently, it becomes a significant benefit for the farmer’s pocket.
The improvement not only saves fuel due to the lower gear ratio but also helps to complete the work faster.
Mr Hattingh, a farmer and contractor from Bethlehem, says the reprogramming holds benefits at different levels. “During the past harvesting season, we saw that a harvester used up to 3 litres less fuel per hectare and harvested faster than before. At the same time, ploughing work was also faster, but with less diesel consumption per hectare because they now have more power.”
“This year was the fourth season since I started using the system. Our harvesting time has decreased by 15 to 20%, and the diesel consumption of our harvester has reduced by 10 to 20%. Remember, it is not the harvesting mechanism of the harvester that limits the speed, but the power delivery of the engine.”
Jaco Dippenaar from Footprint Performance is optimistic about the benefits of improving diesel equipment for farmers. “I received recent feedback in Warden during the maize harvest and learned that this specific New Holland CR6.80 harvester, which we improved, showed a saving of up to R200 000 over 2 300 hectares during the 2024 season. That was a saving of about 3,5 litres per hectare overall, and this was only in the first season!”
“Ultimately, we offer better power delivery, which leads to better efficiency, faster performance, and time savings. For a farmer, each of these factors is worth gold.”
For more information, visit the website at www.footprintperformance.co.za/tractor
